The first national rail museum to be built in the north east is preparing for its official opening in Shildon on 22 October.

Locomotion, the National Railway Museum Shildon, will combine historic buildings and workshops of the Timothy Hackworth Museum with a new 557sq m building which will house 60 vehicles from the national collection.

The £10m centre is situated n a one kilometre-long site which will house the reserve collection of railway vehicles and also include classrooms, a conversation area, a café, picnic facilities, public art and a shop.

Funding for the project – a partnership between the National Rail Museum and Sedgefield Borough Council – came from sources including the European Rural Development Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as the borough council. It was designed by Manchester-based architects Austin, Smith:Lord.

Shildon was selected to be the home of the new museum by the National Rail Museum because it is one the world’s oldest railway towns.

The fully accessible museum is planning a number of special events for the autumn, including special Santa shows during the run-up to Christmas.

Admission to locomotion is free.