Full steam ahead for city’s historic loco project after major funding boost

Now the shed is set to be home to a new railway gallery which will reopen in summer 2027 after more than a decade, thanks to a grant of £233,125  from The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the ‘Reimagining Railways’ project.  

The extensive refurbishment of the gallery will mark the project’s final stage and will mean visitors will once again be able to view locomotives including Leeds-made engines Junin and Aldwyth.

Both locomotives were manufactured more than a century ago by Leeds firm Manning Wardle, one of a number of local firms which exported engines around the world.

In future years the project will also see the museum return to running a Leeds-built locomotive on their newly renovated narrow-gauge track for special events.

Alongside the engines, the refurbished gallery will also look to connect the machines which made locomotives to local and global stories of people, place and the environment.

Chris Sharp, keeper at Leeds Industrial Museum, said: “These historic engines are such an important part of the city’s story and each played their part in putting Leeds on the map as a centre of innovation and industry.

“We’re so grateful to all the staff and volunteers who worked so hard in the aftermath of the floods to preserve the museum and the locos and to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their support in making this exciting project a reality.

“It’s been a long journey but we’re absolutely thrilled that visitors will be able to visit the gallery next summer and we can’t wait to welcome them.”

December 26, 2015 saw Leeds Industrial Museum feel the full force of Storm Eva, with parts of the site submerged under up to eight feet of floodwater. An incredible clean-up operation by the site team and local volunteers saw the museum reopen just three months later, but sadly damage to the locomotive sheds was too extensive.

Since then, extensive flood-protection works as part of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2, have been completed to safeguard the museum site from future flooding.

Arts Council England also funded structural work from 2023-2025 through their Museum Estate and Development Fund, which stabilised the locomotive shed and improved environmental control.   

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, said: “These remarkable machines have been part of our local heritage for generations and it’s wonderful to be adding another exciting chapter to their story and to the unique story of Leeds Industrial Museum.

“The project to get the locomotive sheds open again has involved so much hard work and tireless dedication from everyone at the site too and it will be a special moment for all those involved when we can finally welcome back visitors next summer.”

Leeds Industrial Museum’s Railway Gallery is due to reopen summer 2027 and will be viewable as part of the general museum admission ticket.  

ENDS