Protestors Highlight The Uncertain Future Of The National Railway Museum

To little boys (and even big boys!) everywhere, it would be like the unthinkable happening. But there is an outside chance that the unthinkable could happen in the not too distant future, with protestors gathering recently to oppose the possible closure of the National Railway Museum (NRM) in York.

Is nothing sacred! Apparently not to the owners of the NRM, the Science Museum Group (SMG), who have been warning about further budgetary cuts that they may have to make. This could extend as far as actually closing one of the northern museums in their ownership, the other two at risk being the National Media Museum in Bradford or the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

The SMG, which also owns the Science Museum in London, has said that a further 10% reduction in government funding would leave it "little choice" but to close one of its northern museums.
Speaking at a rally organised as a protest against the possible closure, James Alexander, leader of City of York Council, said: "We need to be vocal and show cross-party support. We can't be in the situation where just because we are the north of England, we are ignored by the government because we are not in London."

A letter written by York Council's Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem and Green group leaders to Maria Miller, culture secretary pointed out that the National Railway Museum played a "critical part" in attracting tourists, who contribute £443m annually, to the city.

Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, said  he was "shocked" by warnings that one of three museums in the north of England would close if funding was cut any further.

                                                                    http://www.nrm.org.uk/