The Great Goodbye will take place from 15th February to 23rd February at Locomotion, the National Railway Museum at Shildon.
Museum visitors will be able to marvel at the six A4s at Locomotion together for the last time before the transatlantic locomotives return to their home museums in the USA and Canada in late spring / early summer 2014.
The event, which it is hoped will provide a big economic boost for Shildon, is expected to attract huge interest from visitors of all ages and the museum is urging anyone attending Shildon to bear in mind some important travel information.
The museum has issued the following statement:
“We would expect many people to be travelling to the museum for the event and would like to urge motorists to be patient and take extra care, as it is reasonable to expect high levels of traffic congestion in residential streets and main roads surrounding the museum.
“The museum has two car parks, one coach park and two disabled car parks and additional parking will be available at the site formerly known as Ashfield’s Yard adjacent to Locomotion’s main car park. The site can be accessed via Dale Road.
“Visitors are asked to endeavour to avoid parking outside of private residences where possible, although in some cases this may be unavoidable.
“There is a coach pick-up and drop-off point available on Dabble Duck Industrial Estate.
“Motorists are being warned of possible congestion and are being urged to plan for a longer than usual journey or take an alternative route.
“The museum would also ask that visitors explore the option to travel to the museum by train. Shildon station is sited in the centre of Locomotion’s arterial road, which stretches 1km between the western end of site and the Collection building where the A4 event will take place.”
In support of the Mallard 75 event, Northern Rail is operating an enhanced service throughout The Great Goodbye.
Monday – Friday, in addition to the normal timetable; four trains will run from Darlington, calling at all stations to Bishop Auckland at 09.53, 11.54, 13.54 and 16.27 and four trains will run from Bishop Auckland, calling at all stations to Darlington at 10.25, 12.25, 14.25 and 17.25.
Northern’s “Timothy Hackworth” train (156438) will be operating on the route throughout the event, celebrating Shildon’s very own famed steam locomotive engineer.
For more information about the event please visit www.nrm.org.uk/mallard75.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
