250th ANNIVERSARY OF MIDDLETON RAILWAY

That this House congratulates Middleton Railway on the 250th anniversary of its foundation in 2008; notes that the Railway was the first to be constructed under powers from an Act of Parliament in 1758 and has remained in continuous use over at least part of the network ever since, and thus has a claim to be the world's oldest working railway; commends the volunteers who devote significant time and energy to keeping it operating; and wishes them success in the anniversary celebrations planned for 2008.