The National Railway Museum have revealed an exciting programme to celebrate their 50th birthday year.
The museum will be marking its landmark year in tandem with the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.
The celebrations include brand new exhibitions, community events, and a special birthday weekend.
The museum will play host to a special celebratory open weekend on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September, marking five decades since the museum opened in 1975. Visitors will be offered the chance to access behind-the-scenes areas of the museum previously unseen by the public.
Celebrations also include the reopening of the museum’s Station Hall, which has been closed to the public since 2023. After the completion of its £10.5m refurbishment, the Station Hall will reopen in September and visitors will be able to rediscover the grandeur of the historic exhibition space.
The refurbishment of the former goods station and Grade II listed building includes a refreshed interior decoration, a brand-new roof fitted with solar panels, new collection items, alongside returning favourites such as the royal carriages.
Other 2025 highlights include a brand new exhibition, opening from Saturday 8 February. Railway Firsts will spotlight the pivotal innovations and unexpected ‘firsts’ that shaped the railways and our history, presented through a series of pop-up displays.
Shortlisted entries to the Young Railway Photographer of the Year competition will also be on display from June to December.
The National Railway Museum will also be launching a new campaign to mark its 50th birthday year.
NRM50 will feature photographs of cherished visits captured by visitors from the past five decades. A limited-edition NRM50 range of merchandise will be available to purchase later in the year.
The world’s most famous locomotive, Flying Scotsman, owned by the National Railway Museum, will play its part in the celebrations by returning to the track in 2025, with a mix of static display and operational trips.
Craig Bentley, who became interim director of the National Railway Museum in January, said said: “I stepped on board as Director at the start of one of the most exciting years in the history of the railways.
“We have a truly exciting programme of activity ahead, and through our partnership with Railway 200, we are thrilled to be at the heart of a national celebration of the past, present and future of the railways.
“I can’t think of a better 50th birthday present than a restored and revitalised Station Hall. I know how keen our visitors are to see the results of our hard work inside the space – with plenty of surprises still to reveal as we approach the reopening.”
The museum is a key partner in Railway 200, the national campaign to celebrate 200 years of modern railway. A range of Railway 200 branded gifts has been created by the National Railway Museum and are available to buy at the museum’s gift shop and online store.
To find out more, visit the National Railway Museum website.