LSWR T3 563

I have to admit that I was in York this weekend and for the first time ever I couldn't summons up the enthusiasm to visit the NRM. This is based on my last visit 2 years ago and the fact that nothing seems to have got better since. It says everything about the NRM that it can give away a unique Victorian locomotive whilst it has core exhibition space taking up a coffee and pizza franchise.

 

Its central government funding is partly calculated by footfall - alienating enthusiast visitors isn't contributing to that. I'll agree catering is an attractive money generator but it shouldn't be at the expense of exhibition space

 

It's not unique to the general public , only to us. It's just another Victorian 4-4-0 of which the NRM has plenty.

 

If you suggest two represents plenty ...

Tom

 

One is enough to tell that part of the Story

 

Presumably then they should get rid of five of the six 4-6-0s they have, as one would be sufficient? Get rid of all except the black 5?

Tom

 

Certainly trim down the number of GWR 4-cyl 4-6-0s in the National Collection.

 

Or cut the double fairlie in half and use a strategically-placed mirror - it would be sufficient to tell that part of the story ...

Tom

 

Don't forget to remove all GNR 4-4-2s and LNER 4-6-2s either - all you need to tell the story of speed on the ECML is 55002

 

and reduce the three streamlined / air smoothed pacifics from 3 to 1?
In fact 35029 tells the whole 4-6-2 story so chuck the A3 and Brit too?

 

Sounds logical. Alternatively acquire a 4-6-2 from the RH&DR and remove all other Pacifics from NRM. That should free up some space for another burger bar.

 

28 pages! Hahaha

 

yes I agree with all those ideas. Be careful what you wish for. ( the Fairlie isn't part of the collection)

 

That's it! Auction off the whole collection and commission one thirds scale replicas of the pieces that tell the story. Build a new mall on the space saved, with a railway theme of course.

 

what would Mallard, Hamilton, Oliver Cromwell Winston Churchill make on the open market?

 

And get HIT entertainment to run it......................

 

Well Mr Hoskings seems to understand rather more about steam iconography than the present custodians of our national collection so a couple of million for 6229 and 34051 might be persuasive.

 

How about breaking it up and dispersing it to more focused collections. We could have:
The National Kettle Museum, York;
The British Box Collection;
The Museum of Grids, Gronks - and Gonks;
The National Museum of Sheds-in-a-Shiny-Shed-at-Shildon; any more?

 

They used to ring a bell at my primary school when Play Time was over......you try that Al!

Steven