After a big celebration of British engineering prowess with its successful Mallard 75 season, the National Railway Museum in York is putting on a host of events centred on engineering. From photography to signal schools to dressing up, the museum has the topic of engineering covered in 2014.
Below are a few of the highlights that the museum has on offer this year:
Train for the Tracks – February half term
Every day from 15 February to 23 February, guests of all ages will be able to get an insight into working within the rail industry. Activities include trying out station announcements, getting onto the footplate of a cab or (for under 6s) playing in the Chuggington area as well as building a track out of sleepers and chairs and then testing it out.
The British Transport Police will also be on site Monday – Friday with a range of fun activities to show how their job reduces incidents on railway crossings and trespassers.
The Lancashire & Yorkshire signaling school will also be open on selected days and younger visitors can try their hand at signaling on the museum’s central signal box. Activities are taking place alongside the stunning collection of locomotives, carriages, and wagons.
Great Goodbye 15-23 February, Locomotion; the National Railway Museum at Shildon – Icons of Steam reunite one last time, showcasing the best of British engineering
2013 saw the 75th anniversary of Mallard breaking the world steam speed record. To celebrate this, all six surviving A4 locomotives were reunited and one last gathering takes place at York’s sister museum in Shildon before two of these locomotives are returned to their homes across the pond.
See the first preview of Steamsong a multimedia opera by John Kefala-Kerr inspired by Mallard and the story of the A4s. The museum will also be hosting a variety of free talks around A4s, speed and celebrations.
National Science & Engineering Week, 18 – 23 March
On the 22nd and 23rd March meet three extreme bikers from the hit TV show on ITV1; Ben Savage, Jack Meek and Chaz. They’ll be here with the new impressive Savage Skills display rig being held in the Great Hall at the National Railway Museum in York.
Open for Business, May – December 2014
A major touring exhibition which reveals the untold story of British manufacturing and industry through the lens of some of the world’s greatest photographers. Displayed in the museum’s purpose-built art gallery, Magnum photographer Mark Power’s, stunning shots of Bombardier in Derby and Holdsworth Fabrics in Huddersfield demonstrate that the UK’s transport industry is still thriving, showing the manufacture of carriages and their interiors in fascinating detail.
Jim Lowe, Visitor Experience Ops Manager said: “Last year saw the coming together of the giants of the steam world through our highly successful Mallard75 series of events. This year we’re continuing this theme with events championing engineering which will appeal to young and old alike. The museum is free and is always a great place to learn and have fun.”
