At Locomotion you can see highlights of the national collection of railway vehicles in the world's first railway town.

The town of Shildon has had an exciting story to tell since the earliest days of the rail industry, making it the perfect place to explore the rich seam of local railway history and discover how the railways have changed all our lives.

The museum officially opened in September 2004 as a partnership between Sedgefield Borough Council and the National Railway Museum, with funding from both partners and the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is home to more than 70 rail vehicles from the national collection, including icons such as Sans Pareil, APT-E and Deltic prototype.

The historic buildings associated with Timothy Hackworth and the early days of the Stockton & Darlington Railway are an integral part of the site. These buildings were part of Sedgefield Borough Council's Timothy Hackworth Museum, which became part of Locomotion when it opened in 2004.

Visitor numbers at Locomotion have far exceeded early predictions, averaging more than 175,000 annually—often boosted by amazing events such as Mallard 75 or Flying Scotsman and the Shildon Shed Bash.

Shildon has had an exciting story to tell since the earliest days of the railways, and the site was chosen by the partners to reflect its unique place in history. Locomotion is a partnership between the Science Museum Group and Durham County Council. It first opened in 2004.