All Aboard for Summer Fun at Locomotion!

By Blog Squad member Hannah - Cultural Cheerleader

Join us for some summer fun at Locomotion Shildon with a visit to New Hall and a ride on the world-famous Flying Scotsman.

Visiting Locomotion for the first time

Getting to the museum is easy by car, with a large free car park on site. If you wanted to travel by public transport, there is also a nearby train station in Shildon. Locomotion is open 7 days a week and admission is free, except for selected events. Donations are welcome. During busy times like summer holidays, advanced booking is advised by the museum. 

This was my first trip to the museum, and what a great time to visit! Locomotion has just expanded its collections display, adding 47 new vehicles to the recently opened New Hall—a large new permanent display that looks like an engine shed. Highlights in the New Hall include two large snowplows  and the oldest oil tanker in the world! The new additions have made Locomotion home to the largest undercover collection of historic railway vehicles in Europe. Not only this, but there is also currently a unique opportunity to get a ride on a train pulled by the Flying Scotsman.

New Hall and Gaunless Bridge

On the way to New Hall you can see an impressive piece of railway architecture. Gaunless Bridge was designed by George Stephenson, and was one of the first railway bridges to be constructed of iron. The bridge was restored in 2023, and is now on display at Locomotion.

Did you know that Shildon is the world’s first railway town? At Locomotion you can learn how the development of the railway contributed to the growth of the town and Shildon’s connection to the historic Stockton and Darlington railway.

New Hall brings collections to life with oral histories, historic images, and film clips. As a history lover, I particularly enjoyed listening to stories from Shildon’s rail workers. I was also amazed by the videos showing how the snowplows worked. The snowplow was pushed by powerful steam locomotives, the blade at the front of the machine cut through the snow, lifting and clearing the snow.

I certainly didn’t expect to see a tank on display, but it was very cool. We enjoyed spending time exploring New Hall, and learning about railway history of Shildon.

After exploring New Hall, we couldn’t resist getting some ice cream. Ice cream can be enjoyed throughout the summer in deck chairs on Locomotion’s pop-up beach, just outside the hall, which gives summer by the sea vibes.

Hosting National collections, Locomotion is a great North East museum to visit. Part of the Science Museum Group, the museum has a similar feel to the Railway Museum in York. Visitors can stand on platforms and see inside the trains, some of which are absolutely stunning.

Flying Scotsman Ride

Speaking of national collections, a big highlight of our recent visit was getting a rare chance to ride on a train pulled by the iconic Flying Scotsman. The train has a large fandom, bringing people from all over to see it. Good news for followers, as they can visit it at Locomotion, with rides available until 29 August - so be quick!

We had a great ride along the museums demonstration railway line which follows the historical line of the Stockton and Darlington railway, and the the weather was perfect for it. You can find out more and book your train rides for only £5 per person here, or if you’d rather, you can also book your ride in person at the museum, just head to the desk in main hall to do this, you’ll then receive a ticket to show at the platform 10 minutes before the train is due to depart.

Displayed alongside the Flying Scotsman is its support coach, which gives a chance to see where the crew spend time. You can view the coach from the outside, or during select dates and times you can enjoy a tour of the support coach by a guide. Tours can be booked at the welcome desk for £8.00 per person and are subject to volunteer availability. 

More to enjoy at Locomotion

If you’d like a souvenir to remember your visit, the museum has a large shop with fun train merchandise. I couldn’t resist taking a photo next to Locomotion and Rocket, both displayed in the main museum, alongside Sans Pareil, a famous locomotion built in Shildon.

Café Number One, is a great on-site cafe, which serves a good range of hot and cold food, including delicious jacket potatoes and Costa coffee. This made for an ideal stop off, before we explored more.

During our visit, we also experienced Lego week, with some impressive interactive displays by the Brick Alley Lego User Group and guests, but don’t worry if you missed it because the museum has a fun packed summer programme for you, including  Model Railway Week which is 24 August - 1 September.

We enjoyed access to the Black Five Cab, where we learned from a knowledgeable guide what it would have been like to be a driver and fireman, we also got to see the controls up close.

Friendly staff and volunteers are always available to answer questions. We spent about 4 hours at the museum, enjoying the summer activities. Whether you’re a train enthusiast or just looking for a great day out, this museum is a must-see gem in the North East. It was my first visit to Locomotion, but it definitely won’t be my last. I loved getting to see such iconic historic railway vehicles, and seeing how rail engineering has developed over the years.

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