The National Railway Museum in York has launched a new “Adopt an Object” scheme, giving railway enthusiasts, history lovers, and gift shoppers the chance to symbolically adopt items from its collection ahead of the Christmas season.
Available from £3 a month for a 12-month period, supporters can select from six historic exhibits. Highlights include the Evening Star – the final steam locomotive constructed by British Railways – Japan’s high-speed Shinkansen Bullet Train, and Queen Adelaide’s Saloon, recognised as Britain’s oldest surviving royal railway carriage.
The scheme also features niche historical pieces, such as the Coppernob steam locomotive, which carries visible damage from a German air raid, Diesel Railcar No. 4, and a 1901 scale model railway carriage that served as key evidence in an Old Bailey murder trial.
Each symbolic adoption includes a digital adoption certificate, a personalised message from museum curators, and exclusive regular email updates detailing the chosen object’s history and ongoing care throughout the year.
“We know people are looking for gifts that have a real story behind them,” said Anthony Coulls, Senior Curator of Rail Transport and Technology at the National Railway Museum. “Whether you’re buying for a railway enthusiast, a history lover or someone who’s simply hard to buy for, adopting an object offers a unique way to connect with some of the most fascinating objects in our collection. Every adoption helps us care for these extraordinary pieces of railway history and share their stories with future generations.”
As a registered charity within the Science Museum Group, funds raised through the tiered £3, £5, and £10 monthly adoptions will directly support conservation work, educational outreach, and collection maintenance across the York site.
