Once Upon A Tide...

Update 28 Jan 2010: some details here are out-of-date due to the kind sponsorship from Stena Line BV, and the renaming of Stichting NedRailways Foundation to Abellio Foundation. Please see our 28 Jan 2010 press release, The NRM Goes Continental, for correct details.

Once upon a tide...

... a young girl took her first ferry trip to Holland. 

“On our overnight crossing to Holland I was so excited, what an adventure this was going to be.  The furthest we had been before was to Butlins in Skegness.  I lay in my bunk puzzling at the hook on the wall at the side of my head.  It was covered in red velvet at the top of a 2-inch circle of padded velvet.  Whatever was its purpose?  Next morning my curiosity got the better of me and I asked a member of the crew who said it was for hanging a pocket watch on.  Simple really!”

Marian Jordan

All museums have stories to tell and the National Railway Museum (NRM) in York is no exception.  Between 10 February and 6 September 2010 there will be even more tales to tell when a new exhibition brings the romance and excitement of international travel to the Museum.

Once Upon a Tide is a free exhibition supported by Stichting NedRailways Foundation and in partnership with the Spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht.  The exhibition explores the tales of over 100 years of North Sea ferry crossings between Harwich and Hook, when ferries were part of the British Railways fleet, through the memories of the people who used it and the poster artwork that sold it.

A roll-on roll-off ferry will take centre stage at the NRM throughout the duration of Once Upon a Tide enabling visitors to walk onto the deck where they will experience the Museum’s turntable as they’ve never seen it before.

Since 1867 ferries transporting passengers to Holland have been one of Britain’s main links with Europe.  In 1890, the service began calling at Hook which was connected to the rest of Europe by rail in 1904.  For the next 60 years, a system of boat trains linked with the day and night sailings from Harwich and until the 1970’s the trains and ferries would wait for each other before departure. 

Passengers used the system of international rail and ferry connections to get from all over the UK, on trains like the Hook Continental from Liverpool Street station, to Europe’s holiday hot spots including Switzerland, Berlin and Rome.

Many of the passengers that have used this service over the years have sent their memories to the Museum as part of an appeal held earlier this year.  To enhance Once Upon a Tide’s stunning visuals these recollections will be on display, bringing to life tales of rough crossings, Dutch kindness and holiday adventures.

The exhibition will take visitors on a journey from 1890 to the present day enabling them to reminisce about their experiences whether they involve motor-holidays or backpacking.  Kids will be able to join in with a variety of ‘I spy’ games, story telling and craft activities.

After it closes in September 2010, objects featuring in the exhibition will travel across the North Sea to the Spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht so Dutch visitors can also reminisce about the historic ferry route.

END

For more information please contact
Louise McKenzie
NRM Press Office
01904 686281/ louise.mckenzie@nrm.org.uk

Notes for Editors:

• Once Upon a Tide opens 10th February 2010 and is open until  6 September 2010

• For more information about the Spoorwegmuseum visit www.spoorwegmuseum.nl

• The National Railway Museum in York covers over 400 years of railway history and its collections include over 100 locomotives, some 250 items of rolling stock and thousands of other objects - from posters and tickets to uniforms and silverware. Visitors can enjoy a free, fun family day out with the kids including an action-packed annual programme of special events and exhibitions. Admission to the museum is free.