Row over ‘arrogant’ National Railway Museum plan to relocate Locomotion to Locomotion
THE National Railway Museum (NRM) has unveiled ambitious yet controversial plans for a £4.5million expansion of Locomotion in Shildon.
The museum hopes to have completed it in time for the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 2025.
At the heart of the redevelopment is a divisive decision to transfer George Stephenson’s original Stockton & Darlington locomotive, Locomotion No. 1, to Locomotion once its current loan period at Darlington’s Head of Steam Museum comes to an end in 2021.
The news that Darlington will lose the historic locomotive after 163 years on display in the town has been negatively received by Darlington Council, the local community and other regional bodies.
It has started what one body described as an ‘emotional tugof-war’, culminating in the launch of a campaign at Head of Steam on January 22 to get the decision reversed.
Opponents of the NRM’s plans include local MP Peter Gibson, leader of the council, Heather
Scott OBE, Tees Valley mayor, Ben Houchen, and former NRM head Steve Davies OBE.
“Locomotion No. 1 is part of our cultural heritage, and is part of what this town and this region has delivered to the world,” said Mr
Houchen at the capaign launch. “We should be celebrating that and not sending a real piece of international history down the road to Shildon, or anywhere else, because someone in London or Manchester has decided that it is the right thing to do.”
If the historic locomotive does move to Shildon it will eventually go on display in a new 4,000m2 Building Two, which is to be constructed close to the existing exhibition hall. This will almost double the amount of covered accommodation available, with room for up to 40 vehicles from the National Collection. Once constructed, Locomotion will be able to exhibit in excess of 100 rail vehicles of different types.
A connected £1.6million project to repair and rejuvenate the numerous historic buildings that make up the Locomotion site got underway in January.
These include Soho House, the former home of famed locomotive engineer Timothy Hackworth, as well as sheds and workers’ cottages.
“Our plans will see significant investment in the site’s historic buildings, the construction of ‘Building Two’to showcase our collection and the display of Locomotion No. 1,” said Sarah Price, head of Locomotion.
“We will continue to work with Head of Steam and other organisations across the region to ensure celebrations for the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, bringing the world’s attention to the North East’s role in the global railway revolution.”
Construction work on Building Two is set to begin in October next year with a public opening scheduled for September 2022.
February
7-8 Northampton & Lamport Railway, Winter Steam Gala 14 & 29 Mid-Hants Railway, Flying Scotsman
15-16 & 22-23 Nene Valley Railway, Thomas Half-Term Specials
March
1 Whitwell & Reepham Station, Steam Sunday
1, 7-8 Mid-Hants Railway, Flying Scotsman
6-8 East Lancashire Railway, Spring Steam Gala
6-8 Keighley & Worth
Valley Railway, Spring Steam Gala
14-15 East Anglian Railway Museum, Spring Steam Gala 21 Avon Valley Railway, RSH 7151 Day
21-22 East Somerset
Railway, Steam Gala 2020 27-29 North Norfolk Railway, Spring Steam Gala
28-29 Great Central Railway, Goods Galore Gala
28-29 Ribble Steam Railway, Spring Steam Gala
April
3-5 Bluebell Railway, Branch Line Weekend
4-5 Nene Valley Railway, Mixed Traffic Weekend
5 Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Island Heritage Train Day
5 Whitwell & Reepham Station Steam Sunday
10-13 Avon Valley Railway, Chocolate Train