York, England: National Railway Museum

Some of us receive toy trains as children, and then move on to other things. Others never lose their love of trains.

If you fall into the latter category, a trip to York, England, might be needed. It tells the story of railroads' impact on England, which as you could guess was enormous. It was a key part of the rise of the Industrial Revolution, which more or less started in Great Britain.

In 2025, the Railway Museum was in the midst of a major remodeling job - so it wasn't quite up to its normal standards as a tourist attraction. However, there's more than enough to do there to keep you occupied. The Great Hall is the main attraction, containing engines and cars from a variety of eras. You can step into the front of the Mallard, one of the fastest steam engines ever built (126 mpg). The Japanese Bullet Train is there, as is a Stirling Single class engine that dates back to the 19th century. The Eurostar connected Great Britain with the mainland of Europe via the Channel Tunnel.

Meanwhile in the North Shed, there are a ton of objects with connections to railroads. Did you ever see the movie "Citizen Kane?" Remember the scene at the end with the slow pan of a room filled with objects? That's what it looks like, except it all has train connections. The photo only does it a little justice. 

There is also a kids' area, and the usual gift shop. It's a good experience to visit, as you'd expect from a National Museum.

Not surprisingly, York's current train station is only a short walk away from the Museum. That's worth a stop too. Train stations in Europe always carry a little romance, since they remind us in the United States of days in the past. York's station isn't huge but certainly worth a visit for enthusiasts.

Most of the videos about the place are on the long side, but this one isn't too bad.