Locomotion moving to Shildon

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/n...m-wants-take-locomotion-no-1-away-darlington/
Seems the NRM have upset Darlington.

 

I've held a personal view for some time that the NRM have their heads where the sun doesn't shine!

 

Last time I went to Shildon, about three years ago, all the historic Hackworth-era buildings at the far end of the site were closed off. I’d have thought there was more cultural significance in ensuring access to that end of the site than just the location of one loco, however significant. If Locomotion was at South Kensington, I could understand the rationale, but Darlington?

Surely the NRM could act to co-ordinate local partners to make it a region-wide celevration - not just Shildon and Darlington, but work with the National Trust who own Stephenson’s cottage at Wylam; the Tanfield Railway etc?

Tom

 

I agree. I can see the NRM's rationale regarding having her at Shildon close to where she commenced her inaugural journey but only if she was housed currently many miles away. Darlington is just suitable as Shildon IMO.

 

Unfortunately the North East railway legacy is slowly being killed off.
Stephensons cottage at Wylam remained closed to the public last time I checked.
The Hackworth buildings are currently being restored, which is brilliant but they remain stuck out on a limb unlike the days of the proper Hackworth museum.
Personal think it should remain in North Road, its a far more suitable home, admittedly a slightly more modern s and d station. Than a very modern box at Shildon.

 

I’d give that a “like” but it would send the wrong message.

Wasn't aware that Stephenson’s cottage was still shut - we visited a few years ago and it was shut, but I thought that was temporary. It was a disappointment not to be able to see round the Hackworth buildings. The NRM is sitting on a gem there but doesn’t seem interested from the conversations I had when asking if they were open.

2025 has to be an opportunity to galvanise a tourism business based around the significant industrial history of the region - surely?

Tom

 

They'd think joined up thinking would win the day. But alas it doesn't appear to be the case. Believe its Dutham council funding the Hackworth repairs - fingers crossed.

It seems a shame to waste the current redevelopment of Darlington museum. But shall see.

 

I sincerely hope that 2025 is better organisedthan what happened in 2000 for S&D 175. IIRC big cavalcade planned, with many supporting events. Almost everything fell through

Mark

 

Does the proposed Darlington Railway Heritage Quarter fit with the NRM educational strategy ? It would be wrong to waste public money on a vanity project at Darlington when the NRM considers it is better placed to deliver the required remit for 2025, maybe the Head of Steam should be a local history centre and the S & D experience concentrated on Shildon where the Science Museum investment has been made, there is of course no significant memorial at the mid way point at Heighington where No 1 was actually placed on rail.
Locomotion Shildon is more of an overspill storage site for York at present and the S & D story could give it renewed focus.

 

I get the impression that the NRM are now regarding Shildon as more of a second museum rather that just an overspill for York. The proposed move of locomotion No.1 is likely part of their strategy to raise the profile of Shildon.
Never been there myself, but plan to do so in June so looking forward to seeing that (and Darlington HoS)

 

As a NATIONAL museum should they have the second museum so close to York?

 

Good thinking OTOH, Shildon undoubtedly has significant connection to the very birth of the railways as well as being a long-standing railway town of note. So that leads to the inevitable conclusion that if you are going to re-locate one, it is York that needs to move. I'd recommend Eastleigh as having space, rail connections and a significant railway history while being sufficiently distant

Tom

 

It was not developed as a National Railway Museum, the original development was joint with Durham council providing staff, finance, and the land was only leased to the SMG at the time of the transfer a couple of years ago, it was no coincidence that Tony Blair was a nearby MP, an investment in an area with post industrial deprivation.

 

York is arguably a more central location for a British museum than Eastleigh.

 

'arguably'? you can't really argue with geography!

 

Last time I visited Shildon was a couple of years ago to take my grand-daughter to see engines close up. A good collection of locos, but set in a very sterile environment that recalled nothing of the old days.

My overwhelming impression was the smell of coffee from the coffee shop in the corner of the hall.

 

You can always argue with geography - it just depends how you measure it! The centre of UK population density is probably somewhere in Leicestershire, so York and Eastleigh are vaguely the same distance from it... Clearly the NRM should take over the Great Central...

 

S'pose, by that logic, the British Antarctic Territory also fits the bill quite well!

 

With some posters 'ranting' about preserving redundant signalboxes everywhere, restoring every Barry wreck before starting the next 'new build', and what steam does to attract (or otherwise...) tourism in the country, perhaps the (National) Railway Museum should be taking over Network Rail and the operators (especially Northern Rail) as examples of a system that has been systematically destroyed by the country at large...

 

I recently watched a very interesting lecture which Anthony Coulls gave in London, where he mentioned the criticism that York gets for the large number of catering outlets it now has. His simple response was: "Have you been there at half term? It needs them!"

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