Galen Junction Railway Museum

Galen Junction Railway Museum
Location: Galen Junction, Kent Operator: Dark Railway Constructed: 1971 Status: Open

The Galen Junction Railway Museum is a large spacious building that occupies the site of the former Motive Power Depot at Galen Junction on the Dark Railway.

History

In late 1969, the Motive Power Depot at Galen Junction was destroyed in an act of arson. After the site was cleared by the Dark Railway Preservation Society, it remained empty until 1971, when Caracus Smash made the decision to relocate his business, Caracus Smash Ltd, to the Junction. At the same time, it was decided between the railway's manager, Otthaniel Dark, and the DRPS Chairman to also construct a railway museum on the site to house some of the line's locomotives which were coming out of service for overhaul, as the new workshops would not be ready for some time. It was also seen as a way to give visitors a reason to stop at the station again, which had been lacking since it had been closed as a changeover station for British Rail.

The museum opened in mid-1971 after an official opening ceremony. Although visitor numbers were expected to be modest, the months that followed saw a surprisingly high number of visitors attend, many wishing to learn of the stories being told by the engines on display inside.

Layout and Facilities

The museum consists of two buildings: a large six road railway building where the locomotives and rolling stock are displayed, and a smaller building at the rear where most of the memorabilia is displayed. The main building also houses a gift shop, cafe and toilets. The museum can be accessed either by road, with a large car park at the back of the complex for visitors to leave their cars, or by rail, where there is a footpath that takes visitors across the running line towards the museum.

Exhibits

The museum hosts a large number of exhibits, including both rolling stock and memorabilia. The locomotives currently on display in the museum are:

• Hunslet Austerity Class 0-6-0ST No. 1891 "Abomination" (1978–present)

A selection of other rolling stock is also on display, including a set of freight wagons, "Sceneshifter" (a wartime railgun), a steam crane and a variety of other goods wagons.

On the wall of the museum building are mounted the number and builder's plates of the three locomotives destroyed in the shed explosion in 1969: LMS Class 3F Jinty 0-6-0T No. 47407 ("Colin"), BR Class 20 Bo-Bo No. D8198 ("Cammer") and BR Class 02 0-4-0 No. D2992 "Owen". The building is dedicated to the memory of these locomotives.

Locomotives Formerly on Display

Numerous locomotives were previously on display inside the museum but were later moved into Caracus Smash Ltd for repairs or overhauls to commence. Some following display would later be returned straight to their home railways.

Steam Locomotives

• DR Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST No. 1 "Theo" (1971–1972, 197#–1976)
• GWR 2251 Class 0-6-0 No. 3200 (1971–1976)
• L&YR Class 5 2-4-2T No. 1700 (1971–1972; temporary exhibit paired with L&YR coaches before moving to "Keighley and Worth Valley Railway" on loan)
• LMS Rebuilt Class 2P 4-6-0 No. 40590 (1971–1972)
• LMS Class 4F 0-6-0 No. 44430 (1971–1972)
• LMS Class 5MT Black 5 4-6-0 No. 45101 "Dave" (1971–1972)
• DR Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST No. 2 "Otto" (1972–1976)
• L&NWR G2 Super D Class 0-8-0 No. 49450 (1972–1976)
• DW&BJR Shunter Class 0-6-0T No. 3 "Hammond" (1973–1976; visiting from the "Dexby Railway")
• GWR 6800 Grange Class 4-6-0 No. 6803 "Bucklebury Grange" (1973–1976; visiting from "Redwick and Chiltern Hills Railway")
• An Aveling & Porter 0-4-0WTG traction engine (1973–1978; visiting from the "Dexby Railway")
• SE&CR R Class 0-6-0T No. 31047 (1973–1978; visiting from the "Dexby Railway")
• RSH 0-6-0ST No. 2724 "Golborne" (1973–1980; on loan from a private owner)
• GWR 4900 Hall Class 4-6-0 No. 5930 "Hannington Hall" (1977–1980)
• SR N15 King Arthur Class 4-6-0 No. 785 "Sir Mador de la Porte" (1977–1980)
• BR Standard Class 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80010 (1978–1980)
• GWR 5400 Class 0-6-0PT No. 5405 (1979–1980)
• DR Replica Mountain Class 4-8-2 No. 1202 (1980; temporary exhibit before being placed into service)

Diesel Locomotives

• BR Class 40 1Co-Co1 No. D208 "Turbo" (1972–1976)

Appearances

The Dark Railway Series

Episodes:

• Series 7 - Rollerskate Disco, What a Clarence! and The Man in Overalls
• Series 8 - One More Time (mentioned), Revolution 909, Face to Face, The Great Custard Cream Robbery, Colossus, Short Circuit and Outro
• Series 9 - 9, Goose, Rock'n Roll, Rock Shock and Time Wasted
• Series 10 - 101, Welcome to the Tunnel, Body Angels, The Road to Bellgrave, Coaled Weight, Dirty Colossus, Quack Attack, Buckin' Hell and Barry the Steam Engine
• Series 11 - The Times
• Series 12 - 1202 (mentioned) and Fresh

Gallery

Trackwork outside the Museum.

Museum Interior.

Back of the Museum.

Smokebox Number and Builders plates of Colin, Cammer and Owen.

Trivia

• The main museum building is taken from the Marsdonshire route available from Just Trains. This in turn is based on the main museum building at Locomotion, the National Railway Museum outpost at Shildon.