The National Railway Museum is collecting photographs from the public capturing half a century of the museum.
The National Railway Museum is seeking nostalgic snaps taken at the museum over the years as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.
Whether its nostalgic snaps from the museum’s early years or more recent favourites, the NRM50 campaign is putting together a collection of images to share during its milestone celebration.
A selection of images will be used in publicity materials to celebrate the half-century anniversary.
Photographs must include at least one person as a subject and permission must be granted from both the photographer and those featured. The deadline for submissions is Friday, 15 November. Digital copies only should be emailed, along with a short description and the approximate year it was taken, to: [email protected]
When the National Railway Museum was opened by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in September 1975, it was the first national museum to open outside of London.
It remains popular to this day, attracting almost 700,000 visitors last year. Around 40 million people have visited the National Railway Museum and its sister museum, Locomotion, since they first opened.
Pete Livesey works as a Digital Analyst at the museum. A formative visit to the museum in 1993 was captured on camera by his late Grandfather.
Pete explains: “The National Railway Museum was always an exciting family day out. My grandad worked on the railways and would tell us all sorts of stories as we went around. Those visits inspired a lifelong love for the museum and a passion for science and heritage.
“Now, I take my own son on trips to the museum, and he loves it too! The three-year-old me would be thrilled to learn that he would be working here one day, and I can’t wait to see some of the other memories that have been captured through the years.”
The opening of the National Railway Museum was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the first passenger journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway in September 1825, regarded by many as the birth of the modern railway.
Celebratory events are planned throughout 2025 as part of Railway 200, a year-long campaign to celebrate the bicentenary of the modern railway.
Construction will start on the National Railway Museum’s new welcome building, Central Hall, in spring as part of a c£100m masterplan to improve and regenerate the National Railway Museum and Locomotion.
Station Hall is currently undergoing a £10.4m restoration project ahead of reopening, complete with a fully replaced roof and refreshed display, and the plan has already delivered Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery at the National Railway Museum and a brand-new 40-vehicle collections building, New Hall, at Locomotion.
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