“This Thing Still Works, Right?” Interpreting a Stationary Steam Locomotive

A Case Study of the Stirling Single No. 1

Authors

Keywords:

museums, trains, steam locomotives, cultural heritage, exhibitions

Abstract

This article deals with the preservation of steam locomotives as static objects in museum collections. In it I use the G-class 4-2-2 steam locomotive more commonly known as the Stirling Single No. 1, which is a part of the collection of the National Railway Museum in the UK, as a case study..

Through this case study I investigate the background of the locomotive as well as the reasons for its current static state of preservation. I argue that steam locomotives don’t need to be operational in order to be valuable and important museum objects and that their static state should be seen as a benefit and an advantage. My article examines these issues through the lens of museum education and learning.

Section
Articles

Published

2021-03-05

How to Cite

Shepherd, A. (2021). “This Thing Still Works, Right?” Interpreting a Stationary Steam Locomotive: A Case Study of the Stirling Single No. 1. Tekniikan Waiheita – The Finnish Quarterly for History of Technology, 39(1), 31–43. https://doi.org/10.33355/tw.103124