Press Office
Award-winning writer puts the fire into history
History buffs are in for a treat this spring, as award-winning travel journalist and author Christian Wolmar will be steaming in to the National Railway Museum (NRM) to explain how the railways helped form modern Britain.
His public lecture titled ‘Fire & Steam’, based on his rapidly-selling new book of the same name, will focus on the social and economical importance of the railways. Proceeds from the March 4 event will be donated to Railway Children, the UK and India-based charity that supports youngsters living on the streets.
Katie Mason, events organiser at Railway Children said:
“The focus of our work is stopping the abuse of street children, many of whom live in and around railway stations - hence our name. Last year we helped over 24,000 street children across the world and with generous donations from organisations such as the NRM we hope we will beat this target in 2008.”
Mr Wolmar added:
“I’m really thrilled to be giving a lecture at the NRM, the spiritual home of the railway and help raise money for such a good cause. My new book ‘Fire & Steam – A New History of the Railways in Britain’ starts with the Stockton and Darlington Railway and Stephenson’s Rocket, a working replica of which is a key exhibit in the museum’s Great Hall. I also used many pictures from the NRM’s vast archives, recently opened to the public in the multi million pound research centre Search Engine.”
Tickets for the lecture cost £15 including light refreshments. The museum is set for a visit by another kind of ‘Railway Children’ later in the year, with a live theatre performance of E. Nesbit’s well loved children’s tale taking centre stage from 18 July to 23 August.
07 February 2008