The National Railway Museum has announced that it has won the 2020 Heritage Railway Association Award for Interpretation.

The award, sponsored by Mortons Media, has been presented for the museum’s interpretation of the free exhibition Brass, Steel and Fire.

The exhibition was launched in September and features more than 20 of the country’s oldest model locomotives.

Brass, Steel and Fire explore the stories of ordinary people crafted extraordinary machines from scratch.

The model Topsy, on loan from Ffestiniog Railway, helped spread the narrow-gauge railways around the world.

The research and content of Brass, Steel and Fire was led by Senior Curator Anthony Coulls and the design and display was completed by Interpretation Developer Laura Bootland.

As part of Brass, Steel and Fire visitors have also been able to get up close to Stephenson’s legendary Rocket.

This isnt the first time that the NRM has won a HRA Award. Back in 2014, the museum was awarded ‘The Peter Manisty Award’ for exhibitions to mark the 75th anniversary of Mallard’s speed record.

Brass, Steel and Fire is on display at the National Railway Museum until April 13 when it will head down to London to go on display at the Science Museum, although Rocket will stay in York.

What did the officials say?

Laura Bootland, Interpretation Developer at the National Railway Museum, said:

“We’re really honoured to receive the HRA Award for Interpretation. By bringing together these unique models we’ve been able to tell the stories of the ordinary people who crafted these magnificent machines. It’s been wonderful to see so many people visiting Brass, Steel and Fire to marvel at these tiny models which brought about big change.”

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