Locomotion
Free railway museum in Shildon, a part of the Science Museum Group, with more than 70 rail vehicles on show in large undercover halls.
Få kun enkelte afsnit læst op
Om museet
Locomotion stands on the site of the former Shildon Wagon Works in County Durham, a town closely linked to the early history of the railways through Timothy Hackworth and the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The works, once described as the largest of its kind in Europe, closed in 1984, and some of the historic buildings connected with Hackworth are still part of the site.
The museum opened in 2004 as a partnership between Sedgefield Borough Council and the National Railway Museum, with funding from both partners and the Heritage Lottery Fund. It was an immediate success, attracting about 210,000 visitors in its first year against an expected 60,000. The first locomotives were installed in the original Collection Building.
Since December 2017 Locomotion has been part of the Science Museum Group, while keeping its partnership with Durham County Council. In May 2024 a second large display hall, New Hall, opened and now houses 47 vehicles. Altogether more than 70 vehicles from the National Railway Museum's collection can be seen, including the early locomotive Sans Pareil, the experimental APT-E and the prototype Deltic diesel-electric locomotive.
Højdepunkter
- More than 70 rail vehicles from the National Railway Museum collection
- Sans Pareil, an early locomotive built by Timothy Hackworth
- Prototype Deltic diesel-electric locomotive
- APT-E, an experimental high-speed train
- Historic buildings linked to the Stockton and Darlington Railway
Permanente udstillinger
- Collection Building and New Hall – Two large halls with more than 70 rail vehicles from the National Railway Museum collection, including Sans Pareil, the experimental APT-E and the prototype Deltic.
- Historic railway buildings – Historic buildings linked to Timothy Hackworth and the Stockton and Darlington Railway tell the story of Shildon as a pioneering railway town.
- Grundlagt
- 2004
- Ejer
- Science Museum Group
- Besøgende pr. år
- ca. 94.000
Entrépriser & rabatter
Der er gratis entré.
Admission is free, and no booking is needed except for selected events and activities. Visitors may be asked for a voluntary donation. Parking is free. Groups of 15 or more can book online.
Tilgængelighed
- Kørestolsvenlig
- Elevator: ingen oplysninger
- Handicaptoilet
- Handicapparkering
- Servicehunde tilladt
- Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
- Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
- Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
- Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger
The museum describes itself as fully wheelchair accessible, but part of the site is outdoors with paths of up to 1,000 metres, and the cabs of locomotives are reached by metal steps. Accessible toilets with handrails and emergency cords are in Main Hall and New Hall, and there is a Changing Places facility in Main Hall. Wheelchairs can be borrowed, ideally reserved in advance. Accessible parking is in yellow bays in the car park. Working assistance dogs are welcome. Quieter times are weekdays towards the end of the day, monthly Early Bird sessions are quieter, and ear defenders and sensory resource packs can be borrowed from the welcome desk. A visual story helps visitors plan their visit.
Børn og familie
Velegnet til børn og familier
- Familieomvisninger & workshops
- Puslerum
A programme of events for younger visitors runs during school holidays. Accessible baby-changing facilities are available and breastfeeding is welcome anywhere on site. The café offers children's lunch boxes, and families can picnic outdoors or in the Collection Building.
Transport & parkering
Med offentlig transport
Shildon station · 15 min. til fods
Shildon station is a 10 to 15 minute walk away, with Northern trains from Darlington and Bishop Auckland. Arriva bus service 1 from Darlington and service 5 from Bishop Auckland stop on Dale Road outside the museum. In summer the Durham Explorer bus on the Tracks Through Time route runs at weekends and on bank holidays.
I bil
Gratis parkering
All parking is free. The car park is the last turn on the left after following the access road into the industrial estate, with accessible bays at the bottom of the car park. Coach parking is not described.
- Handicapparkering
Use the postcode DL4 2RE for the main car park. Sheltered bike racks are next to the Main Hall entrance, and the walk from Shildon town centre takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
Planlæg ruteService & spisesteder
- Café
- Restaurant: findes ikke
- Museumsbutik
The café serves hot and cold food and drinks, breakfast, sandwiches, snacks, hot lunches and children's lunch boxes, and has seating made from Eurostar seats. The shop near the Main Hall exit sells railway gifts, models, books, posters and clothing. Visitors can eat their own packed lunch at an outdoor picnic area or at indoor picnic tables in the Collection Building. Toilets are in Main Hall and New Hall.
Arrangementer & udlejning
- Lokaler til leje
- Private fester
- Firmaarrangementer
Op til 350 personer.
Main Hall holds up to 350 guests for evening events, the Sunday School building holds up to 20 delegates boardroom style or 50 theatre style, and the Hackworth Room holds up to 15 delegates.
Forespørgsel & detaljerPlanlæg dit besøg
| Tilbud til skoler | ja |
|---|---|
| Fotografering | Hand-held cameras are allowed for private, non-commercial use; tripods, lighting and commercial filming need prior arrangement. |
| Godt at vide | Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Bag searches may take place on arrival. Pets are not admitted, but working assistance dogs are welcome. Groups can choose a guided tour or explore on their own, and school groups can book self-led visits or sessions led by the learning team. |
