To mark the Diamond Jubilee of the Middleton Railway as a volunteer operated Heritage Railway we are holding a series of special events which will have as a common theme volunteering.
The Trust will launch the 2020 season on Saturday 4 April with a Community and Volunteer day. On this day the Trust will unashamedly try and attract new volunteers but we would like as many South Leeds community groups as possible to take part and to pitch for volunteers and helpers and to tell the community what they offer.
The Trust will provide trestle tables and chairs and space under cover in our Engine House for interested Groups. On Community & Volunteer day the Trust will not be charging for travel on our Railway as an added inducement for visitors to attend this event.
Commenting on the event, Charles Milner from the Railway said:
“The Trust really would like to use this day not just to help the recruitment of volunteers to work on our Railway but also to help other South Leeds groups recruit volunteers and tell visitors what they are about.
“A robust and resilient South Leeds Community is very much to the Railway’s benefit and we want to do what we can to assist in that objective.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the 2020 season The Railway will be celebrating VE Day on 8 May, followed by their Teddy Bears special, linking up with Friends of Middleton Park to walk through the bluebell woods on 9 & 10 May.
The Diamond Jubilee will be celebrated a gala weekend on 20 & 21 June.
There will be a fundraising music recital from soprano Jenny Leadbeater accompanied by Simon Lindley on Saturday 27 June at 5pm.
Now regular events on the calendar the Steampunk weekend will be on 4 & 5 July and the Model Railway exhibition will be on 11 & 12 July.
A new event will delights fans of local foods as Middleton Railway celebrates Yorkshire Day with ‘A Teaste Of Yorkshire’ on 1 & 2 August. Food and drink from God’s own county will be on sale and there will be evening trains running on the Saturday.
We will keep you updated with full details of these events here at South Leeds Life, or you can visit the Railway’s website: middletonrailway.org.uk
Photo: shows Middleton Railway in its early years as a volunteer run heritage railway
