Railway Museum gears up for memorable 2012

Highlights include a magical Wizard Week with the steam star of the Harry Potter movies, the return of Flying Scotsman, Britain's biggest rail celebration; Railfest, and a year-long programme of railway inspired art exhibitions.

In February, witches and wizards will descend upon York to attend the Museum’s spellbinding February half term event, Wizard Week (11 – 19 February). The big star of the 9 day event is set to be the locomotive from the Harry Potter movies, Olton Hall, with visitors having the chance to get up close to this rail celebrity. Visitors can also enjoy a cauldron-load of wizard fun with magic performances, owl displays, action-packed science shows and craft activities. Children and adults are encouraged to get into the spirit by dressing-up as their favourite witch or wizard and enter a photography competition to be in with a chance of winning a magical prize. Admission to the event will be free with a small charge for some activities.

Late spring will see the highly anticipated completion of Flying Scotsman restoration project. The world famous locomotive was purchased for the nation in 2004 with the help of a grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and generous donations from the public. Since 2006, the National Railway Museum has been restoring the locomotive to full mainline running condition, so that it can once again pull trains around the UK. The exact date of its return to the Museum and mainline operations is yet to be confirmed, but announcements will be made on www.nrm.org.uk/flyingscotsman in the coming months.

Helen Ashby, Head of Knowledge and Collections at the National Railway Museum, said:

"As we get closer to the return of Flying Scotsman, the excitement is certainly starting to build and we hope that railway fans of all ages will join us in celebrating this historic occasion. The plans are still being finalised, but we can guarantee a range of fun events and activities to welcome home this steam legend".

Members of the public are also encouraged to save the dates 2 – 10 June 2012 for the Museum’s Railfest event which will see an enormous space the size of 11 football pitches filled with iconic locomotives and railway-related activities. Britain's biggest rail celebration will bring together over 30 record-breaking locomotives from the smallest and largest to the newest and oldest, with visitors having the opportunity to get even closer with access to the engine drivers cab, rides behind operating engines and much more. Railfest 2012 will be a paid admission event and tickets are expected to go on sale later this month with a discount for advance bookings. Further information and updates can be found at www.nrm.org.uk/railfest2012 . 

Helen said:

"Railfest 2012 is set to be one of the biggest events we've ever held at the National Railway Museum and we're planning a wide range of activities and displays for all ages. Our 2004 Railfest proved to be a huge success by attracting over 60,000 visitors and we're hoping to top this in 2012 by providing an even bigger and better event. Make sure you keep an eye on our website for further exciting updates".

Throughout the year a number of intriguing exhibitions inspired by railways will also be hosted in the Museum's new Art Gallery. From 11 February 2012, visitors to the Museum will have the opportunity to take in over forty pieces of the earliest railway art on display in the 'Fear and Fascination' exhibition. These historic images of Britain's railways capture the mood of a nation conflicted by this new technology, which instilled both excitement and fear in equal measure.

Other art exhibitions confirmed for 2012 include a colourful summer display of holiday posters from the golden age of train travel. The exhibition will draw upon the Museum’s bright, colourful and lively poster collection exploring the contrast between the high end, luxury getaways and budget vacations. The Museum is also on track to host a winter exhibition in late 2012 which will explore the seasonal impacts on our railways through visually exciting objects and posters. Further information about the Art Gallery and up coming exhibitions can be found at www.nrm.org.uk/artgallery .

For more information about the National Railway Museum, please visit www.nrm.org.uk. Admission to the Museum is free.

ENDS

For more information contact:
Emma Rodgers, Interim Press Officer, NRM
01904 686281
emma.rodgers@nrm.org.uk

Notes to Editors:
• The restoration of Flying Scotsman has been generously supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund amongst other
organisations

• Funded by The Foundation for Sport and the Arts, the purpose-built Art Gallery hosts an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions showcasing the Museum's unseen art collection alongside railway-inspired works of art from across the world. The National Railway Museum's vast art collection comprises of 11,222 posters, 2,358 prints and drawings, 1,052 paintings and 1,500,000 photographs, many of which have never been on public display.

• 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.