Press Office

Green Railways

From gigantic heavy horses to tiny creepy-crawlies, the National Railway Museum is to be swamped by all manner of wildlife this month as part of a fascinating event celebrating the ‘greener’ side of the railways.

Over the half-term holiday (27 May - 4 June 2006), the Museum’s South Yard will be transformed into a colourful spectacle crammed with flowers and plants, supplied by three local nurseries.

Minibeast adventures organised by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust will enable visitors to discover the wealth of wildlife living on and around Britain’s railways, and in their own back gardens.

Piles of litter will be transformed into large-scale sculptures of some of the prized locomotives in the Museum’s collection. Artists from Thirsk-based organisation Rural Arts will be on hand to help Museum visitors weave artwork out of crisp packets, carrier bags and chocolate wrappers.

Visitors will also have the chance to get up close and personal to a range of British and European birds of prey. These birds are among the many species whose habitats depend to a great extent on the rich hunting-grounds provided by today’s railway lines. The birds will be on show throughout the week, with flying demonstrations on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Also on show in Green Railways week will be a collection of wild and wacky railway vehicles propelled in various unorthodox, pollution-free ways.

Assorted human-powered and battery-powered railway vehicles will illustrate environmentally friendly aspects of rail travel. They include a pedal-powered velocipede, and the pump trolley beloved of Buster Keaton and film writers everywhere.

The star of the show is sure to be Spooner’s Boat, a quirky device created by a Victorian gentleman to woo his ladyfriend. Essentially a sailing boat on wheels, the vehicle is entirely powered by wind and gravity.

The original boat came to a sticky end when Spooner sailed into the path of an oncoming train, but a faithful reproduction is to be on show at the National Railway Museum.

The Museum is already home to the Inclinator and the EM1 locomotive, both examples of machines capable of regenerating electrical energy through their own movement.

Green Railways focuses on five main ideas:

  • Wildlife, and the natural habitats created and protected by railway lines and structures
  • Green tourism and recreation
  • Sustainable transport and travel, past, present and future
  • Environmental conservation and the need for recycling in the modern world
  • Station gardens and horticulture

A special exhibition will illustrate Network Rail’s ongoing battle to keep 20 000 km of track clear of vegetation-including the story behind ‘leaves on the line’, with a hi-tech guest ‘rail-head treatment train’. And a unique photography exhibition, commissioned specially for the Green Railways event, captures what happens to railway structures when nature takes over.

The National Trust illustrates the link between sustainable heritage attractions, green tourism and green transport in their own exhibition, while the Association of Community Rail. Partnerships explains the importance of local railways to British communities.

Platform 4 - the NRM’s own professional theatre company - will present a brand-new show, “Permanent Way”, which looks at how old railways have found a new ‘green’ lease of life.

And an exhibition by sustainable transport charity Sustrans reveals how old railway lines and structures are preserved for recreation, transport and wildlife-including a display brought to life by pedal power!

Andrew Scott, Head of Museum, said:

“At a time when issues about the environment and sustainable transport are in everyone’s minds, I’m delighted that we can offer a contribution to the ongoing debate as well as a brilliant day out for the whole family.
“Green Railways sets out to ask thought-provoking questions in a lively way, with games, activities, and lots to see.”

Notes for editors

  • Railways are the greenest form of mass transport we have. Measured per person per mile, a rail journey produces less than one sixth of the CO2 emissions of travelling by car. In 2001, the European Commission identified a shift to the railways as a key measure needed to secure a sustainable transport system for the future.
  • Green Railways activities will take place every day during half term between 10:30 and 16:30, except: Minibeast hunts are Tuesday and Thursday only, at 11:45, 13:45, 14:45. Flying displays are Monday, Wednesday and Friday only, at 11:45 and 13:45
    Heavy horse shunting demonstrations are Saturday 27, Sunday 28 and Monday 29 only. Platform 4 performances are daily at 10:50, 13:00 and 14:30 every day, plus an extra performance at 12:00 on the weekend days.
  • Activities and exhibitions are all free of charge, except that a small charge will be made for children’s craft activities and seed potting.

23 May 2006