We did the Coast2Coast August 2015. On completion we headed to York for 4 days before moving on. Visited this railway museum. Could have spent all day there. Absolutely brilliant. Worth traveling from New Zealand to see. Cheers.
We made the mistake of going last year. Mostly closed, and with some kind of odd and overly expensive kids science museum tacked on instead. Desperately disappointing after a long drive. Don't bother, wait until the refurbishment is finished, if it gets finished, and if they manage to reopen the other sites & the outdoor area. Go to K&WVR instead if you're up north!
Yes, much more to see at Locomotion although they could do more to allow proper access to more exhibits. Don't bother with Hopetown Darlington though, it's all kids things at extra charge.
Hi my name is Phil I have been to NRM .I did 50yrs on the footplate I started at Edgeley shed in 1961 so I have fired a number of engines in my time I finished my time out at Longsight in 2011 Regards Phil.
I went to the NRM this week with my son and I was disappointed as it was a shadow of its former self, due to the severe downsizing because of the ongoing refurb. The Scotsman VR was fun but I refused to pay for Wonderlab as I was not sure if it was age appropriate for him and it was unclear what it was. Also, it just seemed like some play area grafted on as a revenue stream.
It's a cafe, shop & kids' play area with a few sad exhibits. Go and visit a preserved railway instead where the trains are running and the volunteers really care about the railway.
I went there regently and also had the same impression as you. All the 'interesting' quirky stuff was in a side room on stackable pallets for storage until they eventually (in a few years we are told) will be on proper display again. I was looking forward to going there and left most dissapointed. went to the Yorkshire Air Museum on the same 'Jolly' this was in atotally different league to this 'Childrens Play Area' and School Party Visiting Attraction.
Just been with my grand kids, and have vowed not to return till this refurbishment is complete. That’s if I live long enough. Whose idea was it for a kiddies play area that if your daft enough you pay to get in. It seems the museum has had to let a lot of exhibits go to other transport museums as there is no room now.
These comments make disturbing reading. Why is a childrens play area needed in the NRM? It is a museum, there are plenty of parks for children to play in elsewhere.
I would’ve thoroughly recommended it 10 to 15 years ago, but not so much now. The NRM has just gotten more and more empty. Every year they give more exhibits to other places, and God knows what they’re doing to the station hall. The museum has now become a very look don’t touch place with a budget spent on a glorified children’s play area that barely has anything to do with railways. I will go back at some point to see Henry Oakley, but at the moment I’d struggle to recommend the musuem, even to people who’ve never been.
For some reason they decided that while half the place was closed for renovation was the right time to also work on the other half, so the museum is currently very small. Not only that but a big part of what is left has been converted to kids things which are charged for. Nothing like what it was.
Ooooo trains love that place i spent hours in there my friend had to drag me out i wanted to go back the next day but she wouldn't let me. Appart from the sea thats my idea of heaven O sorry actually going on a steam train the smell oooo im getting all excited. Sorry im a bit odd for a woman. Thank you for that ❤❤
We did the Coast2Coast August 2015. On completion we headed to York for 4 days before moving on. Visited this railway museum. Could have spent all day there. Absolutely brilliant. Worth traveling from New Zealand to see. Cheers.
Check the website before you go, just in case the museum is closed for three days for refurbishment and you have made the journey.
Guess how I know.
Keep them coming!
Plenty more on the way, don’t you worry mate 😉. Should be another one out this weekend…
We made the mistake of going last year. Mostly closed, and with some kind of odd and overly expensive kids science museum tacked on instead. Desperately disappointing after a long drive.
Don't bother, wait until the refurbishment is finished, if it gets finished, and if they manage to reopen the other sites & the outdoor area. Go to K&WVR instead if you're up north!
Loved the video, I saw more than I did when I went there 6 years ago.
@@themekonlordofthetreens6983 Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it 😊
Have you been to Locomotion in Shildon? Always worth a visit.
@@MadMal2024 No I haven’t. I’ll have to look into it, thanks.
Yes, much more to see at Locomotion although they could do more to allow proper access to more exhibits. Don't bother with Hopetown Darlington though, it's all kids things at extra charge.
Hi my name is Phil I have been to NRM .I did 50yrs on the footplate I started at Edgeley shed in 1961 so I have fired a number of engines in my time I finished my time out at Longsight in 2011 Regards Phil.
@@philipholt9112 Thanks for taking the time to watch Phil. Much appreciated 😊
@@JonDoesTravel ok 👍 Regards Phil.
I went to the NRM this week with my son and I was disappointed as it was a shadow of its former self, due to the severe downsizing because of the ongoing refurb. The Scotsman VR was fun but I refused to pay for Wonderlab as I was not sure if it was age appropriate for him and it was unclear what it was. Also, it just seemed like some play area grafted on as a revenue stream.
Yes, it definitely was far more impressive before the refurb started.
It's a cafe, shop & kids' play area with a few sad exhibits. Go and visit a preserved railway instead where the trains are running and the volunteers really care about the railway.
It’s certainly not what it was a few years ago…
I went there regently and also had the same impression as you. All the 'interesting' quirky stuff was in a side room on stackable pallets for storage until they eventually (in a few years we are told) will be on proper display again. I was looking forward to going there and left most dissapointed. went to the Yorkshire Air Museum on the same 'Jolly' this was in atotally different league to this 'Childrens Play Area' and School Party Visiting Attraction.
Went there in 1976 far better then , now just misbehaving by adults or children and phone obsessed people.
Just been with my grand kids, and have vowed not to return till this refurbishment is complete. That’s if I live long enough. Whose idea was it for a kiddies play area that if your daft enough you pay to get in. It seems the museum has had to let a lot of exhibits go to other transport museums as there is no room now.
You should always visit a railway museum given the chance. Regardless if it is in York, Manitoba, Utrecht or Saitame.
Amazing collection of railway artifacts my fav steam engine is the single drive Sterling engine it was used as a express engine .
Stirling!
Thank you : )
These comments make disturbing reading. Why is a childrens play area needed in the NRM? It is a museum, there are plenty of parks for children to play in elsewhere.
I would’ve thoroughly recommended it 10 to 15 years ago, but not so much now. The NRM has just gotten more and more empty. Every year they give more exhibits to other places, and God knows what they’re doing to the station hall. The museum has now become a very look don’t touch place with a budget spent on a glorified children’s play area that barely has anything to do with railways. I will go back at some point to see Henry Oakley, but at the moment I’d struggle to recommend the musuem, even to people who’ve never been.
For some reason they decided that while half the place was closed for renovation was the right time to also work on the other half, so the museum is currently very small. Not only that but a big part of what is left has been converted to kids things which are charged for. Nothing like what it was.
@@NiallWardrop Is this all there is to see, or is there more outside this hall?
As far as I could see that’s all there is at the moment. Much less than a few years ago.
Ooooo trains love that place i spent hours in there my friend had to drag me out i wanted to go back the next day but she wouldn't let me. Appart from the sea thats my idea of heaven O sorry actually going on a steam train the smell oooo im getting all excited. Sorry im a bit odd for a woman. Thank you for that ❤❤
Yes you should but go in term time, otherwise it’s overrun with snotty little brats.
Visited some years ago. Absolutely worth a visit.
I agree 😊