NRM: NO NATIONAL COLLECTION ‘CLEAROUT’ UNDER WAY

The NRM has told Steam Railway that no locomotive and rolling stock ‘clearout’ is under way, in response to a concern raised by former director Steve Davies (SR466). It has also said there has been no change in the NRM and Science Museum’s policy on disposals and that it follows Museum Association guidelines on transparency. SR asked: Following the disposal of the ‘T3’, what other locomotive or rolling stock disposals from the National Collection are presently under discussion or ‘in the pipeline’? Please give full details, including the identity of prospective recipients, in line with the Museums Association’s guidelines on openness and transparency. NRM: We follow the Museum Association’s guidelines on openness and transparency and publish details of all significant decisions affecting the Collection. However this does not extend to providing details of ongoing discussions regarding the management of the Collection. We publicise disposals after the decision to dispose has been made by our Board of Trustees. We believe this is in the spirit of the guidelines, which emphasise that disposals occur for curatorial reasons. SR: Is the de-accessioning of the ‘T3’, less than a year after the de-accessioning of North Staffs Railway 0-6-2T No. 2, indicative of a change in NRM policy in favour of gifting National Collection exhibits to third parties (where previously the policy was of fixed-term loans)? NRM: There is no change in the National Railway Museum and Science Museum Group’s policy on disposals at https://group. sciencemuseum.org.uk/policy/ group-policies SR: Talking to Steam Railway last month, former NRM Director Steve Davies MBE raised the question of a locomotive and rolling stock ‘clearout’ by the Museum. Is this what is happening? If so, why? NRM: No.