Locomotion, the National Railway Museum at Shildon, will welcome the arrival of a new guest locomotive this week, which will be cosmetically restored in the Museum Workshop in 2014 and returned to its recognisable on-screen livery from The Railway Children film.
Locomotive GWR No. 5775 starred in the 1970 British drama film adaption of Edith Nesbit’s book ‘The Railway Children,’ starring Dinah Sheridan, Jenny Aqutter, Sally Thomsett and Bernard Cribbins. No 5775 is on loan to the museum from its home on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
The restoration work will begin early this summer which will be followed by the locomotive going on display at the museum this autumn once the restoration project is completed, and it will remain on display until early 2015.
There will be a series of events and activities for visitors to enjoy themed around the ‘The Railway Children’ and Victorian life, as part of Durham Book Festival at Locomotion on Saturday 18th October, and throughout October half-term.
The museum is currently looking to recruit more volunteers with skills/experience in light engineering/cosmetic restoration work to help with the No. 5775 restoration project.
If you are interested in being involved, contact volunteer co-ordinator Peter Shields at peter.shields@nrm.org.uk.
You can follow the restoration project on the museum’s Facebook page – Locomotion, the National Railway Museum at Shildon.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
