Telling everyone we were off to Washington caused a few questions, but we were only travelling to the North East of England, not across the Atlantic! We were going to visit a museum that many ex NE residents seemed to have no knowledge of!!
The North East Land, Sea and Air Museum (formerly the North East Aircraft Museum)is an aviation museum situated on the site of the former RAF Usworth and Sunderland Airport, at Washington. The museum also has collections of weaponry, vehicles, engines and other historical exhibits. Many of the exhibits are housed in a new hangar, much of the money for which was donated by members of the public.
The museum has a collection of more than 30 aircraft - from passenger aircraft to training planes
... and a huge Vulcan.
It is only when you are up close you realise just how big it is!
The Military Vehicle Museum has a collection of military vehicles such as trucks and armored personnel carriers. There are also examples of emergency vehicles.
The North East Electric Traction Trust has a collection of vintage trams and a trolleybus here too.
There is a display dedicated to the local RAF Squadron, 607 (County of Durham) Squadron and
the story of life in Britain during 1939-1945 is told through a street of shops within the museum.
A wonderful museum - there is so much packed into the hangars and sheds, you could spend hours looking round. The volunteers are doing a grand job and as you walk around there is evidence of previous work, ongoing work and future projects.
Day 2
Our visit today was to Locomotion, part of the Science Museum Group. Locomotion was the first national museum to be built in the North East and opened in 2004. It is sited at Shildon, home to the first steam hauled passenger train, which operated during the opening ceremony of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825. Just inside the entrance is a Replica Locomotion No.1
The building is home to over 70 heritage rail vehicles.Some have been finely restored while others still show signs of the work they have done over the years.
As well as homing many historic locomotives the museum also has trainees and volunteers working with experienced engineers and conservators to repair and restore historic railway vehicles.
The Science Museum Group want to inspire the next generation of scientists, inventors and engineers and so Locomotion have workshop tours (and a viewing platform allow visitors to see conservation workers at work on a range of projects), steam rides, shunting demonstrations and guided tours to encourage this. They are committed to telling the story of Shildon, the world's first railway town.
There are areas for families to have picnics and interactive displays - plenty to interest everyone - and a cafe for refreshments. Another great museum.
