Rail enthusiasts and visitors from across the country are being encouraged to ‘Make Tracks’ to Frenchgate Shopping Centre Doncaster when a popular exhibition of rare artefacts and memorabilia from the town’s rich rail history and heritage returns.
‘Making Tracks – The Next Stop’ returns to Frenchgate in February.
Last year’s exhibition, which was opened by music producer and rail enthusiast Pete Waterman, focused on the past, present and future of Doncaster rail and attracted over 11,000 visitors.
The 2018 exhibition, which will be open to the public from 5 February to 15 March, will celebrate the achievements of the Engineering greats connected to Doncaster rail and allow the public the opportunity to once again get closer to items from this must-see collection.
Once again, a number of key pieces from the famed Doncaster Grammar School collection will also be on display as well as new artefacts that have not been out of the collection for many years.
Paddy Mellon, Frenchgate Shopping Centre general manager, said: “Playing host to last year’s exhibition of artefacts of national importance was fantastic for Frenchgate, enabling us to play our part in promoting Doncaster and encouraging visitor numbers to the town.
“This collection started in 1930 when pupils and teachers at the school set up a railway society and over 80 years has grown to phenomenal levels as members collected nameplates, signs, lamps, signal posts and everything in-between.
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming the new exhibition and a team of rail historians and aficionados who will bring these artefacts to life by telling the interesting and intriguing stories behind them.”
The exhibition is a collaboration between Frenchgate, Doncaster Council, Visit Doncaster and Doncaster Museums and Art Gallery.
Peter Dale, Director of Regeneration and Environment, said: “2018 is the Year of Engineering, and this exhibition can help inspire the engineers of the future. It promotes the ingenuity of six of the most important railway engineers of the past, all of them with special links to Doncaster.
“With the National College of High Speed Rail in Doncaster we have the opportunity to help tackle the engineering skills gap and widen the pool of young people to join the profession.”
In addition to the main exhibition a number of supporting events will be periodically added throughout the month via pop-up events, public talks, information desks, and pop-up shops. Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council will also be involved in children’s story telling and workshops.
The exhibition will be open between 10.30am and 4pm daily on the West Mall next to Peter Jones and Coffee Time at Frenchgate.
