Fascinated by old trains, we felt compelled to visit York's National Railway Museum, especially since it was only a five minute walk from our apartment (and it was free admittance). Situated in the former York North Locomotive Depot, this museum tells the story of rail transport throughout Britain. Covering 20 acres, this is the largest museum of its type in the UK. With over 100 locomotives, 200 various rolling stock, and thousands of other railway memorabilia on display, this place is huge! Among the highlights of the exhibits are several "Palaces on Wheels" - a collection of Royal Train Salons from the time of Queen Adelaide (Victoria 's aunt) to Queen Elizabeth II. Royalty knows how to live, even when traveling! Also on display is an exhibit devoted to the famous Flying Dutchman Service. What a great place! We could easily imagine traveling the English countryside, in style, in some of these old trains.Toot-toot! One of the main exhibit areas is the Station Hall. This is where most of the locomotives and specialty carriages are on display. Just a small sample of the many trains on exhibit. Balcony view of the Round Table exhibit area with locomotives from different eras. In the outside yard exhibit area is this engine for Harry Potter fans - "The Hogwart Express." Also in the outside yard is one of the many locomotives that were designated as "The Flying Scotsman." This Japanese train is the only one of its kind on display outside of Japan.... ...along with its neighbor from China. In the Great Hall exhibition area is this display of semaphore railroad signals. This recreation of a switching room displays the complicated process of switching tracks in and around the train yards. This is the interior sorting room for a mail car. Sorted mail would be hung outside the car on a hook to be snatched by a net at an appropriate station as the train roared by. Mail that was to be picked up by the train would likewise by hung on a hook at the station to be snatched by a corresponding netting system on the train. All of this being done without the train stopping. The new bags would be brought inside and the mail sorted for its next delivery spot. Queen Adelade's personal coach car. She was wife to William IV. By standards of later Monarch's trains, Adelaide's coach was quite sparse. In comparison, Queen Victoria's coach was much larger and more sumptuous. It was also a lot more comfortable.
1 Comment
Tony Aveni
9/17/2016 06:11:45 am
Carl, fascinating place. Didn't understand the York area at all until you have shown us. Great travels.
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Carl and Lorraine Aveni are two retirees planning on traveling through Europe for at least one year.
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