Locomotion

About

At Locomotion you can see highlights of the national collection of railway vehicles in the world’s first railway town.

The town of Shildon has had an exciting story to tell since the earliest days of the rail industry, making it the perfect place to explore the rich seam of local railway history and discover how the railways have changed all our lives.

With a design inspired by an engine shed, New Hall tells the story of the North East’s role in early railway development with six themed roads of railway vehicles.  Linking back to Shildon’s history as the home of the famous railway works, which closed in 1984.

Housing 47 vehicles, New Hall brings the total number of vehicles at Locomotion to 99—the largest undercover collection of historic railway vehicles in Europe.

Highlights from New Hall’s collection include a host of historic vehicles built at Shildon Works, an armoured tank, the oldest oil tanker in the world, two snowploughs and a tracked Bren Gun Carrier.