Letter from Leighton Dalrymple, Lieutenant Colonel. Account of his visit to Wakefield and Leeds, including a description and sketch of John Blenkinsop’s Steam Locomotive 'Salamanca'
TitleLetter from Leighton Dalrymple, Lieutenant Colonel. Account of his visit to Wakefield and Leeds, including a description and sketch of John Blenkinsop’s Steam Locomotive 'Salamanca'
ReferenceDAL
CreatorDalrymple, Leighton
Date
1812
Scope and ContentThe letter is a first hand eye-witness description and sketch of John Blenkinsop’s ‘Salamanca’ steam locomotive, 1812. This locomotive predated Stephenson’s Rocket by 17 years. Blenkinsop (1783-1831) was one of the pioneers of the locomotive and was engaged in the Middleton collieries near Leeds. In 1811 he obtained a patient for a double cylinder locomotive worked by means of racked rails and toothed wheel. From the design of this steam locomotive Stephenson developed his Killingworth locomotive.
The description and sketch was made by Leighton Dalrymple two weeks after the opening of the Middleton-Leeds railway in 1812. The letter also includes an enthusiastic description and sketch of newly built ‘Cloth Hall’ which revolutionised the weaving industry. The letter is part of a longer incomplete document where the first page appears to be missing.
The description and sketch was made by Leighton Dalrymple two weeks after the opening of the Middleton-Leeds railway in 1812. The letter also includes an enthusiastic description and sketch of newly built ‘Cloth Hall’ which revolutionised the weaving industry. The letter is part of a longer incomplete document where the first page appears to be missing.
Extent3 documents
Physical descriptionGood condition
LanguageEnglish
Archival historyThe letter originated from a private archive of North Staffordshire manuscripts, was purchased by another collector and then sold to the National Railway Museum in 1995. The letter is part of a longer incomplete document where the first page appears to be missing.
Levelfonds
Repository nameNational Railway Museum, York
SubjectRailways, locomotives
Conditions governing accessAccess is given in accordance with the NRM access policy. Material from this collection is available to researchers through Search Engine
Conditions governing ReproductionCopies may be supplied of items in the archive, provided that the copying process used does not damage the item or is not detrimental to its preservation. Copies will be supplied in accordance with the NRM’s terms and conditions for the supply and reproduction of copies, and the provisions of any relevant copyright legislation
Related object
System of arrangementSingle item
