Stephenson Railway Museum
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The Stephenson Railway Museum is part of the Tyne and Wear Museums service group of museums, and is located in North Shields.
The museum opened in 1986 to commemorate local railway pioneers George and Robert Stephenson, and to provide a permanent home for the museums service's rail transport collections. It is on the site of the former Tyne and Wear Metro test track.
George Stephenson lived locally from 1802 until 1823 and Robert, his son, was born during this time. George's predecessor engine to Rocket locomotive, Billy is housed at the museum.
The Museum is also the northern terminus of the North Tyneside Steam Railway. The museum's location is adjacent to the Blyth & Tyne footpath, approximately 1.5 miles north of Percy Main metro station and a similar distance south of Shiremoor metro station. As of 2005 the museum is open Tuesdays-Thursdays, weekends and bank holiday Mondays from May onwards. Out of season it is closed except for visits by pre-arranged groups.
During the summer months, between May and September, the museum will operate a steam train ride from the museum going down to Percy Main and back again. The journey typically takes 20 minutes and there are four: 1pm,1.45pm,2.30pm and 3.30pm.
