National Railway Museum
Who can fail to be moved by the size and power of steam engines in their heyday, delight at the rhythmic percussion of massive metal wheels eating up the track and shiver as a mournful whistle pierces the night ... the night train to Edinburgh, the slow train to Adlestrop, the branch lines, the mainlines, cathedral-like termini and deserted stations in the middle of nowhere.
To find out more about all-things ‘railway’, a visit to the National Railway Museum in York is a must; the largest railway museum in the world covering 300 years of history. Amongst the 100+ locomotives is a replica of Stephenson’s Rocket¸ the first and most influential steam machine of its time that first took to the rails in 1829. There is an unrivalled collection of rolling stock, railway equipment, documents and records, some which date back well over a century.
Not to be missed is ‘Palaces on Wheels’, a collection of Royal carriages including Queen Victoria’s personal carriage decorated in silks, satins and gold and a permanent tribute to the Flying Scotsman, perhaps the most famous steam engine of all time.
A wander through the vast halls will reveal a sleek and pristine Mallard; a custom-made colliery engine designed to move coal from the pithead to the canal and a ‘Duchess’, more properly known as the Duchess of Hamilton, one of the most powerful express passenger locomotives ever built.
But this museum is not just about preserving a by-gone age; every effort is made to keep the collection up to date with the inclusion of early diesel engines and the supremely successful BR Class 41 more commonly known as the High Speed Train. Bringing the collection right up to date is a Shinkansen, a Bullet train that once operated on the world’s fastest passenger railway network in Japan.
With opportunities to stand on the footplate, see massive engines spun round on a turntable and hear entertaining and informative talks on almost every aspect of railway life, a visit to the National Railway Museum is an excellent day out for all the family.
Plan your visit to the National Railway Museum
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