World's premier railway museum to close?

[nathanmallard]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-22800981
(Note that they don't mention any museums in the South of England!)
Yes, the idiots at the Science Museum Group are seriously considering closing the NRM, and it's not just the NRM either! The snobby southerner-types have also suggested closing the Media Museum in Bradford, and even the flippin' NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY in Manchester, apparentley solely to save the Science Museum in London, which is actually quite tiny and is mainly hands-on exhibitions rather than historical exhibits. Personally I wouldn't mind the Media Museum in Bradford closing, it's not terribly interesting and it's collection would probably be better off in the South East anyway, but I find it shocking that the SMG are even considering closing the two best museums in the country! Of course they wouldn't be able to (or at least I hope so) , but if they were, where would they put the GOVERNMENT-PROTECTED exhibits. You couldn't fit the MOSI's Shackleton in the LSM even if you cleared everything else out, and Shildon would probably close aswell if the York one did. Ironically, (and sadly) from a history and science buff's point of view the least important of the SMG's museums is the London Science Museum, seriously, it's not that good. The only railway exhibit in there is the original "Rocket" and that isn't very representative of British railway history. Not to mention the entire LSM collection could probably be better displayed elsewhere...

 

[CRO]

From my quick read of the article, I doubt very much if the NRM will close. There are too many influential bodies who have a vested interest in keeping it open.
Thats not to say one (or more) of the less well known and less financially viable museums might close or merge with another to save on costs.

Bob (CRO).

 

[nathanmallard]

II believe the SMG owns 5 museums:
London Science Museum
National Railway Museum York
National Media Museum Bradford
Museum of Science and Industry Manchester
National Railway Museum Shildon
The National Media Museum, I think, is the one that is doomed if a museum has to close, as it's collections could probably be put in an annex to the LSM. However, wouldn't it make more sense for the SMG to re-introduce admission fees? (Remember, the SMG is state-owned and entry is free) It think your right CRO, the NRM has many backers who would like to see it stay open, and with it's hugely important collection, the government will hopefully see sense and subsidise it's operation. The NRM has a large collection of locomotives and rolling stock that would be very difficult or even impossible to remove to Shildon i.e. the Bullet Train, the large Chinese loco, and some of the older Victorian stuff such as the Royal Train which would disintergrate if you tried to move them, so even if it did close, everything would have to stay in it's current location until it was reopened again.