THE National Railway Museum in York is backing plans for a new railway museum in Leicester.

NRM bosses say the £17 million development will allow them to share their collection of rolling stock and other railway-related objects with a wider audience.

At the same time, they have rubbished a rumour in the trade press that the York museum, in Leeman Road, could close.

Major exhibits expected to head to Leicester include the V2 class steam locomotive 'Green Arrow', the sole surviving GCR passenger engine "Butler Henderson” and a power car and trailer car from the APT-E advanced passenger train.

York Press:

The Green Arrow will be one of the engines moved to Leicester

However, the NRM says its current star attractions in York, such as Mallard and the Royal Trains, are not presently on a draft list of locomotives and rolling stock intended for Leicester.

"This draft list is indicative only and is subject to review and consultation during the forthcoming development phase, as detailed plans for the displays and the stories the museum will tell, evolve," said a spokeswoman.

"No final decisions have been made and we plan to publish the list of confirmed exhibits nearer to the completion of the museum.

"At the present time, much of our collection is in store, out of sight of the public, or dispersed across various sites due to a lack of space and this is a great opportunity to share more of our historic artefacts with a wider audience."

She said the museum was partnering the Great Central Railway and Leicester City Council in creating the new museum alongside the GCR’s Leicester North railway station, where heritage trains will be visible from the display hall.

"The project has been approved for development funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund. A full grant of £10 million will be released, subject to the partners successfully completing the next two years of development work."

She stressed there would be no cost to the NRM.

She also dismissed rumours, reported by a national railway magazine, that the York museum may eventually close, with its exhibits dispersed, possibly to the Leicester museum and a new smaller museum in London.

“We have no idea where this rumour could have come from," she said. "We have so many great plans for our sites at York and Shildon."