Locomotion

Would recommend having a look down here. We went for the Tim Peake Spacecraft but ended up looking at and reading about all the trains. Cant believe how many they managed to get into the space. Staff were all very pleasant. Cafe, child friendly and wheelchair accessible �

What a wonderful place, could not recommend higher. A little family trip, with an age rage from 3 to 62, we all had a great day. We came to see the Flying Scotsman, which was spectacular, but got so much more out of our family day. The staff are friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable! We will most certainly be back! Thank you! Keep up the good work.

We come here 3 or 4 times a year. For a free museum this place should be rammed every weekend. For a train enthusiast it is heaven. Thanks see you for the steam punk event in March. BTW Tim Peakes pod amazing viewing thanks again.

We came again on 27th December. It was manic! We’ve been before as a family, 2 adults and our little two year old, and we love it. Fab place! The staff are really helpful and kind. Even though it was immensely busy the cafe staff kept on going and did a great job. Thoroughly recommend this �

Really enjoyed our day there yesterday, fab to be able to stand on the footplate of Flying Scotsman and have so much explained by cheerful experts.Plenty of other great engines to see too and great cafe food. Thank you everyone.

Locomotion is a Railway enthusiast idea of a perfect day. I have been many times and it does not fail to impress me. The staff are amazing and a credit to the museum and it's collection.

The engines and carriages are well looked after and any that are awaiting restoration are exhibit on the middle road with tantalising views so when it is there turn for restoration visitors know off it. As a satellite site for the NRM at York, Shildon is an excellent location with its history and being the home of the Rainhill trials 1829 entrant Timothy Hackworth, Sans Pariel his engine is worthy of note as both the replica and original are held at Shildon. Overall Shildon is an excellent day out for all the family.

Had a brilliant day here with a 4 and 6 year old yesterday. They loved the photo hunt, a nice mix of easy and hard clues. We also really enjoyed the photo craft that was on.

All the staff were lovely, smiley and helpful. We spoke to 2 men explaining about different trains and they did it in a way my train mad 6 year old could understand. The adults learnt something new too.

We also had a lovely lunch in the cafe too.

Thanks very much, I highly recommend it.

Great value for money, free to get in, free to park only the train rides to pay for

Great morning at Locomotion enjoyed looking and walking around the engines and carriages. Plenty for children to do and see.

We will be back

Well done to all staff and volunteers a free museum

Visitors don’t forget to donate

First time here and absolutely loved it. I was amazed at the carriages that were there and the information on each of these was easy to read and digest. This is one of my grandson' s favourite museums. Will definitely be back for another visit and thoroughly recommend to others to visit xx

Fabulous day here today, free with optional donation, trains fab, lovely souvenir shop and cafe, play park brill too and on doorstep of train station so well and truly � overload � will definitely be visiting again

Excellent. Great selection of locomotives and railway related items. Some of real historical importance. Sans Pareil, Deltic and APT-E to name but three. Potted history of all exhibits available and things to keep the kids interested. The only downside was the Welcome centre and Hackworth’s house were closed awaiting refurbishment. I understand why this is being done, and no doubt it’ll be wonderful when it’s finished, I just wish there was some notification on the footpath down to that end telling me it was closed, and I could have spent more time in the main display area.

Brilliant museum, and, for me, right on the doorstep. There really are some excellent locos to see, plus some very interesting rolling stock. I often call in when it's not so busy, mid week, but really enjoy the regular events and model shows.



I've been exhibiting at the Model Mania event, for about seven years, and look forward to it. I always seem to spend a lot of money and come away with some excellent finds, such as old kits and bits, books and railway models.



The museum is always worth a visit. Just look at the list of exhibits.

Amazing little museum. Not only is it a nice little walk out with the kids (it's free, there's a play area and some pretty cool trains with plenty of interactivity)but as a resident of the town it is also something to be incredibly proud of in regards to our historical ties and contribution to the railways, and also to the displays and exhibitions it hosts throughout the year. My only frustration is that the bottom end of the facility (the old engine shed/visitor centre/Timothy Hackworth Museum) are being unused and apparently been left to go into disrepair. I would love to see this whole area more presentable for not only our town but also for all the visitors that the museum is attracting.

I cannot understand why the very popular Toy and Train Fairs held at Locomotion four or five times a years have been discontinued. These brought a great many more people to the museum and obviously generated revenue from the fees for the stalls and extra takings in the cafè. It was a very misguided decision to cancel these and does not bode well for the changed management structure.

Came here today with my son whilst visiting Sunderland for a few days. Such a shame the houses area in the village is closed but good to see the collection and generally the staff were great, excluding one miserable man who spoke quite rudely to my son re his scooter when it was totally unnecessary as if asked nicely he would have left it at the entrance as he did but I'm not happy at the attitude and tone used to my son who was with me. Helen and the other lady on reception were great with fab customer service along with the rushed off her feet lady at the cafe so the man let things down for us.

Very disappointing. Houses, Visitors Centre, Goods Station etc closed. Went for the Start of the Festival of Steam & apart from a very small gathering outside of 2 miniature & 1 full size traction engine & a steam sentinel nothing different to normal days.

Very disappointed with the first "event" of 2018 which I visited this morning, billed as a "Festival of Steam it was no such thing with very little going on and not a lot of live steam either.



It seems that now the Locomotion is operating under the Science Museum NONE of the popular toy and model fairs and similar events will take place this year, which will decimate visitor numbers and lose significant revenue.



One had to ask, are the new management trying to shut the museum, otherwise why change a successful formula?

Very disappointed that for the last few years the Timothy Hackworth museum is closed along with other attractions. Such a shame. The Hackworth museum is the highlight for me. The room where you could listen to the protests about closing down the railway works caught a lump in my throat. I was part of those protests. People need to know why the museum is there. And that room sums it up because it wouldn’t be there had the government not closed the works. If all can be up and running I feel this would be a fartastic place however not a lot to see or do after a n hour or so these days. The Tim Peake thing would have been brilliant had my grandchildren been able to watch the virtual reality landing. They had watched a very similar thing at school and were looking forward to it after travelling 90 miles but had to be over 13.