The post of Collections Officer will be temporarily vacant from Thursday 14th August 2008 until approximately mid October 2008, by which time a new member of staff should be in post. This means that the opening times of the Ken Hoole Study Centre and the facilities provided will be more limited.
We are able to provide a limited service on the following dates from 10am -3pm.
Wednesday 20th August
Wednesday 3rd September
Wednesday 10th September
Wednesday 17th September
Wednesday 24th September
Wednesday 1st October
Wednesday 8th October
Wednesday 15th October
During this time copying facilities will not be available. Visitors are encouraged to make a note of the document reference number, and to contact the Study Centre again in mid October so that the item may be copied for them. Limited research and enquiries will take place during this time.
The following catalogues are available on line:
Ken Hoole Collection, North Eastern Railway Association
Based at the Darlington Railway Centre & Museum, the Ken Hoole Study Centre houses the reference collection left by Ken Hoole (renowned regional railway historian). It was his strong desire that his collection would be made available in Darlington for public use. The collection is a unique resource devoted to the railways of North East England, including:
- 246 albums of photographs covering locomotives, rolling stock, stations, workshops and signalling.
- 204 scrapbooks of newspaper and magazine cuttings
- Official Board of Trade reports on railway accidents from 1872 to 1987
- Passenger and working timetables from the period 1861 to 1987
- 24 maps and over 200 plans of railway sections
- Railway company publications, books magazines and Acts of Parliament
The Study Centre also contains material from several other sources:
- The Library Collection of the North Eastern Railway Association
- The North Eastern Railway Servants' Pension Society Records Cards (useful for family history research). Registered Friendly Society established on 1st January 1907, pursuant to the North Eastern Railway Act 1905 to provide pensions on retirement from work.
- A photographic collection of bridges built by the Darlington based Cleveland Bridge Company
- Archive material from Darlington Railway Museum which compliments the Ken Hoole Collection
- North Eastern Railway Register of Enginemen and Firemen (List of the enginemen who were based at the various sheds of the North Eastern Railway and gives a history of their achievements whilst they were working).
Items in the collection are catalogued and indexed on a computer-based system. Staff will assist in finding relevant material, but please note, they are not able to undertake detailed research.
CONTACT DETAILS
Collections Officer
Darlington Railway Centre & Museum
North Road Station
Darlington
Tees Valley
DL3 6ST
Tel. 01325 734125 or contact the Museum reception on 01325 460532