Railfest 2012- Further exhibits confirmed

Tickets are now on sale for the nine day celebration of Britain’s railways which will take place from 2-10 June 2012. The event will see an enormous space the size of 11 football pitches bustling with an awe-inspiring line up of record-breaking historic and modern locomotives from the museum's collection and visiting locomotives from across the UK.

The most recent exhibits to be confirmed include the Bluebell Railway's 'A1X' 0-6-OT No.55 Stepney, which earned its place as a record breaker as one of two locomotives which hauled the first ever standard gauge preserved steam train at the Bluebell Railway on May 17 1960. Two 15 inch gauge locomotives will also be present. Bassett-Lowke 4-4-2 Synolda, from the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, which originally ran on the Sand Hutton railway near York will celebrate its 100th birthday whilst at Railfest. Hawk, a 0-4+4-OT built by the Kirklees Light Railway in 1997, is arguably the most powerful 15 inch gauge locomotive in the UK and possibly the world. The Railway Vehicle Preservation’s rebuilt LNER 'Beavertail' observation saloon No. E1719E is also set to attend along with the Middleton Railway’s unusual private owner coal wagon, which doubles-up as a passenger carrying vehicle. The National Railway Museum’s Class 37 diesel D6700 has also been confirmed for the event, earning its place in the vehicle line up as the first of its class to be built.

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.

Also joining the impressive locomotive line-up will be a selection of weird and wonderful railway vehicles including a sailing train and the event will feature demonstrations of modern railway equipment including snow ploughs and leaf blowers, which passengers rarely see.

Volunteers are also being sought to help with a wide range of tasks throughout the 9-day event, ranging from providing cab access to running external information stands. People interested in volunteering their time should contact Matthew Hick at matthew.hick@nrm.org.uk

Trade stands at Railfest are also now on sale and interested organisations should contact Julie Spowart, Trade and Event Coordinator at tradeevent.railfest@nrm.org.uk

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.

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:
o A4 No. 4468 Mallard
o A3 No.4472 Flying Scotsman
o LNWR Webb No.790 Hardwicke
o GWR No.3717  City of Truro
o No.6229 Duchess of Hamilton with matching coach
o Shropshire & Montgomeryshire 0-4-2WT Gazelle
o Schools No.925 Cheltenham
o RSH No.1 Castle Donington
o A4 No.60007 Sir Nigel Gresley
o 9F No.92203 Black Prince
o Peckett No.2150 Mardy Monster
o Peckett No.2012 Teddy
o Tysley 0-6-0PT No.L94
o Webb No.1054 Coal Tank
o A1 No. 60163 Tornado
o No. 55002 King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
o HST
o LMS Jubilee Class No.5596 Bahamas
o SR Brighton Belle brake car No.88
o Hunslet No.1786 Courage / Sweet Pea
o Spooner’s Boat
o Furness Railway No. 20
o George England Palmerston with FR carriage No. 15 and curly roof van
o Weston Park Railway, Peggy
o B&W Engineering observation coach, Sylvia
o LBSCR ‘A1X’ 0-6-OT No.55, Stepney
o Bassett-Lowke 4-4-2, Synolda (15 inch gauge)
o Taylor 0-4+4-OT, Hawk (15 inch guage)
o LNER ‘Beavertail’ observation saloon No. E1719E
o Middleton Wagon
o Class 37 D6700

• 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, Locomotion – the National Railway Museum in Shildon and the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Manchester.