10 replies to this topic

[Handsome Johnny]

it has always really annoyed me that as rainhill is the birthplace of the passenger railways why is the national railway museum in york? surely the council should canvas for it to be moved to it's spiritual home!! and perhaps we could put our borough on the world map for something other than rugby and pilks!!!

[Phyll]

Was looking through old threads and as I love anything to do with History, this caught my eye.
I once went to the Railway Museum in York and very nice it was too. I dug around and there is a bit
of history as to why it is in York. Also some information on Rainhill Railway Museum.

http://en.wikipedia...._Railway_Museum


http://www.rainhillr...rg.uk/index.htm

[Olliebeak]

I'm sure that Rainhill wouldn't be able to cope with the amount of extra traffic that a National Rail Museum would generate. It's a right bottleneck as it is - I'm sure that the roads are as narrow as they were back in the days of horse drawn carriages/carts.

But a permanent exhibition about the Rainhill Trials would be a great idea.

[RATTY]

I thought there was one at the library there, which was in an old railway carriage if Im remembering correctly, havnt been for years, dont know if its still there.

[Phyll]

See link above, go to main page, there's a photo of said carriage. I don't know how up to date the
site is and if the exhibition is still there. I'd be interested to know.

[jinx]

Old thread about Rainhill proposed virtual museum, posted by carlpedson in St Helen's

history sub-forum dated 13/8/06 asking for memorabilia about the train trials ect.

[RATTY]

Yup thats the one, I dont know if it is still around Ill try to call by and have a look next time Im down there.

[gypsygeoff]

There is a railway website based on the trials,its limited to 1829 members(date of the trials)Cant remember how I found it.Being a Rainhiller I remember there being a model in the waiting room of one of the engines trialed, I think it was ''The Novelty''
I seem to remember also that the original Rocket is not at York but at the Science Museum in London .In the 60's there was not alot said about the historical significance of Rainhill.Another claim to fame for Rainhill was the portholes on the Titanic were made at Roby and Utley, Brassfounders,which used to back onto the Manchester side of the station.Ther is a pic on flikr of the railway carriage that is a museum,it looks sad.some local slapper made a good comment too.

[DJGAZZA]

The Titanic reference is interesting Geoff. The firm I work for carry goods for TM Utley in St Helens, which are parts for ships and oil platforms

[DJGAZZA]

A driver that delivered some goods into us for TM Utley yesterday said they also cast the ship's bell for the Titanic

[Handsome Johnny]

Phyll, on 18 August 2010 - 04:33 PM, said:

See link above, go to main page, there's a photo of said carriage. I don't know how up to date the
site is and if the exhibition is still there. I'd be interested to know.

the carriage museum is still there at the back of the library on view road, and there are various pictures of the competing engines on the walls of the shops on warrington road and a memorial between the gallery restaurant and the victoria.