Locomotion

Locomotion is a railway museum in Shildon, County Durham. It stands on land once occupied by Timothy Hackworth’s Soho Works, beside the world’s first public railway, the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The museum opened in 2004 and became part of the Science Museum Group in 2017. A second building called New Hall was added in 2024 to house more historic vehicles. The site includes restored coal drops and the original Timothy Hackworth Victorian Railway Museum. Shildon station was rebuilt as part of the project and sits next to the museum’s demonstration line. The museum draws visitors with its links to early railway history and national collections. In its first six months it attracted 94,000 visits, far exceeding the expected 60,000. It was shortlisted for the Gulbenkian Prize, the largest arts prize in the United Kingdom. In 2025 the museum launched a three-day journey re-enacting the 1825 opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Prince Edward rode behind Locomotion No.1 before the event, watched by up to 15,000 spectators. A special carriage called Future will join the displays in 2026. A one-kilometre trail links car parks to the main collection building, marked by station-style signs. The trail passes a 19th-century welcome building, Timothy Hackworth’s house and a former goods shed built with recycled stone blocks. Visitors see the coal drops where steam engines were refuelled and the stables for early horse-drawn wagonways. The trail ends at the Collection Building, the largest structure, which houses locomotives, interactive games, a cafe and a conservation workshop. Outside are a playground and picnic area. The site also features a wind turbine supplying power to the National Grid and an on-site biodiesel bus for moving visitors around.