Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeFamily LifestyleVisit the York National Railway Museum

Visit the York National Railway Museum


If there is one thing that can catch the attention of my two boys, it is the train!
For many years, trains have been part of the family. My late father-in-law, Dave, used to train and collect models as a hobby. He even has a great train track that surrounds the entire garden. You can often see his model train running on it.
I think it is safe to say that my children have inherited their love of trains from him, so what better place to visit besides the York National Railway Museum!

Entry to the York National Railway Museum is completely free, but because you understand Covid, you must book tickets on the website before visiting. This way they can limit the number of people on site at one time, which is very wise.
Although it is not mandatory to wear a mask now, they do ask you if you can wear a mask. I was shocked to discover how many people have abandoned masks.
Craig and I wore ours throughout our visit. My children wore their clothes most of the time there, with some breaks in between. Considering that one is autism and the other is asthma, they are doing very well.

Standing next to the Wren engine in the York National Railway Museum.

Visit the museum

When you arrive at the museum, there are seven main areas to visit. They are the North Hall, the Great Hall of the People, the Station Hall, the Flying Scotsman Exhibition and the South Hall. There are also warehouses and workshops, but when we visited, due to Covid restrictions, both were closed.

The station hall is where most of the long-distance bus exhibits are kept. These include a large number of different passenger vehicles from different operators and different eras. It is very similar to the coaches we are used to today, and the top car coaches have been open since the late 1800s. The Railway Museum has six royal carriages, including Queen Victoria’s carriage that was recently restored to its former glory.

The hall is where all the most famous trains are stored. The hall was originally the No. 4 computer room. When the locomotive is filled with coal and water, the turntable will be used to store the undercover agents, and the ashes will be emptied before their next mission.

Various locomotives of different eras are displayed in the auditorium. You will find replicas of Stephenson rockets, mainline trains from the early 1900s and the world’s fastest steam train Mallard! There are also early diesel-electric locomotives and Intercity 125, Shinkansen bullet trains and Eurostar. Jayden looks forward to seeing the wild duck, and he has been reciting facts about it ever since!

Like its rival Mallard from the other side of the country, the streamlined coronation class from the West Coast Main Line is the most powerful steam locomotive ever designed for the British rail network.

Usually, you can stand on the pedals of many historic locomotives. However, Covid restrictions mean that you cannot enter the locomotive cab during our visit. The gantry is still in place, but you are welcome to go in and take a look. Jayden is very interested in the Duchess. We live not far from the main west coast line, so he found that this locomotive would run past where we live. It was amazing!

An unusual exhibition was when we were able to pass through the inspection pit directly below the working locomotive. It’s amazing to see the intricate parts you never know there!

Walk under the D-class 737 train

Looking up at the parts underneath the D-class 737 train

So much history

The ambulance of the First World War is a profound experience. You can cross the carriage, and the holographic image depicts the scene on the way back from the front on these trains full of wounded soldiers in 1914. There is a wealth of information, from infographics to handwritten diaries of handymen and nurses working on these trains.
My kids really like learning this.

The Railway Museum also has a large number of model trains on display. This part alone must contain thousands of trains, from different rolling stock to old coal trucks and modern passenger trains.

Cool souvenirs from the past

At the end of the Flying Scotsman exhibition, there is a warehouse full of souvenirs. There are antique chairs from royal trains, sterling silver tea sets with first-class silver service, and even oil paintings that might add luster to the walls on someone’s wagon. Everyone was interested in their rights and was surprised to see how the company used to decorate their trains in an attempt to increase their customers.

An interesting sign to read "Please adjust your dress before leaving".

Gift Shop

At the end of the day, we found ourselves in the museum shop, don’t you always take the kids with you? ! We had a lot of souvenirs that day, most of which were trains we saw and learned about in the museum, so I was very happy to be able to buy familiar things. We bought some things, and we were pleasantly surprised to find that the price was not too high.


Our thoughts on York National Railway Museum

Taking all factors into consideration, we had a pleasant visit, which is a great way to spend the afternoon. The museum works well, and its design has a lovely nostalgia. The parking lot has very good road signs, and the cost for a full day is £10. You need to walk from the parking lot along a mostly flat main road for about 4 to 5 minutes to reach the main entrance. Upon arrival, you will need to show the QR code sent to you via email when booking. I have them scanned at the front entrance on my phone, but you can print it out if you want.

Unfortunately, not all exhibits are fully open. If so, maybe we could have spent more time in the museum. We stayed there for a total of three and a half hours, and by then I thought we had seen everything. There are many places to eat and drink in the museum. The cafe in the station hall looks particularly beautiful, with stalls that mimic train carriages.

We enjoyed the visit to the York National Railway Museum. If your family is interested in trains, it is really worth a visit.Has a lot of national history, so it’s not and also It’s boring for non-enthusiasts like me.

Nail me!
Want to spend fun days with the kids? The National Railway Museum is a great day for small train lovers, and it's free!  #daysoutwithkids #trainmuseums #trainspotters #stickymudandbellylaughs



Source link

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular

Recent Comments