Thread: Demise of NRM+

The latest Steam Railway magazine notes that, due to a lack of funding caused by the current economic climate, the NRM+ plans are cancelled/scrapped/put on hold in the short to medium term.

Assuming that this is indeed the case, I think that this is a great shame. The NRM is for everyone, enthusiast and joe public alike, and NRM+ would have told the story of the railways from a social, economical and political aspect very well, from what I could have gathered (although I did feel that too much space in the great hall was being left empty). This is the real story of the railways, the technology (which we as enthusiasts are so interested in), being simply a facilitator for the railways development in this country and the developments that they directly and indirectly caused.

The current NRM displays a very technologically orientated history, very whiggish in character with a 'this was invented then this was then this was then this was' story, and even that is iffy. Most artefacts in the museum, especially the locomotives around the turntable, are displayed on their own merit and do not fit into an overarching theme. Whilst this appeals to us, the enthusiasts, who automatically know the back story of the Lanky 2-4-2T, the current mode of display could do so much more for your average visitor.

Also let's bear in mind that the planned revamp would have enabled many more locomotives and items of rolling stock to go on display elsewhere. We have seen a start made on this with the move of 925 Cheltenham and the plans for 2500, the 2-6-4T. As someone who lives one heck of a (cross-country) journey from York, I heartily support this move which I hope is allowed to carry on regardless.

I may have utterly misinterpreted the plans, and the prevalent attitudes of people, so my apologies if I have, but all in all I think this a great shame.

Discuss!