The railway museum tells the story of railway transport in Britain. It is one of the largest museums of its type in Europe and attracts 782,000 visitors annually. Its collection includes locomotives and rolling stock, fine jewellery worn by royal women, fine art, uniforms, furniture and personal memorabilia from railway workers. The museum also houses a number of important technological innovations, such as Louis Brennan’s gyroscopic mono-rail car.
In addition to displaying thousands of small artifacts, the museum has several major exhibitions. These include the history of the steam engine, the role of the rail industry in delivering economic growth and social progress, and the impact of the modernisation of the British railway system on railway staff and their families. It also houses a large collection of scale models and toy trains, making it a favourite with both adult collectors and children.
Another major exhibition is the display of railway technology, including signalling systems and the development of the electric locomotive. It also includes a collection of railway history books. The museum’s library has an extensive collection of rare books, periodicals and reports. The exhibition also explains the evolution of railways in different countries, including India, Japan and Germany.
The museum has a collection of over 100 locomotives and carriages, and has many other items such as wagons, furniture, station buildings and artifacts. Many of these exhibits are in superb condition. The Museum has a collection of over 6000 objects, including tools, exquisite timepieces, fine art, uniforms and personal memorabilia from railway staff and their families. It is the most significant museum of its kind in Europe and is an international centre for the preservation of railway heritage.
A large part of the museum’s collection is located in its new building at Shildon, County Durham. It provides undercover collection care facilities for more of the museum’s historic vehicles, particularly the freight wagons. It has an additional storage facility at Whippany, which has been restored to form the headquarters for the Morris County Central Railroad Museum and is a fine example of a classic railroad freight house.
Railway professionals keep passengers safe and trains running on time. Learn about the precision teamwork required to do this through a fascinating live-action video, and use equipment to discover what makes the trains run.
The museum offers guided tours, lectures and workshops, and is a popular destination for school groups. It also hosts a variety of special events throughout the year, including vintage days, Thomas and Friends weekends and steam trips. The museum is a nonprofit organization, and donations are welcome. Donors receive a tax deduction for their contributions. Contact the museum for more information about donations. The museum is also seeking historical materials about the Chicago Transit Authority and its predecessors.
