Step aside dusty, hushed museums and glass cabinets, and step forward a moving ‘online’ museum – Leith has lent a hand with creating rail, and museums, as never seen before.
‘Inspiration’ is a fully transformed quartet of train carriages, reimagined as a mobile exhibition, travelling the nation, packed with nearly 30 individually curated displays offering hands-on installations, interactive labs, and time-travel storytelling.
Developed on behalf of Railway 200, the cross-sector bicentenary campaign, curated by the National Railway Museum and crafted by Leith, the train combines next-gen storytelling with hands-on interactivity, intuitive design, and a commitment to accessibility, ensuring that every visitor, regardless of age or ability, feels welcomed and inspired.
Whether stepping aboard at Severn Valley Railway, watching online via the virtual tour, or tracking the journey through town, this is not a museum. It’s a call to creativity, exploration, and connection – where engineering meets imagination.
Timed to celebrate this year’s 200th anniversary of the modern railway, ‘Inspiration’ is the centrepiece of Railway 200, a year-long, nationwide programme of events. As it travels to 60 destinations, this one-of-a-kind exhibition aims not just to look back, but to spark ideas, dialogue and ambition for the journey ahead.
Glasgow Central, Edinburgh Waverley and Aberdeen in Scotland are already on the timetable, along with the North Yorkshire Morrs Railway, Blackpool North, Darlington and Llandudno, with more stations yet to be added – check out the latest itinerary here.
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Across its four carriages, each zone of the train offers a rich, immersive experience:
Railway Firsts, where 30 curated displays chart the most pivotal, and often overlooked, innovations in British rail. From Stephenson’s Rocket to high-speed sustainability, the journey blends replica artefacts with layered storytelling and interactive displays, inviting visitors to discover how rail has shaped everything from industry to identity over the past 200 years.
In the Wonderlab on Wheels carriage, children and curious grown-ups alike get hands-on with the science of movement. Interactive engineering challenges, tactile exhibits and playful problem-solving stations are designed to spark joy in discovery, proving that curiosity is the true engine of progress.
Your Railway Future Carriage, flips the script on what a life in rail looks like. Ten visually striking exhibits spotlight real, surprising roles in today’s rail industry, from drone operators to environmental strategists. The experience ends with an interactive quiz, matching visitors with one of a multitude of possible pathways into the sector. It’s a dynamic showcase of opportunity, designed to reflect every kind of ambition for people of all backgrounds.
Finally, the Partner Zone offers a flexible collaboration space that evolves as the exhibition rolls on. From pop-up talks and think-ins to displays from local communities and national partners, it’s a hub for dialogue, design and the bold ideas shaping the next chapter of rail’s revolutionary story.
Accessibility has underpinned every design decision. The Leith team, working in close partnership with Railway 200, Network Rail and the National Railway Museum, transformed the carriages’ compact footprint into a layered, welcoming experience through thoughtful storytelling, inclusive tech and human-centred design.
Ed Brooke, Partner at Leith, said: “Britain’s railway history has powered everything from poetry to pioneering and progress, but it’s never had its own exhibition on rails. Until now. Alongside Network Rail, we wanted to build something that celebrates 200 years of engineering wonder in a way that moves you – literally and emotionally.”
Emma Roberts, Programme Manager at Railway 200, added: “Railways are woven into the fabric of Britain, connecting communities, fuelling innovation, and shaping who we are as a nation. With ‘Inspiration’, we wanted to celebrate not just the last 200 years, but the stories, people, career opportunities and progress that keep rail moving forward.”
For further details, visit Railway200.
