![[logo] Tyne & Wear Museums](/twmlogo.gif)
- Home
- Museums & Galleries
- Learning & Schools
- Community & Outreach
- Collections
- Corporate Information
- Venue Hire
- Archaeology
- Shop
- Support Us
- Volunteering
- Regional Museums Hub
- Fun & Games
- North East Culture
- Search
- Contact Us
Our History
Stephenson Railway Museum was opened in 1986 to house the railway collections of Tyne & Wear Museums. Its name commemorates George and Robert Stephenson, the famous father and son who pioneered the steam railway.
George Stephenson lived locally from 1802 until 1823; Robert was born in 1803. Some of the exhibits are from the collection formed in the 1930s at the former Museum of Science and Industry in Newcastle - one of the earliest museums of its kind outside London.
The Museum is also the northern terminus and maintenance workshop for the North Tyneside Railway. The railway operates mainly on summer weekends to and from Percy Main on the Tyne & Wear Metro system using steam locomotives to haul most trains. Several of the Museum's exhibits are kept in working order for use and demonstration on the railway, including a unique 1909 electric locomotive.
There are displays and exhibits which both illustrate the vital part railways have played in the region's history and also show how they continue to be relevant to today's transport needs.