Run the replica No.1 at Shildon and leave the real one in Darlington
HOW many Locomotionno.1’s does the National Railway Museum need?
When I first visited the Locomotion museum in Shildon some years ago in the entrance hall was Locomotionno.1.
I was surprised as I always thought that the locomotive was in Darlington.
My father took me to see Locomotion No.1 on the platform at Bank Top Station sometime in the 1940s when we were changing trains.
Last year my wife and I visited the Head of Steam Museum at Darlington for the first time.
Lo and behold there was Locomotion No.1 – the real one. I had no idea that the locomotive I had seen at Shildon was the replica.
I would propose that as I, an octogenarian railway enthusiast, was unaware that it was a replica at Shildon, then 99% of the public visiting the Locomotion museum would not be bothered in the slightest.
I also remember as a schoolboy visiting the Science Museum in South Kensington London to see Rocket.what a disappointment that was. It didn’t look anything like the Rocket that I had seen in railway books. The replica Rocket locomotives are much more interesting.
Replica appeal
I am sure that having the replica Locomotion No. 1 and possibly Rocket, giving rides to the public would be quite a satisfactory way to celebrate the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 2025 (as highlighted in News, issue 264)?
Anyone who was desperate to see the real Locomotionno.1 would not have very far to travel to see the real thing, plus they would be in for a treat.
My wife and I were quite charmed by Head of Steam Museum. Although there is no cafe, the counter staff were very friendly and quite happy to supply coffee/tea and biscuits. These could be consumed at tables on the platform inside the museum.
We even went back the next day to see the new P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales
being built close by. We had coffee and used the facilities in the museum for no extra charge, a most welcoming experience.
Please let the real Locomotionno.1
stay where it belongs in Darlington.
Donasher, Newtonabbot,devon.
➜ Thereplicaof Locomotion No. 1 belongstobeamishmuseum.needing anoverhaulbeforeitcansteamagain, andnotinthequeueatthismoment,it iscurrentlyonstaticdisplayonloanto Locomotion.beamishassistantdirector Paul Jarman said that the replica’s future willbeconsideredlaterthisyear,inview of the looming 200th anniversary of the Stockton&darlingtonrailway–editor.