The railway was honoured to host the Industrial Railway Societies (IRS) 75th anniversary AGM on Saturday 20th April. The IRS is an organisation which is devoted to the study of all aspects of privately owned industrial railways and locomotives. This made Middleton a perfect location to hold their AGM as we are an industrial line with industrial locomotives and rolling stock.

Hawthorn-Leslie No.3860 ‘No.6’ was used throughout the day including on a special 16:15 service run following the AGM. In addition to this Hunslet No.1786 ‘Courage’ / ‘Sweet Pea’ offered brake van rides in the yard throughout the day allowing members of the IRS to travel behind this unique locomotive. Members also had the opportunity to have a guided tour around the railways workshop and running shed where work such as the overhaul of Hudswell Clarke No.1544 ‘Slough Estates Ltd No.3’ is taking place.

The railway presented a copy of both its 60 years of preservation history and newly published stock book to the IRS to add to their extensive archive. Both of these are currently available both in our shop and online.

Photographs of HE1786 courtesy of Geordie Brown, Photograph of HL3860 courtesy of Richard Croft