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Science Museum Moves in 1926

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Tim Light, Jan 24, 2021.

  1. Tim Light

    Tim Light Well-Known Member

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    I've just been watching John Huntly's "Classic Railway Newsreels - Volume 1". one of the first items shows Rockect and Agenoria being moved through the streets, presumably of Kensington, in 1926? Sans Pareil was also mentioned but not shown.

    Can anyone tell me where these locos were being moved from and to?
     
  2. Bluenosejohn

    Bluenosejohn New Member

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    What was to become the Science Museum collection had been part of the Victoria and Albert Museum until it was agreed to separate the collections in 1909. Building of the new museum commenced in 1914 but the Great War and it's aftermath meant progress was slow and it was 1928 before the official opening by King George V and Queen Mary. Presumably the film shows the locomotives being moved as part of this.

    https://www.huntleyarchives.com/preview.asp?image=1011570&itemw=4&itemf=0004&itemstep=1&itemx=5
     
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  3. Hurricane

    Hurricane Member

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    I happened to find this video the other day which shows how some of the National collection looked in 1963.

     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2021
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  4. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Of course that was filmed in Clapham Transport Museum (a former bus garage) not the Science Museum - nice to see it though.
    Ray.
     
  5. Tim Light

    Tim Light Well-Known Member

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    That's interesting, thank you. I didn't know that.
     
  6. Tim Light

    Tim Light Well-Known Member

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    Were these locos actually on display at the V&A museum? I've seen some notes somewhere that early locos were stored at the Patents Office.
     
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  7. Bluenosejohn

    Bluenosejohn New Member

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    There is first class book by Michael R. Bailey called 'Loco Motion' published by the History Press in 2014 and is well worth obtaining for anyone interested in the early days of steam. In it he examines surviving locomotives and operable relics not only from this country but also some from overseas for pre 1850 designs.

    He does give a ownership and display history for all three of the locomotives referred to above and the display history is shown as:

    'The Agenoria'

    1884-86 Patent Office Museum
    1886-1936 London Science Museum
    1936-41 York Railway Museum (on loan)
    1941-47 Reedsmouth ( in store- war safety measures )
    1947-74 York Railway Museum ( on loan )
    1975- National Railway Museum, York


    'Rocket'

    1862-76 Patent Office Museum
    1876-84 South Kensington Museum ( on loan )
    1884-1909 South Kensington Museum
    1909- Science Museum, London

    'Sans Pareil'

    1864-1999 London Science Museum
    [shown as owned by the Patent Office museum 1864-84]
    1999-2004 National Railway Museum, York
    2004- Locomotive Museum, Shildon

    He does show when locos were in store so it looks as though they were on display as far as can be told after this length of time. Use of names for the museums does seem to vary but this link gives a good history of the Science Museum:

    https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-10/science-museum-history.pdf
     
  8. Bluenosejohn

    Bluenosejohn New Member

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  9. Bluenosejohn

    Bluenosejohn New Member

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