It is only five months since the North-East's first national railway museum opened its doors to the public and already it has been shortlisted for one of the biggest art prizes in Britain.

Helen Miller looks at how winning the Gulbenkian Prize could open the floodgates to more exciting opportunities.

To be nominated for a prestigious award so soon after it opened must have been beyond the wildest dreams of bosses at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum.

But today, manager George Muirhead will proudly show the Gulbenkian judges just how the multi-million pound museum has blossomed and why it deserves the title of Museum of the Year.

Mr Muirhead said: "We are all really excited that the judges are coming. There is a feeling of expectation at the museum and it is like opening day all over again.

"We are up against some really good museum developments. We are pleased to have got this far but we would be delighted to get to the next stage.''

When Locomotion opened in September last year at Shildon, County Durham, it was estimated that 63,000 people a year would flock to see it.

The museum reached that target in three months and is now looking forward to welcoming more than 100,000 people by the end of this month.

Phil Ball, head of leisure services at Sedgefield Borough Council, said that the museum had far exceeded everyone's expectations.

If it is lucky enough to win the Gulbenkian Award, it would open the floodgates to more exciting times.

He said: "If we are fortunate enough to win, the £100,000 prize money will be ploughed back into the museum.

"The money would work as a lever to other grant-aiding organisations and agencies.

"We are looking to multiply this figure ten fold in order to try and meet our aspirations for Locomotion.''

One of the things that the money could pay for is a secure display unit to exhibit a silver model of Locomotion, the engine that hauled the world's first public train from Shildon in 1825.

The museum has the model on loan from the Royal Collection but cannot afford to exhibit it.

Cash could also help realise the dreams of enthusiasts who hope to build a narrow gauge railway on the site.

And this would help start the stage two development proposals which include access on the first floor of the Hackworth Cottages and a kilometre of fun between the Collection and Welcome buildings.

Public access is also needed to the goods shed, and plans are in the pipeline to develop number 4 Soho Cottages, which was formerly the administration centre.

Jane Hackworth-Young, whose great-great grandfather is rail pioneer Timothy Hackworth, the inspiration behind the museum, said: "This is going to be a museum that develops all the time and there will be something different for people to see every time they come back."

To the people of Shildon, Locomotion is a chance for them to show off their heritage and claim their rightful place in the history books as the cradle of the railways.

The town has always felt robbed of its roots after the closure of the Shildon Wagon Works in the 1980s and the museum is giving it another chance to shine.

If it is to be named Museum of the Year, that pride will be restored and the town can look forward to a more prosperous future.