U.K. Field Trip Part 7 – National Railway Museum at York

Click on each image for a closer look!

During a brief afternoon stopover in York, we paid a visit to the National Railway Museum at York. As part of the trip, we wanted to return the visits of Charlie Bird and Adrian Ashby who spent time at the TRHC this spring with the NRM’s T3 563 “Vicky” and The Railway Children production. We managed to catch up with Charlie who gave us a tour of the NRM’s workshop facilities, highlighting the work in progress on a cosmetic restoration “Winston Churchill”, a Bullied Battle of Britain Pacific in advance of the 50th Anniversary of the locomotive hauling Winston Churchill’s funeral train in 2015. We also discussed the ongoing restoration of the NRM’s famous A3 Pacific “Flying Scotsman”, which while not present, a number of sub components were around the works being tested and prepared for re-assembly and a return to steam in 2012 after additional problems were found earlier this year as it was thought the overhaul was nearing completion.

The NRM has been undergoing significant works to improve exhibits and its presentation, and had just finished a major London Midland and Scottish Railway themed weekend in which a mainline shuttle using steam locomotives had operated between their two sites at York and Shildon. This saw many of the locomotives of the collection outside on display still while we were there, along with some being actively shunted to return them to their normal display location.

The NRM is a free museum to visit, and is highly recommended to any railfan who ever finds themselves in York, the collection is fantastic, and as anyone who had the chance to meet Charlie or Adrian can attest, the staff is friendly and welcoming of visitors and happy to answer questions about the collection.

Description of images:

#1 - Great Hall
#2 – Mallard
#3 – Hardwick
#4 - Prince William shunting Duchess of Hamilton
#5 - Gladstone Royal Headboard
#6 - Harry Potter Memorabilia

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Posting and pictures by Stephen Gardiner and Heather Meger