Railfest 2012: More exhibits confirmed

The nine day celebration of Britain’s railways will take place 2-10 June 2012 and will see an enormous space the size of 11 football pitches bustling with an awe-inspiring line up of locomotives from the Museum’s collection and visiting locomotives from across the UK. A wide variety of railway-related activities, attractions, sights, sounds and smells will add to the exciting atmosphere with the opportunity to get up close to the exhibits.

The most recent exhibits to be confirmed include Stanier 'Jubilee' 4-6-0 No. 45596 Bahamas, claimed as the last mainline steam engine to have a modification to improve its performance. Ffestiniog Railway's George England 0-4-0STT Palmerston will also be present as the oldest steamable narrow gauge locomotive and will be joined by FR carriage No.15, the oldest operational bogie coach in the world.  Also representing the Ffestiniog Railway will be Britain’s only sail powered railway vehicle, Spooner's Boat.

Recently restored London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, Brighton Belle motor brake car No. 88, Victoria, will be on display at the event representing Britain's first inter-city electric train. The Middleton Railway's diminutive Hunslet 0-4-0 DM 1786 'Sweet Pea' will also be attending as the smallest standard gauge diesel locomotive.

The festival will bring together over 30 record-breaking locomotives that have made their mark on rail history for being the fastest, largest, strongest, first, last and oldest. These newly confirmed exhibits will join a line up including the holder of the record for the fastest steam locomotive at 126mph, Mallard, the newest mainline steam locomotive in operation, Tornado, and the most powerful industrial steam locomotive built for use in the UK, Mardy Monster.  The first locomotive to reach 100mph, Flying Scotsman, is also set to attend the event following the completion of its restoration.

With key support from the leading rail magazine titles; RAIL, Steam Railway and Model Rail, the festival is expected to draw railway fans from far and wide.

Railfest 2012 will be a paid admission event and tickets are expected to go on sale in the New Year with a discount for advance bookings. Railfest will be hosted in an outdoor area at the Museum with entry to the rest of the Museum remaining free to visitors during the 9 day event. For all the latest updates and announcements, visit nrm.org.uk/railfest2012 or sign-up to receive the Museum's email newsletter.

ENDS

Gemma Sneyd, Senior Press Officer, National Railway Museum
01904 686271
gemma.sneyd@nrm.org.uk

Notes to Editors:
Vehicles confirmed so far:
A4 No. 4468 Mallard
A3 No.4472 Flying Scotsman
LNWR Webb No.790 Hardwicke
GWR No.3717  City of Truro
No.6229 Duchess of Hamilton with matching coach
Shropshire & Montgomeryshire 0-4-2WT Gazelle
Schools No.925 Cheltenham
RSH No.1 Castle Donington
A4 No.60007 Sir Nigel Gresley
9F No.92203 Black Prince
Peckett No.2150 Mardy Monster
Peckett No.2012 Teddy
Tysley 0-6-0PT No.L94
Webb No.1054 Coal Tank
A1 No. 60163 Tornado
No. 55002 King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
HST
LMS Jubilee Class No.5596 Bahamas
SR Brighton Belle brake car No.88
Hunslet No.1786 Courage / Sweet Pea
Spooner’s Boat
Furness Railway No. 20
George England Palmerston with FR carriage No. 15 and curly roof van
Weston Park Railway, Peggy
B&W Engineering observation coach Sylvia

The National Railway Museum (NRM) in York covers over 200 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 fun family day out with the kids including an action-packed annual programme of special events and exhibitions. Admission to the museum is free. For more information visit www.nrm.org.uk.

The National Railway Museum forms part of the National Museum of Science and Industry (NMSI), along with the Science Museum in London, the National Media Museum in Bradford and Locomotion – the National Railway Museum in Shildon.