The Middleton Railway is delighted to announce that our Vice President, Ian Smith, has been awarded the Railway Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award for services to preservation.
The award was given for “Outstanding work and personal dedication to the Middleton Railway for 50 years”
The citation reads:
“For more than 50 years dedicated service as a volunteer at the Middleton Railway, helping to shape the railway for future generations, creating a community asset in a city environment and for recognising the importance of preserving industrial locomotives built in Leeds.”
Ian Smith said:
“I am both delighted and honoured to receive this award, which reflects on the Middleton Railway and its members dedication towards keeping this historic line open for future generations to enjoy.”
Middleton Railway Chairman, Charles Milner, said:
“I am delighted that Ian has been awarded the 2021 Railway Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award. This richly deserved award reflects a lifetime devoted to the service of the Heritage Railway movement. Ian has been at the heart of many of the major developments on the Middleton Railway during its first 60 years as a Heritage Railway.
“He served for six years as the Railway’s Chairman and continues to serve the railway as Vice – President and Publicity Officer. He has also been a director of the Heritage Railway Association, is a trustee of the Vintage Carriages Trust and is an active member of the Tramway Museum Society. His enthusiasm and support for the Heritage Railway movement is an inspiration to us all and he has always generously given of his vast knowledge of railway preservation and his beloved industrial locomotives.
“Congratulations Ian, well done”
The Middleton Railway was built in 1758 and is the first railway authorised by an Act of Parliament, the first to have commercially successful steam locomotives, in June 1812 and also the first standard gauge preserved railway, opening in June 1960. It has operated trains every year since opening in 1758.
This post is based on a press release issued by Middleton Railway
This is a well deserved accolade. Ian has done a great deal of work for the Middleton Railway from being a teenager and I am pleased to see this recognition.