Stephenson Railway Museum
Encyclopedia
The Stephenson Railway Museum is managed by Tyne and Wear Museums
on behalf on North Tyneside Council, and is located at Middle Engine Lane in North Shields
, England
.
The museum opened in 1986 to commemorate local railway pioneers George
and Robert Stephenson
, and to provide a permanent home for the museums rail transport collections. It is on the site of the former Tyne and Wear Metro
test track.
George Stephenson
lived locally from 1802 until 1823 and Robert
, his son, was born during this time. The Museum is home to George Stephenson's Billy, a forerunner of the world- famous Rocket
. 'Billy' is joined by many other engines from the great age of steam including 'Jackie Milburn', named after the Newcastle United legend.
The Museum is also the northern terminus of the North Tyneside Steam Railway
. The museum's location is adjacent to the Blyth & Tyne footpath
, approximately 1.5 miles north of Percy Main metro
station and a similar distance south of Shiremoor metro station.
, and all year round opening.
Tyne and Wear Museums
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums is a regional group of United Kingdom national museums located across the Tyne and Wear area of north-east England. They have been administered by a joint board of local authorities since the abolition of the Tyne and Wear Metropolitan County Council...
on behalf on North Tyneside Council, and is located at Middle Engine Lane in North Shields
North Shields
North Shields is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The museum opened in 1986 to commemorate local railway pioneers George
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives...
and Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson FRS was an English civil engineer. He was the only son of George Stephenson, the famed locomotive builder and railway engineer; many of the achievements popularly credited to his father were actually the joint efforts of father and son.-Early life :He was born on the 16th of...
, and to provide a permanent home for the museums rail transport collections. It is on the site of the former Tyne and Wear Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro, also known as the Metro, is a light rail system in North East England, serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. It opened in 1980 and in 2007–2008 provided 40 million public journeys on its network of nearly...
test track.
George Stephenson
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives...
lived locally from 1802 until 1823 and Robert
Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson FRS was an English civil engineer. He was the only son of George Stephenson, the famed locomotive builder and railway engineer; many of the achievements popularly credited to his father were actually the joint efforts of father and son.-Early life :He was born on the 16th of...
, his son, was born during this time. The Museum is home to George Stephenson's Billy, a forerunner of the world- famous Rocket
Stephenson's Rocket
Stephenson's Rocket was an early steam locomotive of 0-2-2 wheel arrangement, built in Newcastle Upon Tyne at the Forth Street Works of Robert Stephenson and Company in 1829.- Design innovations :...
. 'Billy' is joined by many other engines from the great age of steam including 'Jackie Milburn', named after the Newcastle United legend.
The Museum is also the northern terminus of the North Tyneside Steam Railway
North Tyneside Steam Railway
The North Tyneside Steam Railway Association operates this standard gauge preserved railway between the Stephenson Railway Museum and near to Percy Main metro station in North Shields, North East England....
. The museum's location is adjacent to the Blyth & Tyne footpath
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
, approximately 1.5 miles north of Percy Main metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro, also known as the Metro, is a light rail system in North East England, serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. It opened in 1980 and in 2007–2008 provided 40 million public journeys on its network of nearly...
station and a similar distance south of Shiremoor metro station.
Future developments
Tyne and Wear Museums and North Tyneside Council's head of cultural services have submitted plans for feasibility study into developing the museum into a premier North East railway tourist attraction, with period buildings, a link to Percy Main Metro stationPercy Main Metro station
Percy Main Metro station is on the Yellow line of the Tyne and Wear Metro in the village of Percy Main in North Tyneside, England. The original station of the Newcastle & North Shields Railway opened in 1839 to serve a small riverside community clustered around a colliery...
, and all year round opening.