National Railway Museum, York

Living in York one of the places we visit often with our son is the National Railway Museum. My train mad 3 year old loves going and seeing the trains and the various changing exhibits over the year. Where is it ***************** Located in the centre of York the National Railway museum is easily accessible by public transport. A bus stop is near by and if you have travelled by train it is actually to the rear of York station and is a short walk across a concourse and over a road a walk in total from the station of about 5 minutes. If you are coming by car it is well signposted with brown ... more

The National Railway Museum (often shortened to NRM) in York has been open to the public since 1975, and now has become one of the largest and richest collections of railway related material in the world. It has won many awards including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001. NRM is located in Leeman Road, next to York railway station. There are three main areas open to visitors: Great Hall, Station Hall and Outdoor Play Area. Historically the Great Hall was York’s North Motive Power Depot (an engine shed) which originally had 4 locomotive turntables. Station Hall was the main goods ... more

The National Railway Museum in York first opened its doors to the public in 1975 and although I was too young to remember, around five or six years old at the time, I think that I was quite possibly one of the first visitors to see this attraction. I do vaguely recall visiting here all of those years ago but my memory is very sketchy. I remember that my grandparents had saved up tokens from Kellogg's cereal packages that entitled us to free rail travel tickets and with this offer they took myself and my brother not only on a train for the very first time, but also to see lots of other trains ... more

York has a vast amount of history connected with the railways. The first station was built in 1839 and was the main trunk route to London via Rugby and Derby. At the time York was only connected to routes going south. Rail demand increased and in 1877, the decision was made to move to a new location so it could serve routes all over the country. When the station was finally complete, it was the biggest station in the world at that time. GNER now have their headquaters based in the city and around the station, there are a few streets named after famous people like George Hudson for example ... more

I have to be honest, trains and railways are not my thing. Not even in the slightest. But, the other half had a train set when he was younger that he used to spend hours on with his dad, so he has considerably more interest in locomotives and the like than I do. When we were in York, he used the 'it reminds me of being young' sentimentality card spectacularly and it was for this reason (coupled with the fact that it was free to enter) that I found myself wandering over the threshold of the National Railway Museum. The museum is located in the centre of York, next to the York Wheel and, funnily ... more