A new exhibition space will give visitors an insight into County Durham’s historic role in building the railways. 

The New Hall has opened at Locomotion in Shildon and tells the story of early railway development. The purpose-built facility is modelled on an engine shed and links back to Shildon’s history as the home of the famous railway works, which closed in 1984.

Officials at the museum say the redevelopment and New Hall building has helped unlock the site’s potential by providing a previously unseen insight into the world of railways. 

“Shildon did so much to change the world with the railways,” said Judith McNicol, director of the National Railway Museum which owns Locomotion. “We want to show people the significance this area had.”

The Northern Echo: The New Hall building has helped unlock the site’s potential by providing a previously unseen insight into the world of railways. The New Hall building has helped unlock the site’s potential by providing a previously unseen insight into the world of railways. (Image: National Railways Museum)

The Northern Echo: The New Hall has opened at Locomotion in ShildonThe New Hall has opened at Locomotion in Shildon (Image: The Northern Echo)

An interactive and immersive experience has been created in the new building alongside the historic vehicles to provide visitors with an insight into what life was like on the railways through the years. 

Sarah Price, head of Locomotion, said: “We have interviews with people involved with the railways here that’s allowed us to give a voice to the people involved. Shildon set the blueprint for the railways around the world. Rail has always been important and still is.

The New Hall opens today (Friday, May 24) and officials hope to attract 250,000 visitors a year to its display of more than 100 historic vehicles and artifacts that celebrate the role of Shildon as the world’s first railway town. 

“We want to make sure visitors keep coming here,” added Ms Price. “This is the start of a really exciting new chapter for Locomotion.”

It is the first new project to open in the region that benefited from levelling up funding after the council was awarded £20m in 2021. 

Durham County Council Leader Amanda Hopgood said the redevelopment of the site is a victory for culture in County Durham. She added: “It’s leading by example. We cannot understate what culture does for regeneration and the economy.”

And its exciting new exhibition spaces like the New Hall which help highlight the region’s history. Redevelopment works at Killhope Lead Mining Museum, Durham Light Infantry Museum; and The Story were all referenced by Cllr Hopgood. 

“These projects help put County Durham on the map. We’re going to shout from the rooftops about this. We have so much culture here and the biggest economy in the North East, and we need to tell people what’s on offer.”

The Northern Echo: Council leader Amanda Hopgood (left) with Judith McNicol, director of the National Railway Museum, opening the New Hall Council leader Amanda Hopgood (left) with Judith McNicol, director of the National Railway Museum, opening the New Hall (Image: National Railway Museum)

What to expect

Historically significant vehicles built at the Shildon works, two snowploughs, a tracked Bren Gun Carrier, two cranes, and the Hetton Colliery Lyon, built in 1851. The museum’s existing Main Hall has also been refreshed and redisplayed.    

Nearly 1,000 vehicle moves were undertaken to achieve the new displays – the museum’s largest ever series of shunts, involving a team of in-house workshop and traction experts, conservators, and specialist contractors.  

Inside New Hall, oral histories from former Shildon’s rail workers are used alongside historic film clips and graphics that bring the collection to life and highlight the significance of coal, industry and freight transportation - and how the North East’s industry and innovation influenced the world.  

The Northern Echo: School children were given a tour of the New Hall School children were given a tour of the New Hall (Image: National Railway Museum)

The building is the centrepiece of a host of other improvements and additions to Locomotion’s site, including the return of the iconic Gaunless Bridge, designed by George Stephenson.   

Originally spanning the River Gaunless, from 1823 to its removal in 1901, Gaunless Bridge is one of the first railway bridges to be constructed of iron and the very first to use an iron truss. The bridge was sympathetically restored and repainted to its original colour scheme in early 2024 and is now installed on the approach to New Hall.   

Recommended reading: 

​Don't miss out on the latest news and stories. Subscribe to The Northern Echo now for £3 for three months. 

The Northern Echo: The iconic Gaunless Bridge was designed by George Stephenson.   The iconic Gaunless Bridge was designed by George Stephenson.   (Image: The Northern Echo)

Other improvements at Locomotion include newly planted landscaped gardens, designed to increase biodiversity across the site, renovations to historic railway buildings, enhancements to parking facilities, and the restoration of the site’s historic coal drops.  

Free tickets are available for a special opening bank holiday weekend (24-27 May), with a host of celebratory family-friendly activities on offer.    

Steam engine rides on a replica of Stephenson’s Rocket, live performances on an outdoor stage, science pop-ups, storytelling, and crafting activities will take place across the May Bank Holiday weekend, continuing into the following week’s half-term holidays.