The National Railway Museum Celebrates 50th anniversary with expansion of licensing
This September, as the National Railway Museum (NRM) celebrates its 50th anniversary and Railway 200 – a year-long campaign to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of the modern railway – it announces the launch of its new licensing programme, Timeless Journeys. This striking new style guide is designed to inspire a new wave of licensed products across homeware, beauty, greetings, and gift sectors.
Drawing from the museum’s extensive collection of railway objects and vintage railway posters – the largest collection of its kind in the world – Timeless Journeys brings to life the golden age of railway travel with a fresh and modern aesthetic. The style guide celebrates the vibrant beauty and scenic diversity of Great Britain, centring around four key themes: Seaside, Coast, Countryside, and London.
The artwork, originally commissioned by train operating companies during the inter-war years, depicted luxurious journeys, stylish couples and happy families in striking locations, brought to life by a generation of visionary artists, among them Frank Newbould and Norman Wilkinson. Their vivid imagery captured the imagination of the public and turned travel advertising into an artform. From breathtaking coastlines and tranquil lochs to rolling hills, and rugged moors, Timeless Journeys updates this quintessential British holiday imagery with a stylish new look that pays homage to the past while embracing the present.
As part of its 50th birthday celebrations, the National Railway Museum (NRM) will be reopening its iconic Station Hall on 26th September 2025 following a £11.m refurbishment and redisplay project funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Friends of the National Railway Museum (FNRM). The former goods station and Grade II listed building has been updated with new structural and architectural improvements, with its existing collection reinterpreted to bring the space to life, as well as a number of items going on display for the first time.
Station Hall will open to the public on the Friday before the museum’s big 50th birthday weekend on 27th-28th September 2025. Celebrations will include: behind-the-scenes access to previously unseen areas of the museum; talks and tours, and family experiences, including access to Wonderlab: The Bramall Gallery, the Flying Scotsman VR Experience and the miniature railway – all made free to visitors for the weekend.
As part of the wider licensing programme from the Science Museum Group, this new style guide opens up a rich visual archive to licensees, offering an assortment of artistic inspiration for high-quality, design-led product ranges.
Amy Harbour, Head of Licensing and Commercial Partnerships at the Science Museum Group, said: “The stunning vintage railway posters in the Railway Museum collection have always been popular with our commercial partners. Timeless Journeys celebrates the captivating artwork with a fresh approach and we’re looking forward to working with licensees and this new style guide.”
Andrew McLean, Assistant Director and Head Curator of the National Railway Museum said: “The railways have long captured the imagination of artists and storytellers. Timeless Journeys allows licensees to draw on one of the most evocative visual collections in the world, bringing the golden age of rail travel to life through fresh, design-led products that celebrate Britain’s landscapes and rail heritage”.
Licensees who are interested in finding out more about Timeless Journey and the Science Museum Group can visit sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/brandlicensing for more information.
The Science Museum Group will be present at this year’s Brand Licensing Expo at booth E165-3. Licensees can book meetings in advance with the team through licensing@sciencemuseum.ac.uk
