The National Railway Museum opened in 1975, attracting huge crowds and excitement.
York: Let’s take a trip back to October 1975. The National Railway Museum opened its doors for the first time. It was a big deal!
People lined up for hours to get in. News reports said traffic was a mess in the city. Everyone wanted to see the new museum.
The Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the museum. We have some great photos from that day and the early years. They show how the museum was built and the excitement of the first visitors.
The museum’s history goes back to 1862. That’s when the Patent Office Museum in London started collecting railway artifacts. It all began with Stephenson’s Rocket.
By the late 1800s, railway companies began preserving their history. The London and North Eastern Railway opened a public museum in York in 1927.
Railway companies kept adding to their collections. After nationalization in 1948, a curator was hired to manage historical items. The national collection was split between London and York.
In 1968, the Transport Act encouraged British Rail to partner with the Science Museum. They decided to create a National Railway Museum.
Leeman Road in York was chosen for the site. Old railway buildings were transformed into exhibition spaces. The Great Hall and Station Hall were created from former railway facilities.
Since 1975, the museum has grown a lot. The Works opened in 1999, and the Yorkshire Rail Academy started in 2004. They also built a £4 million archive and research center called Search Engine.
This year, they opened Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery. It took five years to create and has 18 exhibits for families and school groups.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the museum has planned many events. The Station Hall will reopen in September after a £10.5 million renovation.
In 2025, a new exhibition called Railway Firsts will showcase important innovations in rail history. Visitors can also see entries from the Young Railway Photographer of the Year competition.
The museum is launching a campaign called NRM50. It will feature photos from visitors over the last 50 years. There will also be special merchandise available.
On September 27-28, the museum will host a special open weekend. Visitors can explore behind-the-scenes areas not usually open to the public.
The National Railway Museum has the largest collection of railway objects in the world. It’s the most visited free attraction in the region, with over 690,810 visitors in 2024.
Admission is free, but booking in advance is encouraged. Check out their website for more info.
What are your favorite memories of the NRM? Share them in our Facebook group, Why We Love York – Memories.
