Locomotion is celebrating its 10th Anniversary on September 20th and 21st, ten years after the region’s only national museum opened in September 2004.
The museum will once again celebrate the age of the steam train and welcome a group of old friends in the form of guest steam locomotives replica Rocket, Bellerophon, Kitson No. 5, Hawthorn Leslie No. 2 and resident guest locomotive Furness Railway No. 20.
Throughout the weekend all steam rides are free.
Locomotion was the first National Museum in the North East region and opened in 2004 – made possible by a partnership between Durham County Council and the National Railway Museum.
It is the only formal partnership in England between a local authority and a national body to run a National Museum.
Locomotion attracts 200,000 visitors per year (nearly 300,000 last year), has created 35 jobs at the museum and supports 74 jobs in the wider region.
The museum’s workshop, working in association with the Heritage Lottery Fund Skills for Future programme, offers annual Engineering Heritage Skills placements and the scheme is currently in its third year.
Since 2014 it has won 15 major awards for excellence and hosts over 45 special events per year; It is the only museum in the North East with mainline operating facilities, allowing guest locomotives to arrive under their own steam.
The first guest locomotive “Bellerophon” arrived earlier this week in advance of the event.
For more information visit www.nrm.org.uk/locomotion.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
