6th Annual Steam Gala at Locomotion

This fabulous event has something for families and railway enthusiasts alike. Visitors will have the chance to see several guest locomotives alongside the museum’s impressive regular displays.

This year’s event will be themed around the LNER A4 class locomotives and their designer, Sir Nigel Gresley. This September sees the 75th anniversary of the inaugural journey by the first LNER A4 class locomotive, No. 2509 Silver Link, built by Sir Nigel Gresley to pull a new train called the Silver Jubilee from London Kings Cross to Newcastle.

The museum’s Steam Gala event will feature LNER A4 class 4468 Mallard, holder of the world speed record for steam traction by rail, and one of the few surviving examples of this locomotive design.

Guest locomotives in steam at the event will include LNER D49 class locomotive No. 246 Morayshire. This locomotive, owned by the National Museums of Scotland and operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, is another Gresley design. Built at the LNER Darlington Works in 1928 and the only surviving example of the class, Morayshire hasn’t been seen at Shildon since the famous 1975 cavalcade event.
 
This locomotive will be joined by the last remaining GNR N2 class locomotive, No. 1744. This class of locomotive was introduced by Sir Nigel Gresley in 1920.

In addition, the event will feature another Darlington-built engine, the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group’s J72 class locomotive 69023 Joem, along with Furness Railway No. 20, the oldest standard gauge locomotive still working in the UK.

You’ll have the chance to see some of these locomotives in light steam, and there will be demonstration movements throughout the weekend. Plus, visitors will have the chance to access footplates of the locomotives in steam between their turns on the passenger trains.

Historic model Orion – owned by the Stephenson Locomotive Society - will be on show, plus the South Durham Model Engineers will be offering visitors the chance to ride on a miniature railway.

There will be vintage traction engines on display, along with a fair organ providing great music. Inside the museum, there’ll be displays and stalls from local railway heritage societies and preserved lines. And you’ll find a selection of model railway layouts and traders.

Evening photography session - Friday 24 September

Railway and photography enthusiasts are invited to a very special evening photography session, as part of Locomotion’s 6th annual Steam Gala.

From 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Friday September 24, 2010, you will have the exclusive chance to take photographs of some fabulous engines being prepared for the event weekend.

Tickets for the photography session are available now, priced £7.50 per person.

Places are limited, so please book in advance. To book, or for more information, please email locomotion@nrm.org.uk or call 01388 771439.

For more information on events and exhibitions at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon, please contact:

George Muirhead
Museum Manager
01388 771440
george.muirhead@durham.gov.uk
george.muirhead@nrm.org.uk

Pam Porter
Events Officer
01388 771445
pamela.porter@durham.gov.uk
pam.porter@nrm.org.uk