Locomotion: the National Railway Museum at Shildon, in County Durham, has been awarded the Dibner Award for Outstanding Museum Work.

The accolade was established in 1985 to recognise excellence in museums or exhibits interpreting technology, engineering and industry and is awarded by the Society for the History of Technology (SHOT).

Previous winners have included the Science Museum in London, The National Museum of American History in the US and The Power Plant in Australia.

“Locomotion is an innovative new museum which highlights the innovative yet under-recognised creativity of local engineer Timothy Hackworth, and commemorates nearly two centuries of international rail history at Shildon, including the sensitively interpreted life of the town’s railway community," said Dr Graeme Gooday, chair of the SHOT Dibner Committee 2005 and senior lecturer in history and philosophy of science at the University of Leeds.

“Locomotion’s unique juxtaposition of entertaining and instructive displays addresses key social, technological, geographical and artifactual features of railway history.

"Moreover, without flinching from difficult episodes in this site’s heritage, 20 years after the wagon works had left town, it now closely involves local residents in restoring the vibrant culture that once made Shildon a global site of technological innovation and production, engaging visitors at multiple levels."