Press Office
As long as there have been railways, there has been railway crime
Now the National Railway Museum is to launch a major family event to look at crime on the railways, both past and present - from the Great Train Robberies to petty pilfering, from vandalism to the illegal staging of bare-knuckle fisticuffs.
On the track of railway criminals through the centuries, budding detectives are invivted to follow the Museum’s Crime Trail, uncover a series of clues, solve the mystery and have a chance to win a secret prize.
Headlining the event are a pair of zany ‘comedy whodunnits’ from professional theatre group Laughlines International. The cast present various ‘murder mystery’ scenarios, with the audience invited to uncover the culprit at the end of each show.
The shows range from slapstick villainy in the silent movie era - complete with black-and-white, silent-movie action - right up to their own hilarious take on global eco-tyranny in the form of Austin Powers and James Bond. The two pieces are linked by an elusive, coveted formula - which, if it ends up in the wrong hands, could spell disaster for all…
On the more serious side, British Transport Police invite you to find out all about their history as one of the oldest police forces in Britain. A special exhibition reveals some of the methods and technologies used in the fight against crime on the railways throughout the centuries.
And a brand-new performance from the Museum’s own professional theatre company tells the story of railway crime since its very beginnings.Other activities include brass rubbings of crime-related railway signs, famous criminals and crime-fighters.
The National Railway Museum’s Crime Weekend will be held on 2-3 September. Admission to the Museum is free. A charge may be made for some special events.
29 August 2006