Cutting-edge scans reveal secrets of historic model train

A pioneering model train from 1811 had its inner mechanics revealed for the first time in two centuries, thanks to advanced 3D scanning technology at the School of Earth and Environment.

The historic miniature locomotive, displayed at Leeds Industrial Museum, was created by esteemed engineer Matthew Murray.

Murray made the model just one year before he designed and built the Salamanca, the world’s first commercially viable steam train, in Holbeck.

The model helped Murray demonstrate his revolutionary ideas to investors and played a crucial role in the Industrial Revolution.

Uncovering industrial history

John McGoldrick, the curator of industrial history at Leeds Museums and Galleries, sought to discover the secrets of the model train.

Through the Bragg Centre for Materials Research, he joined up with Dr Samuel Allshorn (School of Earth and Environment) and Dr Alice Macente (School of Civil Engineering).

They worked with Dr Michael Bailey, an early railway historian and archaeologist of early locomotive technology.

Dr Allshorn and Dr Macente used the sophisticated CT X-ray equipment at the School of Earth and Environment to see the model’s internal workings.

The resulting images reveal how closely the model replicated full-sized steam locomotives of the time, which were pivotal to the growth of the railway industry.

Innovative use of technology

Dr Allshorn manages the Wolfson laboratory, where a medical CT scanner is used to discover the properties of large rocks.

He used the CT machine to scan the locomotive model. Dr Macente created 3D virtual cuts and 3D renderings, allowing the team to digitally inspect all parts of the model in great detail, including its steam valves, flue, and boiler.

Dr Allshorn said, “I typically scan rocks, so an old delicate model train isn't the oldest thing that I have scanned, but it is the oldest man-made thing that I have scanned!

“The metal parts provided some interesting problems in terms of getting it into the best position to enable the x-rays to pass through and to get the best images.”

Mr McGoldrick said: “Thanks to these remarkable scans, we can now explore for the first time since 1811 how the model worked, and the extraordinary ingenuity and intricacy which went into its creation.

“Short of cutting open the model, which we wouldn’t ever do, we’d never have got to see its inner workings in quite this way. Now, not only are we examining a piece of engineering history – we’re also getting a unique and unprecedented insight into the mind of one of the world’s great inventors.”

The power of collaboration

Dr Allshorn said: “It was a joy to work with people with such enthusiasm for a subject and on something a bit different and challenging enabling greater understanding of this important historic artefact.”

Dr Macente added: “The most rewarding part of my job is collaborating with people across different areas. I love using non-destructive imaging techniques to give new insights into objects that would otherwise remain unexplored or unseen.

“It highlights the power of CT scanning for museum artefacts, and the importance of teaming up across different facilities to fully unravel the true depths of human creativity.”

The project was part of a collaboration between the University of Leeds and Leeds Museums and Galleries, supported by the Leeds Cultural Institute’s Collections Research Fund.

This initiative fosters collaboration between academics and museum professionals to advance understanding of historically significant objects using the latest technological advancements.

The scan results will help illustrate how the model worked and its importance in the evolution of global rail transport.

Working together to uncover more about the city’s story

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles, and culture, praised the collaborative effort, saying: “The status Leeds has as a centre for engineering excellence over the centuries is incredible, and this extraordinary model really encapsulates that spirit of invention and ingenuity.

“It’s also inspiring to see partners and organisations in modern-day Leeds working together to uncover more about the city’s story and using the latest technology to add new dimensions to what we know about the past.”

The scans will be featured in a future exhibit at Leeds Industrial Museum, which showcases the city’s industrial heritage and the contributions of its inventors and engineers.