Nearest Online Tour Guide Page: Leeman Road (under construction)
The National Railway Museum is one of the flagship museums in York’s list of attractions, and while it’s free of charge it’s a must-see place for anyone visiting York with either children or more than a passing interest in trains.
A nearly-built Yorkshire Eye towers over York's National Railway Museum in 2006
What’s there to see at the National Railway Museum?
A lot of old trains, for starters, including the Mallard, once the fastest steam engine in the world, the Flying Scotsman, currently being restored to working service, and the Duchess of Hamilton, a beautiful work of streamlined modernism from when steam (and modernism) was king.
There’s also a replica of Stephenson’s Rocket, a permanent exhibition to the Japanese Shinkansen (or Bullet train), and umpteen other pieces from the earliest days of steam through the nationalised era of British Rail and dark age of diesel to the electric age (anyone but me remember the APT? There’s one at the National Railway Museum!).
Fine for rail enthusiasts, but is that a day out for kids?
There are interactive talks and mini-plays throughout the day to add to the fun for kids. There’s also a miniature railway: rides costs 50p per person and last about five minutes (a bit naff but toddlers and pre-school children may enjoy it) and an outdoor play area.
Thomas the Tank Engine is a frequent visitor during the school holidays, one of many working steam trains demonstrated at the museum. (There’s a workshop on site so you can watch various trains and other bits of rolling stock being lovingly restored by the museum’s dedicated volunteered). Thomas also features strongly in the comprehensive gift shops: this is the place to buy your railway memorabilia or start a collection off.
What’s special about the Mallard?
Imagine it’s 1938. Germany is rearming and bombing Spain to bits under Hitler. The Italians rule the football world. All the prime minister can do is tell the Nazis it’s okay to invade Czechoslovakia as long as they don’t invade England (or, randomly, Poland). It’s a scary time to be British.
So when a British-built steam locomotive – put together just down the line from York at Doncaster – breaks the world speed record set by a German engine just two years before you can imagine the nation rejoicing as if they’d firmly regained the top position in Division One of the soon-to-be-defunct League of Nations.
The Mallard is an A4 class locomotive – presumably twice the size of the A5 class, but only half as big as A3 locos – and was recorded as doing 125.88mph (202.58 km/h) on 3 July 1938
I was always led to believe that the record-breaking Mallard run was set between York and Thirsk on a stretch of line that runs through the Vale of York past Beningbrough, Tollerton and Alne.
The track is as straight as an arrow at that point, and there isn’t a hill for miles around, making it just the spot for breaking speed records. But – according to Wikipedia at least – I was misinformed: the record was actually broken near Grantham in Lincolnshire.
Anyway, the Mallard is a fantastic symbol of when industrial Britain led the way in engineering and much else and so, in so many ways, the locomotive is a proper museum piece.
Anything else of note about the National Railway Museum?
Between 2006 and 2009 the museum hosted the Yorkshire Eye (pictured above), a 60-metre (196 feet) big wheel of 43 climate-controlled capsules which gave visitors a birds-eye view over the city.
How do I get to the National Railway Museum?
It’s right next to York railway station – leave by the rear exit and you’re there.
The National Railway Museum is also on a main Park and Ride bus route – catch a Number 2 from Rawcliffe Bar.
More information: visit the official National Railway Museum website.