The Middleton Railway in Leeds has decided to cancel its forthcoming “90 Years of the Diesel” event as two of the main locomotives that were due to appear require more work before they are operational.

Exhibits scheduled to appear at the event on 10th and 11th September were LMS 7051, 1929-built KS4421 from the Foxfield Railway, and 1932-built Hudswell Clarke MARY from the railway’s own collection.

LMS 7051 is an 0-6-0 diesel mechanical locomotive built by Hunslet in Leeds, just a few miles from the Middleton Railway, in 1932. Until 1943 it was operated by the LMS, then various other private owners until 1960 when it was purchased by the Middleton Railway.

MARY is an 0-4-0 diesel mechanical locomotive built by Hudswell Clarke, also built in Leeds just a few miles from the Middleton Railway, in 1932.

KS4421 is an 0-6-0 diesel mechanical locomotive built by Kerr Stuart in Stoke-on-Trent in 1928. It was originally used on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. It comes to the Middleton Railway on loan from the Foxfield Railway in Staffordshire.

Both KS4421 and MARY require further mechanical work to make them operational, but it is not possible to guarantee that the work would be completed in time.

Instead of continuing with a smaller event that was not in line with what was originally planned, it has been postponed.

Instead of the 90 Years of the Diesel event, an alternative special event will still be held on the weekend of 10th and 11th September, with steam and diesel locomotives from the Trust’s own collection. Exact details of the weekend will be available in due course. 90 Years of the Diesel will now take place when it will be headlined as “90 plus”.

The Middleton Railway has the distinction of being the first railway to be authorised by an Act of Parliament. It was built in 1758 and has run every year since. In June 1812 the Middleton Railway was the first to successfully use steam locomotives, whilst in June 1960 it became the first standard gauge preserved railway.