1 54 Book of Locomotives 



The present museum owes its existence 

 to the old North-Eastern railway, who, in 

 the last year of its separate existence, made 

 a start in some disused buildings at York. 

 The collection originally formed has been 

 constantly added to until it is now quite 

 comprehensive, yet far from complete. It 

 was largely helped by the Railway Cen- 

 tenary celebrations of 1925, when many 

 interesting relics of the past were turned 

 up by various firms and private individuals, 

 not to speak of the railways themselves. 

 After they had served their turn, many 

 items were handed over to the museum 

 authorities. 



Mr. J. B. Harper, who retired from the 

 position of assistant general superintendent 

 of the North-Eastern railway at the time 

 the grouping took place, must have first 

 place in the credit list for the provision of 

 this most interesting collection of railway 

 curiosities. Long before there was any 

 chance of a building allotted specially for 

 the relics, Mr. Harper began his collection, 

 and for 40 years he added steadily to it. 



