The world’s oldest model locomotive has returned to Leeds more than 200 years after it sparked a global railway revolution.
Made in 1811 by famous engineer Matthew Murray, the precious model has arrived safely at Leeds Industrial Museum and will now take pride of place in an exhibition celebrating some of the city’s greatest inventions.
The historic miniature is a replica of the very first commercially viable steam locomotive, the twin cylinder Salamanca, which Murray built a year later.
Murray used his detailed model to explain to investors and fellow designers how his engines would work at a time when the locomotive industry was still in its industry.
The Salamanca model, which launched a global railway revolution, has returned home to Leeds and is now on display at the Industrial Museum / Image: Leeds City Council
His Salamanca model ultimately proved to be a massive commercial hit, with each engine selling for £350 - a huge sum at the time.
This then lead to further Murray models, which then inspired the great George Stephenson’s later designs.
The innovative model is now on display in Leeds Industrial Museum’s Leeds to Innovation exhibition, alongside another model of a flax ‘heckling’ machine that won Murray the gold medal from the Royal Society in 1809.
John McGoldrick, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of industrial history, said: “Murray was a true pioneer, whose ideas revolutionised the freight industry and inspired a whole new generation of locomotives.
“This model is the physical manifestation of his early vision for the future of locomotives and would have been an invaluable aid in explaining his brilliance to others who he needed to help him bring that vision to life.
“It’s an absolute honour to have Salamanca back at the museums and for this important piece of railway history to take its rightful place alongside the ingenious creations of other great Leeds minds.”
Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s member for economy, culture and education, said: “The history of Leeds includes some truly remarkable minds who each played their own distinct part in establishing the city’s reputation as a centre of creativity and ingenuity.
A display of steam and diesel locomotives at Leeds Industrial Museum. Leeds was a major locomotive building centre, especially for the narrower gauges. There is a workable Hunslet locomotive / Image: Chris Allen
“It’s wonderful to see those pioneers celebrated in this exhibition and to think that their efforts might inspire the next generation of incredible Leeds inventors.”
Other notable Leeds inventions that are on display as part of the exhibit, which features objects and stories from great inventors past and present, include Scootacars, space food and Spirographs. Walter Teasdale, who is thought to have taken the first-ever selfie against the backdrop of Kirkstall Abbey, also features.
To find out more, visit the Leeds to Innovation website page here.
Feature image - Leeds City Council
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Pitbull at Roundhay Festival, Leeds – tickets, times, setlist and more
Megastar Pitbull is heading to Roundhay Park in Leeds for a headline festival performance where you're sure to be yelling "Timber".
Lots of Leeds music lovers might be flocking to Roundhay Park for an outdoor gig like no other because this one comes with 'Hotel Room Service' - not literally, but the Cuban-American star will probably deliver a rendition of this smash hit.
Amid this current heatwave, we might even be able to change the 'International Love' lyrics from "Hotter than Miami" to "Hotter than Roundhay".
Pitbull playing out to a crowd of bald caps at Co-op Live in Manchester / Credit: The Manc Group
Pitbull UK tour dates
Tue 30 June - Belfast, UK - Ormeau Park
Wed 1 July - Bellahouston Park, UK - Glasgow Summer Sessions
Fri 3 July - Leeds, UK - Roundhay Festival
Sat 4 July - Cardiff, UK - Blackweir Fields
Sun 5 July - Lancashire, UK - Lytham Festival
Are there any tickets left for Pitbull at Roundhay Park, Leeds?
If you're up for singing"I'm on fiiiiiire" with the lively leeds crowd and Pitbull himself you can find tickets for his Roundhay Festival headlining slot HERE.
Oh and did we mention you can 'Talk Dirty' with Jason Derulo and 'Snap Yo Fingers' when Lil Jon takes to the stage, all in one day? This festival is top class.
Pitbull setlist for UK festival tour
These upcoming dates from the phenomenal Floridian are part of the Pitbull: I'm Back! tour which has already stopped off at a variety of venues stateside.
Here's all the tracks you need to get memorising ahead of Mr. Worldwide's British summertime shows:
Don't Stop the Party
International Love
Hotel Room Service
I Feel Good
Suavemente
Shake/ Culo
I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
On the Floor
I Like It
DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love
Feel This Moment
Gasolina
JUMPIN
Timber
Time of Our Lives
Fireball
Give Me Everything
What other artists are on the 3 July Roundhay Festival lineup?
Jason Derulo
Tinie Tempah
Lil Jon
Los Tucanes De Tijuana
Jazzie Martian
CJ. AllDayy
Dan Hills
DJ Flex
What are the stage times for Pitbull's headline Roundhay Festival?
Last entry for all shows is 8.30pm with box office closing slightly earlier at 8pm and any headliner expected to wrap up their set by 10.30pm.
Getting to Roundhay Park
Car
Just a 10 minute walk from Roundhay Festival's West Entrance is Connaught Fields which is the closest parking option.
Or, if you're up for a walk and want something more cost-effective, Fearnville Park and Stride is a 30 minute walk away, with parking spaces on the grass fields and a scenic country path which leads you to the festival.
Accessible parking can be found on Mansion Lane with a clear pathway to the event with spaces needing to be pre-booked when purchasing your ticket at no extra cost.
Bus/ coach
A dedicated shuttle bus service has been set up to and from Roundhay Festival running every 20 minutes from 11am to 8pm on Sovereign Street, just four minutes from Leeds Train Station.
The last shuttle bus from Roundhay Park back to the city centre will depart at 12.30am with clear signposting and stewards on hand for any gig goers.
Roundhay Festival has also partnered with Big Green Coach meaning concert attendees can hop on from a wide range of pick-up points across the UK from Wakefield all the way to Coventry - more info HERE.
Car/ taxi drop off
Vehicles heading to Roundhay Festival should follow marked signs for 'Pick-up/ Drop-Off points'.
Drivers should not attempt to pick-up or drop-off from any of the nearby roads aside from those already designated via signage: North Pick-up/ Drop-off via Park View Crescent | South Pick-up/ Dro-off via Wetherby Road.
Extra Info
All travel updates and road closures on event days will be announced and regularly checked HERE.
Featured Images; Press shot (via supplied) / The Manc Group
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Award-winning Leeds brewery reveals plans for biggest beer festival yet
Clementine Hall
Hop City, the UK’s first hop-led beer festival from Leeds-based brewery Northern Monk, is returning next year for a landmark 10th birthday celebration.
And this time it's going to be bigger and better than ever before, take place across two sessions on Saturday 15 May 2027 and held at Project House for the first time.
Hop City 10 will be the brewery’s biggest festival yet with over 300 beers from 50 producers, up from this year’s 35, coming to Leeds from across the US, Europe and the UK.
The first guest announcement includes Vermont-based The Alchemist, regarded as one of the pioneers of the Hazy beer synonymous with the festival, joining Northern Monk for the first time since the inaugural Hop City; and Delaware’s Dogfish Head, another highly respected US brewer who last poured for Hop City in 2023.
There will also be many more no/low choices and more non-beer options, including Manchester’s Stiff Tea Brewing Company and their signature Hard Kombucha.
Tickets to Hop City include entry and access to the festival throughout your chosen session, all of the entertainment on offer, an exclusive Hop City 10 glass and all of your sample pours throughout your session. Sounds like a pretty good deal if you ask us.
Russell Bisset, Founder of Northern Monk: “It’s hard to believe that we’re celebrating a decade of Hop City.
“We’re pulling out all the stops for its 10th anniversary, taking everything people already love about the festival to the next level whilst bringing in new experiences, collaborations and features that we’ve never had the space to deliver before.
“We’re also excited to be welcoming some of our brewing heroes to Leeds, including the founders of US breweries Alchemist, Dogfish Head and Other Half, who will all be flying over to Leeds. These are people and breweries that we’ve admired for years, so to have them join us to celebrate 10 years of Hop City is really special.
“Whether you’ve been with us since year one or are joining us for the first time, this will be our biggest and most exciting Hop City yet. We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone at Project House next year”
Georgina Pellant -
23rd September 2021 
