NRM rebranding - Railway Museum

[jjb1970]

Bit like the (British) HST .....

Indeed, but as great as the HST was I really don't think it will be remembered as being in any way as significant as the Series 0 Shinkensen nor does it have the global recognition of the Japanese train. Japan basically established the template for the modern high speed railway with the Shinkansen concept.

[Coryton]

Indeed, but as great as the HST was I really don't think it will be remembered as being in any way as significant as the Series 0 Shinkensen nor does it have the global recognition of the Japanese train. Japan basically established the template for the modern high speed railway with the Shinkansen concept.

 

In terms of impact on railways in general, then I'd say that yes, the Shinkansen wins hands down.

 

But for the UK, and for what was until recently the National Railway Museum, I'd say the HST was hugely significant.

 

If it hadn't been for the HST maybe we wouldn't have much of a network left to run modern Shinkansen-like trains on.

[jjb1970]

I think that there is no reason why it should be Shinkansen or HST, why can't it be both? Certainly I'd rate both of them as being far more historically significant than most of the exhibits.

[Andy Y]

The topic was intended to be about the branding issue, specifically the dropping of 'National' but of course drift happens. It would seem that some do not feel that non-British content isn't right. I think it is; railways as we know them started here and spread across every continent bar one developing and growing nations and they all have their stories to tell.

[Peter Kazmierczak]

What I find hard to comprehend is why drop the "National" from the name?

Surely it's an advantage to have the "National" appellation, as it signifies more than just the Little Ottle Railway Museum, for example; no matter how good that might be.

[APOLLO]

The big Chinese loco at York has both - it's Chinese but was built at Vulcan in Lancashire.

 

https://collection.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/co205814/chinese-government-railways-steam-locomotive-4-8-4-kf-class-no-7-steam-locomotive

 

I'm planning a day out in York soon with a retired (non railway enthusiast) mate. If (hopefully not) the museum is poor then I hope the beer at the Bootham Bar pub is as good as it was years ago !!!

 

Brit15

[stewartingram]

When I was teaching in London in the last century, we actually left one of the children behind at the British Museum. His parents were very understanding....

I wonder if he is still there, or been despatched to pastures new, just like that loco that went to Swanage?

 

Stewart

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Ever wonder what's inside a Mummy.....

[E3109]

In terms of impact on railways in general, then I'd say that yes, the Shinkansen wins hands down.

 

But for the UK, and for what was until recently the National Railway Museum, I'd say the HST was hugely significant.

 

If it hadn't been for the HST maybe we wouldn't have much of a network left to run modern Shinkansen-like trains on.

Never been a big fan of 'trams' but I certainly acknowledge that they were pivotal in arresting the decline of our railway, and for that alone they deserve respect surely.

Still wondering whether they'll get exported rather than scrapped (because the bean counters think trains are disposable after ten years like cars).

A 'tram' would look rather nice in XPT livery....

[Lancaster622]

Wow it just happened to be the poster I took the photo of, sorry to cause so much offence 

[E3109]

Wow it just happened to be the poster I took the photo of, sorry to cause so much offence 

Paint a yellow end on it. The Normals will never notice.

[Andy Y]

I've written to the public relations manager asking for comment and specifically how much this exercise is costing.

 

 

A National Railway Museum spokesperson said:

 

“Our name hasn’t changed. We are still the National Railway Museum and we will continue to be a national museum. The logo is a logo – it is not our full name. We hope the new visual identity will appeal to a broad audience – including people who haven’t been to the museum before – helping us to realise our aim to inspire the next generations of scientists and engineers.

 

“Our national status is important and that won’t change – we know how much it means to many people – particularly here in York. That’s why it will literally be the name above the door. But our collection is both national and truly global, and we have ambitions to be a world class museum.

 

“The visual identity clearly shares features with the wider Science Museum Group brand – in evidence at the Science Museum, the National Science and Media Museum and Locomotion. This is important because we have a shared vision, goals and strategy. Being a key part of the Science Museum Group has also given us the once in a lifetime opportunity to host Tim Peake’s Soyuz capsule, and will also see Stephenson’s Rocket come to the museum.

 

“Our rebrand – which is part of a wider Science Museum Group project, will cost around £100,000 when complete. That represents great value for money and we see it as just one of many important investments across the museum that are connecting us with new audiences and expressing our core ambition to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists. The new visual identity is bold, eye-catching and contemporary.

 

“The use of it on site and on our new website, will help us stand out and attract new visitors. Our new brand is a statement of intent about our vision - we want to tell stories of the present and future of the railways and about the role of innovation and engineering, as well as stories about the past.”

I must confess that I still cannot understand the reasoning for dropping 'National' from the logo if that is what they will still be known as. The new style is good in my view but why consciously drop it from the branding which will undoubtedly be used in promotional material? A leaflet which just says 'Railway Museum' does not distinguish them from any other railway museum.

[Ohmisterporter]

I was in Locomotion last week and while it was interesting to me as an enthusiast the exhibits are not particularly well laid out for photography. However if you want to see the best looking of all Britain's diesel locos* Deltic can be viewed, touched, smelled, and hugged if that takes your fancy. It isn't a place I would recommend for a meal however. 

 

P.S. *There may be other opinions on this.

[locoholic]

I must confess that I still cannot understand the reasoning for dropping 'National' from the logo if that is what they will still be known as. The new style is good in my view but why consciously drop it from the branding which will undoubtedly be used in promotional material? A leaflet which just says 'Railway Museum' does not distinguish them from any other railway museum.

Maybe the word "National" is now politically incorrect, as it might lead to "nationalism", which we all know is bad...

[Zomboid]

Wow it just happened to be the poster I took the photo of, sorry to cause so much offence

Were there others with other exhibits on them?

The Shinkansen is, along with the KF, a great exhibit of the fact that the UK gave the world railways, and the world ran with them and did some great things. We too have done some great things with railways, which the rest of the museum alludes to. The last time I went to the NRM, it was specifically to see the Shinkansen. I wouldn't have bothered if it weren't there.

 

I do think the royal train stuff is a bit overdone, but given the amount of foam generated last week when a posh woman had a baby, I might be out of step with the general population on that.

[Classsix T]

There is a press release from last year https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/about-us/press-office/science-museum-launches-new-brand which discusses branding but there is no mention of dropping 'National' from the NRM. Warning; this press release may contain guff.

 

 

"Illumination is a central feature of the new identity, explored both through the changing font weight in the new logo and the use of vibrant colour gradients elsewhere within the graphic language. For the Science Museum the illuminated font suggests change and progress ..... at the National Railway Museum, York, and Locomotion in Shildon, the approach could capture that visceral moment when a great plume of steam envelops onlookers as the Flying Scotsman thunders past at lightning speed"

 

Through a font? Give me a break.

 

I'm perfectly happy to say I thing the application is fresh and stylish but I think someone's got a bit too far up themselves.

It would appear Columbia's fields continue to produce manure in UK public relations/advertising executive's offices. Jesus, "lightning speed", really?! I'd want my £30k back.

 

 

Seriously, there's a parliamentary question here somewhere.

C6T.

[Sir Hadyn]

Were there others with other exhibits on them?

The Shinkansen is, along with the KF, a great exhibit of the fact that the UK gave the world railways, and the world ran with them and did some great things. We too have done some great things with railways, which the rest of the museum alludes to. The last time I went to the NRM, it was specifically to see the Shinkansen. I wouldn't have bothered if it weren't there.

 

I do think the royal train stuff is a bit overdone, but given the amount of foam generated last week when a posh woman had a baby, I might be out of step with the general population on that.

We actually have a lot less Royal Train than we used to, three vehicles went up to Locomotion and others have been transferred across the country over the years.

[dibber25]

NRM for short, was very handy in print. RM is much less so, since it is already Railway Modeller or Railway Magazine. Journalists will have to refer to it as the Railway Museum, York, to avoid confusion with the many other railway museums. I'm sure some of us old die-hards will continue to refer to it as the NRM. Rebranding a popular well established title is never a good idea - remember when Coke went for blue cans? (CJL)

[coachmann]

NRM for short, was very handy in print. RM is much less so, since it is already Railway Modeller or Railway Magazine. Journalists will have to refer to it as the Railway Museum, York, to avoid confusion with the many other railway museums. I'm sure some of us old die-hards will continue to refer to it as the NRM. Rebranding a popular well established title is never a good idea - remember when Coke went for blue cans? (CJL)

and Jif became Cif.   To me, Jif stood for job done in a jiffy.  Is a museum for history or is it an instrument for social change. If it is for the former, then it seems odd that it cannot hang onto its historical name. If on the other hand is has fallen foul of some cyclic socialist ideology, then the abbreviated name can be expected...... perhaps in lower case too.

 

RailMu anyone?  

 

Tongue-in-cheek

Edited May 1, 2018 by coachmann

[Steamport Southport]

Should have called it Museumy McMuseumface.    

 

 

That's what the public want, apparently.....

 

 

The Swedes already have Trainy McTrainface so they couldn't use that.

 

 

 

 

Jason

[Lancaster622]

Were there others with other exhibits on them?

The Shinkansen is, along with the KF, a great exhibit of the fact that the UK gave the world railways, and the world ran with them and did some great things. We too have done some great things with railways, which the rest of the museum alludes to. The last time I went to the NRM, it was specifically to see the Shinkansen. I wouldn't have bothered if it weren't there.

 

I do think the royal train stuff is a bit overdone, but given the amount of foam generated last week when a posh woman had a baby, I might be out of step with the general population on that.

yes Mallard, Deltic, Stirling Single I think, Lode Star and one or two more

[E3109]

and Jif became Cif.   To me, Jif stood for job done in a jiffy.  Is a museum for history or is it an instrument for social change. If it is for the former, then it seems odd that it cannot hang onto its historical name. If on the other hand is has fallen foul of some cyclic socialist ideology, then the abbreviated name can be expected...... perhaps in lower case too.

 

RailMu anyone?  

 

Tongue-in-cheek

I still refer to Marathons as Marathons and I'll be damned if I ever refer to my favourite peanut-based chocolate bar by the name given to the Mars family's pet horse.

There is a lot to be said for being a Luddite.

[E3109]

I often think they missed a trick by not acquiring the Vulcan Foundry site at Newton-le-Willows, and populating it with EE export stuff from around the world.

I admit I'm biased to all things EE but although there is now a sprawling housing estate on the site, it's just a shame that the iconic Vulcan Tower wasn't saved as a feature that I'm sure even the new residents would appreciate and cherish.

 

Regarding the NRM, it would be good to see one or two examples of EE export designs in there, say a Portuguese 1400 at least?

[Dava]

I had an insight today into the deskilling of design, having chased in-house MarComms for 2 months on an identity design. The result, 2 Shutterstock backgrounds with some corporate fonts & styles on top. Neither is ideal or even good, the ensuing discussion 'well you can find your own Shittystock image' with 4 million or whatever to choose from. There are lots of under/unemployed graphic designers around but this is what 'design' has come to [the organisation also educates designers!].

 

So far as NRM is concerned, it could be rebranded 'TrainSho', that could work. Otherwise I think we're being too hard on the NRM, their open access to collections at York, Shildon and loaned out is a lot better than the super aerospace museum at Wroughton you are forbidden to see [science Museum store, part of same group]. There is stil hope for the Leicester North museum on the GCR. And Sir Hadyn talks to us. Bless...

[Coryton]

NRM for short, was very handy in print. RM is much less so, since it is already Railway Modeller or Railway Magazine. Journalists will have to refer to it as the Railway Museum, York, to avoid confusion with the many other railway museums. I'm sure some of us old die-hards will continue to refer to it as the NRM. Rebranding a popular well established title is never a good idea - remember when Coke went for blue cans? (CJL)

 

Hang on...I thought we'd established that it is still the NRM, but in the interests of reducing confusion*, the logo will refer to it as just the "Railway Museum"

 

* Maybe that wasn't the reason.