Museums And Archives

Reimagining Railways: Interpreting the Locomotive Collection at Leeds Industrial Museum

Leeds Industrial Museum will reinterpret its nationally significant Locomotive and Railway Collection through the creation of a new Railway Gallery. Closed for more than a decade, this space will reopen as an accessible, co-curated gallery that connects Leeds’ industrial innovation to global stories of people, place and the environment. The project will conserve and display large objects, improve access and environmental sustainability, and embed new approaches to inclusive storytelling. Working with community partners, academics and volunteers, the museum will co-produce displays that reflect diverse experiences of industry, labour and empire, while inspiring pride and curiosity in local heritage. The project will also strengthen the museum’s organisational sustainability by revitalising public areas, increasing visitor numbers, and supporting skills development for staff and volunteers. In doing so, it will ensure that Leeds’ unique railway heritage is relevant, engaging and sustainable for future generations.