THE recent Great Goodbye at Locomotion, in Shildon, was a great event for the museum.

It was advertised as putting Shildon on the map – sadly, not.

The powers that be at the museum boxed-in the visitors and shepherded them away from our lovely little town, which has a great collection of shops – some award-winning – and made an absolute fortune off the backs off the people who helped build the historic railway in the first place.

I completely understand that the museum does not really make its money from locals visiting, but it should hang its head in shame at not even encouraging parking in the town or even paying a visit to the grave of Timothy Hackworth, the father of the railways.

I have also just read a large advertising feature for the Locomotion in a local community-funded paper. I was gladdened to see the museum eventually paying for something and putting a little back in – although I would not be surprised if it was free.

Name and address supplied.

I THINK the organisers of the A4 Great Goodbye event at Shildon’s railway museum grossly underestimated how popular it would be.

Although I live in Heighington, the traffic jams even came up to the roundabout. Apparently, it was just as bad on the approach to the museum from the Newton Aycliffe side. I realise it was the half-term holiday but it was a pity, as the gathering could have gone on for longer.

I know the museum charged £3 for parking which is normally free. However, I also think they should have charged an entrance fee for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I do not think people would have objected.

I was lucky I actually saw the A4s when they were all running in their heyday when train spotting at what we called barrel arch, near the Blacksmith’s Arms pub, outside Newton Aycliffe.

JM Gowland, Heighington.