Future-proofing the National Collection
WITH some £4 million spent on the decade-long restoration of steam loco Flying Scotsman, there were some that took this as a sign that the National Railway Museum had little interest in its diesels and electrics. With the likes of pioneer Class 40 No. D200 and celebrity ‘Western’ No. D1023 gathering dust at York, critics said the museum did not care.
All is not quite as it seems, however, and just because nothing appears to be happening does not necessarily mean nothing is actually happening. As the museum’s senior curator of rail transport and technology, Anthony Coulls, puts it: “One reason why a loco may not be operating at the moment is that we do care about it!”
The museum – which is still officially the National Railway Museum as part of the wider Science Museum Group, the recent dropping of the word ‘national’ being only for branding and signage purposes – is home to a unique collection of locos, units, carriages, wagons and related items.
The stars of the non-steam collection include the previously and production ‘Deltic’ No. D9002/55002 (KOYLI). There is also the gas-turbine APT-E; the only surviving main line, non-steam North British loco No. 84001; and Eurostar power car No. 3308.
