Leeds nostalgia: Making tracks across Leeds - the Mallard in Leeds
Two rail related pictures this week, the first (above), from April 1963 shows Denis Thompson taking a party for a trip on the miniature railway at Temple Newsam.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Jul 2016, 12:13 BST
The railway was completed in 1960 after six years’ work by members of the City of Leeds Society of Model and Experimental Engineers
The 1,000ft circular track was mounted on concrete supports about 2ft from the ground.
Ronald Jeffrey, secretary to the Society, drove Kathleen, a 5in gauge locomotive weight 1.25cwt, which pull 30cwt (10 to 13 people) and which he built himselft at a cost of £30.
He said the engine was very economical, adding: “I bought 1cwt of coal about three years ago and I’m still using it,
The Society had more than a dozen models and ran them regularly but they were only available to the public a few days in the year.
The second picture (below) is dated May 10, 1988 and shows the Mallard, pride of Britain’s railway history, puffing into Leeds Station.
It was pulling a heavy load - 12 carriages carrying 250 top Post Office customers and stamp collectors - it needed extra water at Holbeck.
“The last thing we wanted was the boiler blowing up,” said Mr Philip Round, Post Office Information Officer.
The Mallard was making a special run across the Pennines from Manchester Victoria to mark a major anniversary - it was 50 years since it broke the speed record by travelling at 126mph on July 3, 1938.
CORRECTION: Last week we said the skeleton of Mary Bateman, also known as the Leeds Witch (born 1768) was on display in the Thackray Medical Museum. In fact, the skeleton was removed from display last year.