NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM’S STATION HALL TO RECEIVE ROYAL RESTORATION

The National Railway Museum’s Station Hall, a former goods depot and now home to the national collection of original royal carriages, is set to receive a £500,000 refurbishment, thanks to the Friends of the National Railway Museum.

The charity organisation, which supports the work of the museum, has raised £300,000 from members to develop and refresh Station Hall’s permanent exhibition, which is housed inside the historic Grade II-listed building.

A working depot until the 1970s, Station Hall is home to six royal carriages, including one of the museum’s most popular attractions – Queen Victoria’s original 1869 saloon.

The project will re-display the carriages into complete royal trains matched with period locomotives. A new addition to the hall will be 47798 Prince William, one of a select number of locomotives to have hauled the current royal train.

Due to start in spring 2021, the exhibition refresh will see an estimated 200 new collection items and 25 rail vehicles go on display.

Alongside the new display, the Science Museum Group will also provide £200,000 to complete physical improvements to Station Hall’s roof and walls.

The Station Hall project will take place alongside the museum’s £55.3m Vision 2025, which will see the comprehensive regeneration of the National Railway Museum and surrounding area. Work is scheduled to be complete by 2022, subject to wider Vision 2025 and York Central activity.