Wylam Railway Museum

About the museum

Wylam Railway Museum is in the Falcon Centre on Falcon Terrace in Wylam. The building was the village school until 1978; Northumberland County Council then set up a branch library there, with rooms for community activities, and Wylam Parish Council leased one of the former classrooms for a railway museum. The museum opened on 9 June 1981, the exact day of the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Stephenson, the railway pioneer who was born in Wylam.

The museum tells the story of the railways of the region, from the first horse-drawn wagonways that served the coal mines to steam power. Wylam played an important part in the building of early steam locomotives, and the oldest preserved locomotives, Puffing Billy and Wylam Dilly, were built here, although they are now kept in London and Edinburgh. The museum is next to Wylam Library and keeps the same opening hours. The National Trust's George Stephenson's Birthplace is also nearby, and the parish council notes that guided walks visit both.

Highlights

• Early railway history of the Tyne valley, from wagonways to steam locomotives
• Story of Puffing Billy and Wylam Dilly, built in Wylam
• Wylam as the birthplace of George Stephenson
• Free entry

Permanent exhibition

• Railways of the Tyne valley – The story of early railways from horse-drawn wagonways to steam locomotives, with a focus on Wylam's part in building them.

Founded

1981

Operated by

Wylam Parish Council

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

There is no charge for admission.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the Falcon Centre, next to Wylam Library, on Falcon Terrace.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.