Dales Countryside Museum facts for kids
The Dales Countryside Museum is a special place in the Yorkshire Dales National Park in Northern England. It is like a time capsule, showing how people have lived and worked in the Dales for more than 1,000 years. The museum is managed by the National Park Authority, which looks after this beautiful area. The idea for the museum came from a collection of old items gathered by Marie Hartley, Ella Pontefract, and Joan Ingilby.
Exploring the Dales Countryside Museum
The museum is in the small town of Hawes. It sits right next to the old Hawes railway station in Wensleydale. Outside the museum, you can see a real steam train and its carriages. They are on the tracks where the Wensleydale Railway used to run.
The Old Railway Station
The railway station building is still in its original spot. It is now part of the museum. Since 2015, a part of the old station has been rented out. It is now a bike shop and a cafe. This means visitors can enjoy a snack or rent a bike after exploring the museum.
The Museum's Steam Train
The steam engine at the museum is a special one. It was built in 1955 by a company called Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn. This train, named No.12, used to work at a power station called Hams Hall.
The train has been on display at the Dales Countryside Museum for many years. It carries the number 67345. This number is a tribute to an old train that pulled the very last passenger train out of Hawes station in 1959. The last freight train used the line in 1964. After that, the railway tracks were removed.
