The National Railway Museum (NRM)

If you are visiting in York The National Railway Museum ( NRM) is one of those places that quietly surprises almost everyone who visits. Yes, it’s home to legendary locomotives — but the real magic lies in the stories, design, people, and everyday objects that shaped Britain’s railway age.

The museum is having a major refit and expansion, but won't be completed and fully reopened for another couple of years. Currently the two are separated and you have to use two different entrances, whereas before you could go the main hall and walk to the station hall. It should be better than ever when fully open.

I have just returned from a visit there. It was very busy and, as many of you know, I like to give constructive criticism . The wait to be served at the counter for food and drink was a long one. Someone behind me asked for a hot sausage roll, and by the time he got served, he could have asked for a cold sausage roll. The couple behind him was wondering if to order the soup, but decided not to order that item. Food and drink is quite expensive. On the other hand, it did not cost anything to go in, although a suggested £5 donation is on offer. If you come by car, there is a car park which is £10 per day. If you have it a blue badge, car parking is free. You pay for your parking inside and you are given a code to get out of the car park. With the blue badge, just show it inside and you be given a code to get out of the car park at the end of your visit.

If going by car, the entrance is not far from the car park, but if are walking from the city centre it is much than it used to be. This is only whilst the construction is taking place, albeit about two years. If if you have trouble walking and mobility I suggest you take the land train from near the minister. It has sort of a timetable and there is a cost. If you are travelling by car, I would suggest paying the ten pounds and park there. Two ways of walking there are going up Leeman Road and then walking around the new road layout or going into the railway station, over the bridge, out at the other side and then walk around the new road network.

Even if you’ve never cared much about trains, the NRM offers a fascinating look at how people travelled, worked, ate, dressed, and lived. It’s a museum about journeys — not just engines.

🚂 More Than Trains: A Museum About People & Everyday Life

What makes the NRM so compelling is how deeply it explores the human side of railway history.

You’ll find:The National Railway Museum, York: Why It’s Worth Visiting Even If You’re Not a Train Buff

You will find other items to view other than large engines.

Beautiful vintage travel posters

Original railway crockery and cutlery

Seat fabrics, luggage racks, lamps, and carriage interiors

Staff uniforms, tools, and behind‑the‑scenes equipment

Tickets, timetables, menus, and personal stories

These small details bring the railway world to life — not as machinery, but as lived experience.

🛠️ Behind the Scenes: The Hidden Treasure

If you love the quieter corners of museums, the NRM is a goldmine.

Some of the most fascinating items are tucked away from the main halls:

Original china and glassware from dining cars

Upholstery samples showing how carriage interiors evolved

Station signs, clocks, and signal box instruments

Tools used by engineers, cleaners, and carriage builders

Travel ephemera that reveals what journeys were really like

These objects tell the story of everyday railway life — the part most visitors never think about.

The Great Hall Refit & Extension

The National Railway Museum is undertaking one of the biggest transformations in its history. Due to be completely finished in around 2027.

A Completely Reimagined Great Hall

• Brighter, more open, easier to navigate

• Better sightlines of iconic locomotives

• New interpretation focusing on people as much as engineering

• Improved lighting and accessibility

• New & Extended Galleries

These will showcase:

• Design and travel collections

• Social history objects

• Behind‑the‑scenes items rarely displayed before

• Rotating exhibitions

Perfect for visitors who aren’t train buffs.

There has been a reopening in late

2025, with more to come.

⭐ What’s New After the 2025 Reopening

• ✨ Fully redesigned Great Hall with modern storytelling

• 🖼️ New galleries focusing on design, travel, and social history

• 🚶 Improved visitor flow with a new central connecting gallery

• 🔧 More behind‑the‑scenes objects on display than ever before

• 🎥 Fresh interpretation blending engineering with human stori

• Better accessibility and clearer navigation

• 💡 Brighter, more open spaces that feel modern and welcoming

🚉 Highlights You Shouldn’t Miss

1. Station Hall

Atmospheric, film‑set vibes with historic carriages and station life.

2. The Royal Carriages

Ornate interiors, rich fabrics, and a glimpse into royal travel.

3. Design & Travel Collections

Crockery, posters, uniforms, fabrics — perfect for design lovers.

4. Workshop Viewing Gallery

See restoration work in progress.

5. The Great Hall Icons

Even non‑train fans can’t resist:

• Mallard

• Shinkansen

• Eurostar

• Early steam locomotives

⏱️ NRM in 60 Minutes: A Quick Guide

Perfect for tight schedules, rainy days, or visitors passing through York.

0–10 mins — Station Hall Entrance

• Walk through the atmospheric station setting

• Peek into the royal carriages

10–25 mins — Design & Travel Collections

• Posters, crockery, fabrics, uniforms

• The human side of railway life

25–40 mins — Great Hall Icons

• Mallard

• Shinkansen

• Early steam engines

• Quick photo stops

40–55 mins — Workshop Viewing Gallery

• Watch restoration work

• See tools, parts, and behind‑the‑scenes craft

55–60 mins — Gift Shop or Café

• Railway‑themed gifts

• A quick coffee before heading back into York

🚆 Locomotion at Shildon: The NRM’s Sister Site in County Durham

While the York museum is the flagship attraction, the National Railway Museum also has a second site — Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham.

If you’re staying in the north of Yorkshire, Teesside, or County Durham, it’s an easy journey and a brilliant add‑on for visitors who are serious railway enthusiasts.

Locomotion isn’t as large or glamorous as the York site, but it has a quiet importance of its own. Shildon was one birthplace of the railway age, and the collection reflects that heritage with a focus on engineering, early locomotives, and historically significant pieces.

⭐ What You’ll Find at Locomotion

• Important early locomotives and rolling stock

• Industrial engines and working‑life exhibits

• A spacious, airy collection hall

• Outdoor displays and heritage railway infrastructure

• A calmer, less crowded experience

🚗 Easy to Reach from the North of the County

For visitors based in the north of the county, Shildon is a straightforward trip — ideal for those who want to go deeper into railway history.

🎟️ Free Entry

Just like York, Locomotion is free to visit

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