The world's largest railway museum is home to a wide range of railway icons and literally millions of artefacts, from Mallard - the world's fastest steam locomotive - to a lock of Robert Stephensons hair.

Its vast collections, including more than 100 engines, tell the railway tale from Rocket to Eurostar.

Permanent displays include the jewel in the museum's crown - Palaces on Wheels.

With Royal saloons dating back to the Victorian era, visitors have the rare chance to glimpse inside the sumptuous bedrooms, dining rooms and day saloons, which really are palaces on wheels.

The only Shinkansen Bullet Train to go on display outside Japan is the first railway vehicle built and run outside Britain to enter the National Collection.

The award winning exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to take a seat inside the distinctive bullet shaped train and find out what makes it one of the great engineering icons of the modern age.

British Rail - A Moving Story charts 50 years of state-owned railways through the eyes of the people who worked in the industry, including Pete Waterman and Joe Brown, who were both former BR steam locomotive firemen.

The NRM's £4 million wing, The Works, comprises three galleries - Workshop, The Working Railway and The Warehouse. As well as seeing the traditional restoration skills of the museum's engineers and craftsmen and hearing about them in The Workshop round up, kids can have fun building trains themselves in one of the many interactive exhibits.

The Flying Scotsman Story - a permanent exhibition about the train, the route and the engine.

In 2004, with huge public support, the National Railway Museum saved Flying Scotsman for the nation when it came up for sale. Still in operation today, Flying Scotsman has become a legend which involves a train, a locomotive, a speed record and the personal memories of thousands of people.

With a rich mix of objects, stories, audio visual displays and interactives, this first ever permanent exhibition dedicated to Flying Scotsman unlocks the history of an icon.

Please note: Flying Scotsman is currently undergoing a statutory overhaul in the Workshop.

To check its whereabouts, please call 0870 421 4472.

Further details:

Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ

Open: Daily 10am-6pm. Closed Dec 24-26.

Admission: Free. Charge for some special events.

Yorkshire Wheel admission: Ring for details.

Facilities: Education Service, Interactive Learning Centre, restaurant, conference facilities, library, car park, gift shop, railway themed picnic area, miniature railway (check availability on arrival), lockers and sound guide.

Disabled access: Ramps and chairlifts provide access to most of the museum. Wheelchair loan available at the entrance to the museum. Two of the Yorkshire Wheel pods are accessible by wheelchair users.

Contact: 08448 153139

Email: nrm@nrm.org.uk

Website: www.nrm.org.uk