Railway 200 attraction is on a 60-stop, year-long tour of Britain
An exhibition inside a train that is packed with amazing stories and interactive fun is heading to Hull – and it is completely free to visit. More than 80,000 people have explored the Railway 200 exhibition train on its 60-stop, year-long tour of Britain.
Co-curated with the National Railway Museum and called Inspiration, it uses rare artefacts and fascinating facts to explore how railways transformed the world. It includes hands-on engineering challenges and a whistle-stop tour of interesting – and lesser-known – careers on the railways.
The next stops on its tour have just been announced and, excitingly, it will be at Hull Paragon Station from Friday to Sunday, June 5 to 7, hosted by TransPennine Express. Hull is one of Inspiration’s final stops, so this could be local families’ last chance to see it – tickets are free but availability is limited.
The exhibition train was visited by thousands of people during visits to nearby locations including York, Darlington and Locomotion museum in Shildon. Visitors have described Inspiration as “unique”, “extremely interesting” and “really well curated”.
Tara Jones Ulla was one of 2,000 visitors to Inspiration at the West Somerset Railway in November. She described it as “brilliant” and said: “It was so informative without being overwhelming, with lots of interactive and hands-on exhibits. I came away so happy!”
Michael Wilson, who visited at London Paddington, said: “The whole thing was well thought out. The interactive exhibits were brilliant and my children loved it.”
Local schools will be invited for bespoke tours. Inspiration is part of Railway 200, the national celebration marking two centuries of the modern railway.
Andrew McClements, customer experience and transformation director at TransPennine Express, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the Railway 200 exhibition train to Hull. This unique, free experience offers a fantastic opportunity for customers and the local community to explore the rich history of our railways, discover fascinating stories, and be inspired by the future of the industry.
“We’re proud to support such an engaging and family-friendly event at the station.” Emma Roberts, programme manager for Railway 200, said: “Railways are one of history’s most important inventions and inside this train you can explore the story of rail in a fun and family-friendly environment.
“Inspiration has already travelled thousands of miles across Britain – from Scotland to Southampton – and we are hugely excited to welcome locals aboard in Hull. Inspiration’s tour is coming to an end in June and this will be one of your last opportunities to see it – so make sure you don’t miss out.”
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said: “I’m proud to be celebrating our heritage as the birthplace of the modern railway; to this day our railway network is the backbone of our economy, driving economic growth, jobs and homes. With this train, we’re not just looking to the past, we are inspiring the diverse next generation of engineers, drivers, conductors and technicians, and shining a light on what the railway is delivering today.”
Inspiration tours until June 2026. It was supported by a £250,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Porterbrook funded its eye-catching livery.