The LNER Encyclopedia

A couple of friends and I are coming across on 19th February to see the Great Goodbye at Shildon. We plan to be at Shildon on Thursday morning, then do the NRM at York on Friday before flying back from Edinburgh on Saturday. At the moment we looking for an addition visit on Thursday afternoon (we think 2 or 3 hours in Shildon will suffice) - any recommendations? We are based at Scotch Corner near Darlington and would be looking for something in a 40 mile radius.

Peter

Last May we paired Shildon up with a visit to the Darlington Museum ("Head of Steam") and a private visit to the G5 project (Shildon). The Darlington Museum won't take too long but needs your support (the city have always had funding issues and are threatening to close it in 2016). The locomotives held there are: Locomotion, Derwent, the surviving Tennant 2-4-0, and the surviving Q7 0-8-0.

A little further north is Beamish. That is worth a trip although I don't think they'll be steaming on a weekday in February (unless it is half term, possibly?).

Can't recommend Head of Steam highly enough, very close to Shildon and great exhibits even if small - very atmospheric too (something Shildon lacks)

should you be pushed for time and are near to Richmond, the old station there is worth a visit. Nice teas/coffees and a reminder of the good-old-days.

I agree about visiting Head of Steam

Popped into Shildon today to see Union of South Africa as I doubt I'll make the goodbye - plenty of A4 related merchandise and a second sales area by GNR No 1. Nice row of brake vans outside too - SR Queen Mary, LNER/BR with added standing area on the open platforms at each end, and the large LMS type

Head of Steam at Darlington is highly recommended, and, as others have said, it needs our support!

Beamish needs at least a full day to do it justice.

Thanks guys. Looks like Head of Steam needs our support and it's very near. I seem to remember Locomotion on the platform at Darlington 40(!) years ago when I went to an interview at some steelworks near there. We're also considering a coal mine - is there anything like the Flockton's National Mining Museum in Durham?

Peter

PGBerrie wrote:Thanks guys. Looks like Head of Steam needs our support and it's very near. I seem to remember Locomotion on the platform at Darlington 40(!) years ago when I went to an interview at some steelworks near there. We're also considering a coal mine - is there anything like the Flockton's National Mining Museum in Durham?

Peter

There's the 'F' Pit museum at Washington, Peter, and of course lots of mining stuff at Beamish.

Mark

The trip was well worth it - an incredible number of people on the Thursday. Goodness knows what it was like at the weekend. After Shildon, we went to the Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle - also recommended. It wasn't possible to get all the A4s on one picture without climbing on top of the coach parked in the sidings, so here is a parting shot of just three.

Peter

Just managed 6 A4s in one shot at Shildon on the 17th. OK Bittern is just a little patch of blue on the far left! It was great to see them all again - just wish someone had moved that darned coach.