Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain/Brandling's Railroad

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BRANDLING'S RAILROAD.

31 George II. Cap. 22, Royal Assent 9th June, 1758.

THIS railroad proceeds from the extensive collieries, situate at Middleton, (belonging to the Rev. R. H. Brandling,) about three miles south of the town of Leeds, and terminates at convenient staiths, near Meadow-lane in the above town. It is three miles in length, and was constructed under the powers of an act, entitled, 'An Act for establishing Agreements made between Charles Brandling, Esq. and other Persons, Proprietors of Lands, for laying down a Waggon Way, in order for the better supplying the town and neighbourhood of Leeds, in the county of York, with Coals.'

There are upon this railway two inclined planes, one at the southern corner of Hunslet Carr, and the other at Belleisle, near Middleton, upon which the full descending waggons, regulated by a brake, draw up the empty ones. It is here worthy of remark, that it was upon this railway that the powers of the locomotive engine were first applied in this part of the country, by the ingenious inventor, Mr. John Blenkinsop, the manager of the Middleton Collieries.