National Railway Museum, York, Part II: The Warehouse and The Works...
Hi all. This is Post TWO of FOUR regarding my trip to the wonderful National Railway Museum in York today. This post talks about two more sections of the NRM; The Warehouse and The Works. I'll begin with the Warehouse. Situated just off the Great Hall, the Warehouse is a Rail-lovers dream. Within the confines of this huge building you can find everything you would ever need to run a railway. From totems to lamps, from magnificent 7.25" gauge working models to benches and from station toilets and directors tables and chairs right up to a huge station statue; the Warehouse has it all! Also, there are signal arms, signal frames, lanterns, lamposts, uniforms, mirrors, orniments, models, headboards, signs, electric lights, nameplates, worksplates; EVERYTHING! This was probably one of my favourite points of the day; there was just so much stuff to see! (The pictures can't really do the building justice; you'll have to go along and see it for yourself'; you won't be disssapointed). There is also a large exhibition named "The Flying Scotsman Story"; documenting the turbulent life of the World's most famous steam locomotive. In amongst the other treasures were many models, ranging from 'O' Gauge through 3.5", 5" and even up to 7.25" gauge. Below, on one of the shelves (as if it was a 00 gauge loco!) stood a beautiful 7.25" gauge GWR 4-4-0 Bulldog loco...
I must have counted at least 20 steam models of gauges ranging between 3.5" and 7.25", and thats not counting the ones that were only half finished! The NRM must have had countless pieces donated; they have everything. There is no way to name everything, it would be impossible. The place just echoes "Railway", it's great. Below, I try and capture just a small part of The Warehouse, there is stuff crammed everywhere...
From the fantastic Warehouse, visitors can take a lift or a flight of stairs to an Upper Level. Here, there is a Signalling Display and even a Balcony overlooking the busy, present day York Station. Why not stop off and watch a few modern trains go by?! The next section is The Works. The Works is generally what it sounds like; the engineering base of the NRM. However, unlike normal workshops, where work would often be hidden from public gaze due to health and safety and one thing or another, the NRM has created the upper floor as a Viewing Gallery. Therefore, visitors can see any work going on at any time by the NRM's skilled engineering staff. Below the Gallery stand any loco's or stock that require attention and of course the machines (i.e. lathes and the Wheel-Drop pit) which help restore and maintain them. The main project for The Works at the minute is the sole surviving Gresley A3 Pacific; known as the World's Most Famous Steam locomotive; No4472 "Flying Scotsman". 4472 has been in bits at the NRM since early 2006 and is still undergoing a full overhaul back to Main Line running condition. Therefore, the general non-engineering visitor can expect only to find a pile of bits which mean nothing to them, alongside nameplates which read; "Flying Scotsman"! In fact, even today, the much worked upon frames of 4472 were not in attendence. They had been moved to the East Lancs Railway at Bury, most likely into Ian Riley's works, for fitment of Air Brake equipment ready for 75mph Main Line running in the near future. Therefore, in The Works were Class 20 (Chopper), 52 (Western) and 37 (Growler) diesels, behind 4472's tender. The 5000-gallon Corridor Tender was also off its wheels...
Below the deck, I was surprised to see 4472's main driving wheels, freshly renovated...
"Flying Scotsman" should be done in the near future but, if you're interested in her overhaul, you can keep track of it in the railway press (4472 almost always gets a mention!). Whilst in The Works, I took an oppotunity to check out the various machines on show. The Wheel Drop pit in particular was very impressive, allowing the wheels to simply 'Drop' from an engine which stands above (it's as easy as that!). If you did it the "old fashioned way" like the LMS used to then, you'd generally lift the entire engine off the wheels. Using the pit, the engine can remain on the ground, leaving the much lighter wheels to 'fall' from the chassis independently. From The Works, it's only a short walk back into the Great Hall before descending a few more steps to the ground. The Warehouse and The Works are both well worth a look and are just two more sections of the fabulous NRM. Thanks for reading folks. Post III will document the visit to the NRM's second main building; Station Hall (coming soon). Good Evening...
Hi all. This is Post TWO of FOUR regarding my trip to the wonderful National Railway Museum in York today. This post talks about two more sections of the NRM; The Warehouse and The Works. I'll begin with the Warehouse. Situated just off the Great Hall, the Warehouse is a Rail-lovers dream. Within the confines of this huge building you can find everything you would ever need to run a railway. From totems to lamps, from magnificent 7.25" gauge working models to benches and from station toilets and directors tables and chairs right up to a huge station statue; the Warehouse has it all! Also, there are signal arms, signal frames, lanterns, lamposts, uniforms, mirrors, orniments, models, headboards, signs, electric lights, nameplates, worksplates; EVERYTHING! This was probably one of my favourite points of the day; there was just so much stuff to see! (The pictures can't really do the building justice; you'll have to go along and see it for yourself'; you won't be disssapointed). There is also a large exhibition named "The Flying Scotsman Story"; documenting the turbulent life of the World's most famous steam locomotive. In amongst the other treasures were many models, ranging from 'O' Gauge through 3.5", 5" and even up to 7.25" gauge. Below, on one of the shelves (as if it was a 00 gauge loco!) stood a beautiful 7.25" gauge GWR 4-4-0 Bulldog loco...
I must have counted at least 20 steam models of gauges ranging between 3.5" and 7.25", and thats not counting the ones that were only half finished! The NRM must have had countless pieces donated; they have everything. There is no way to name everything, it would be impossible. The place just echoes "Railway", it's great. Below, I try and capture just a small part of The Warehouse, there is stuff crammed everywhere...
From the fantastic Warehouse, visitors can take a lift or a flight of stairs to an Upper Level. Here, there is a Signalling Display and even a Balcony overlooking the busy, present day York Station. Why not stop off and watch a few modern trains go by?! The next section is The Works. The Works is generally what it sounds like; the engineering base of the NRM. However, unlike normal workshops, where work would often be hidden from public gaze due to health and safety and one thing or another, the NRM has created the upper floor as a Viewing Gallery. Therefore, visitors can see any work going on at any time by the NRM's skilled engineering staff. Below the Gallery stand any loco's or stock that require attention and of course the machines (i.e. lathes and the Wheel-Drop pit) which help restore and maintain them. The main project for The Works at the minute is the sole surviving Gresley A3 Pacific; known as the World's Most Famous Steam locomotive; No4472 "Flying Scotsman". 4472 has been in bits at the NRM since early 2006 and is still undergoing a full overhaul back to Main Line running condition. Therefore, the general non-engineering visitor can expect only to find a pile of bits which mean nothing to them, alongside nameplates which read; "Flying Scotsman"! In fact, even today, the much worked upon frames of 4472 were not in attendence. They had been moved to the East Lancs Railway at Bury, most likely into Ian Riley's works, for fitment of Air Brake equipment ready for 75mph Main Line running in the near future. Therefore, in The Works were Class 20 (Chopper), 52 (Western) and 37 (Growler) diesels, behind 4472's tender. The 5000-gallon Corridor Tender was also off its wheels...
Below the deck, I was surprised to see 4472's main driving wheels, freshly renovated...
"Flying Scotsman" should be done in the near future but, if you're interested in her overhaul, you can keep track of it in the railway press (4472 almost always gets a mention!). Whilst in The Works, I took an oppotunity to check out the various machines on show. The Wheel Drop pit in particular was very impressive, allowing the wheels to simply 'Drop' from an engine which stands above (it's as easy as that!). If you did it the "old fashioned way" like the LMS used to then, you'd generally lift the entire engine off the wheels. Using the pit, the engine can remain on the ground, leaving the much lighter wheels to 'fall' from the chassis independently. From The Works, it's only a short walk back into the Great Hall before descending a few more steps to the ground. The Warehouse and The Works are both well worth a look and are just two more sections of the fabulous NRM. Thanks for reading folks. Post III will document the visit to the NRM's second main building; Station Hall (coming soon). Good Evening...
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