York’s National Railway Museum opened its doors on 27 September 1975. It was a huge moment: this was the first national museum outside of London. The launch proved an ambitious move, sparking debate in Parliament and marking a turning point in how Britain shared its industrial heritage on a global stage. Since then, the museum has welcomed almost 40 million visitors – becoming the most-visited free attraction in the region. It is home to the largest assortment of railway objects in the world, including famous steam locomotives such as the Mallard, the fastest ever built, and the Flying Scotsman, which is internationally renowned for its journeys between Edinburgh and London. They are just two among 260 in the collection.
This September, the museum celebrates a huge milestone: 50 years. It is marking the anniversary with a major reopening. Station Hall, a gallery dedicated to railway life, closed in 2023 to undergo a full refurbishment. The space was originally built in the 1870s, and served as York’s main goods station until the 1960s. “Since 1990, Station Hall has been the heart of the museum,” shares Craig Bentley, Director. “It is one of the National Railway Museum’s most memorable spaces, alive with authentic railway history. Now, following an £11 million transformation, it features multimedia storytelling, restored architecture and luminous glazing. Visitors will encounter the railway as a stage for drama, ingenuity and design.”
The building, as Bentley notes, has undergone major architectural and structural improvements, including a thermally efficient roof – a weather-tight solution that will protect the collection and preserve the building for future generations. A new exhibition has also been installed, reinterpreting much-loved rail vehicles whilst adding several brand-new items, archive images and audio – all showcasing stories of the people and journeys made through British stations over the past 200 years. Key objects on display include Queen Victoria’s original funeral wreath; a WHSmith bookstall, first installed at London Waterloo in 1921, and photographs depicting Windrush migrants just arrived from the Caribbean, as they set out to their new homes via rail. In addition, visitors will have a close-up view of famous Royal Carriages, the Euston Clock and The Countess of York, an historic dining car now refurbished to provide afternoon tea.
National Railway Museum has long been renowned for its interactivity, with trains you can step into, objects you can touch and live demonstrations to watch. Its birthday weekend, 27-28 September, is set to be no different. The two days are truly momentous, as they coincide with the climax of Railway 200 – the bicentenary of the birth of the modern railway. Visitors will be able to go behind-the-scenes in previously unseen areas of the museum, as well as attend talks and tours. There are also family activities, including access to the interactive experience Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery; the Flying Scotsman VR Experience and the miniature railway – all made free to those visiting across Saturday and Sunday.
Station Hall reopens at the National Railway Museum, York, on 26 September 2025.
railwaymuseum.org.uk
Words: Eleanor Sutherland
Images courtesy Drew Forsyth.
