Description
A tour for six adults of the National Railway Museum's Great Hall, North Shed (formerly known as "The Warehouse") and Search Engine by the ever-enthusiastic well-known rail industry figure, Tim Dunn.
With the internationally-famous York museum currently undergoing a huge redevelopment as part of its transformative masterplan project, things are moving at the NRM. And with literally thousands of objects stored in open crates in the North Shed, it can sometimes seem like bamboozling array of treasures to pick through. So, Tim - a historian, geographer, presenter of UKTV's "The Architecture The Railways Built" and "Secrets of the London Underground", member of the NRM's Advisory Board and engagement manager of GBR's "Railway 200" programme will take you on a tour of the NRM like no other tour before.
The day will consist of a tour approx 2 hours duration (Tim writes: if you can bear me talking at you for that long) talking through the stories of some of the iconic objects around the turntable in the Great Hall, and in the North Shed, full of the smaller wonders collected or rescued from all over the UK's railway past. Whether it's British Rail's model of its InterCity 250, the Railway Queen tiaras, a solid silver Euston Arch given as thanks to the BR Board by its demolition contractor, or Louis Brennan's model of his gyroscopic monorail - you'll see the really fun stuff that Tim - and his friends on the NRM's curatorial team - know that you'll love.
If your party has a specific interest in any aspect of railways, as long as you give 1 month's notice, Tim will personalise the tour as far as is practicable, and work to give you a tour that draws out specific themes. This includes a visit to the Search Engine area too, to see archive and collection objects that are not usually on display to the public. Search Engine and its team are the portal to an incredible collection of 25,000 books and journals, 1 million engineering drawings, 11,000 posters, 2,300 prints and drawings, 1,000 paintings, and 1,750,000 photographs... so do take this chance if you have particular interests in mind! Depending on what is found for your request, we may need to extend the total duration of the tour to fit.
You'll also see the gallery display on their transformative masterplan project, what the Great Hall and new Central Hall is going to look like - and maybe let in on a few secrets, too.
Also included are six tickets for Wonderlab - the new gallery with 18 hands-on challenges and amazing live engineering demonstrations like the human wind tunnel and bridge-building area (retail value £60). A buzzing success with adults and kids of all ages, ably staffed my many trained interpretors you'll get to explore this yourselves. Allow up to 2hrs for this.
This is a personalised guided tour of the world's greatest collection of historic railway objects like no other before - delivered by one of the museum's most passionate advocates, who can't wait to show you around.
Terms and Conditions
This item will close for online bidding at 21:30, Friday, 24th November 2023.
This lot will then reopen in the room at The Railway Ball (Friday 24th November 2023) as a live auction item.
This lot will be sold to the individual who places the highest bid in the room or via the online maximum bid feature.
To be redeemed Jan to April 2024 on a mutually convenient date.
To include Search Engine access, the tour needs to be on a Thurs, Fri or Sat.
Tour to commence at 1pm.
Entry to the museum (free) and Wonderlab (pre-booked tickets) are included.
Travel to York not included.
For six adults (aged 16+); the museum is fully accessible but please note some of the objects in the North Shed are stored high up; please do let Tim know of accessibility needs in advance.
This item will close for online bidding at 21:30, Friday, 24th November 2023.
This lot will then reopen in the room at The Railway Ball (Friday 24th November 2023) as a live auction item.
This lot will be sold to the individual who places the highest bid in the room or via the online maximum bid feature.