SLS Centenary exhibition at the NRM

[john new]

(Hope this is in the right section - didn't put in Exhibitions as it isn't a mod-ex)

 

To celebrate the centenary of the Stephenson Locomotive Society (SLS), a special free display presenting some of the Society??™s greatest achievements will take place at the National Railway Museum (NRM) in York from 10 December 2009 until 5 January 2010. (Actual Centenary date is Fri 11th December)

 

Named in honour of one of railway history??™s greatest families, the Stephenson Locomotive Society was formed by six railway enthusiasts in 1909 to give those with a strong interest in the railways a place to meet and discuss railway issues with like-minded members.

 

Over the last one hundred years, the SLS has become the premier society for the study of the history, technology and operation of railway locomotives as well as an established publisher of railway books. From its earliest days, the SLS has been involved in the preservation of railway heritage, and were the first society in the world to privately preserve a mainline railway locomotive. This locomotive, Gladstone, is now part of the National Collection and will be part of the SLS display held at the NRM alongside the Class 87 and the historic miniature locomotive Orion.

 

The Class 87 Electric Locomotive was built in 1973 to pull express trains on the West Coast Main Line. In 1975 the SLS persuaded British Rail to name her 87001 Stephenson in honour of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The naming took place in 1976 causing British Rail to name locomotives again.

 

The SLS has been the custodian of Orion since 1959. The 1/6 scale model is of a London North Western Railway (LNWR) express passenger locomotive, providing a tangible link to the Crewe works golden age and making it one of the few genuine examples of an LNWR locomotive still in existence.

 

Brian Lewis, Chairman of the SLS, said: ???We are very proud to be celebrating the centenary of the Stephenson Locomotive Society and thrilled that we can display some of our finest achievements at the National Railway Museum. The SLS is not just about steam locomotives and the study of our past but encompasses modern traction too. We??™re looking forward to the next one hundred years which we hope will prove as interesting as the last.???

 

The SLS exhibition is free of charge and will be open to everyone visiting the NRM between 10 December 2009 and 5 January 2010.