A FORMER temporary admin assistant has climbed the ranks to become the chief of collections at a York museum.

Helen Ashby started at the National Railway Museum (NRM) in the humble role 21 years ago, but has scaled the heights to become the attraction's head of knowledge and collections.

The 44-year-old York woman will aim to build on opening up the museum's vast collection of railway-related treasures.

"I dropped history at school because it didn't interest me," Helen said.

"It wasn't until I joined the NRM that I realised school history hadn't interested me because it had no meaning - it was all rather crusty and theoretical.

"The NRM brought it all to life for me because I could relate to the wonderful artefacts and to the stories behind them.

"It is this 'knowledge', held within the collections and the people who care for them, that we need to unlock and make more accessible."

Helen will oversee the world's biggest collection of railway artefacts including the famous Mallard and Bullet trains.

Previously the registrar, Helen's new role is one of four titles created at the museum as part of a restructuring programme aimed at paving the way for more growth and development. A graduate in French and Spanish at Bradford University, Helen has also served as museum assistant and curator of the reserve collection.

She will control the museum's 2D and 3D collection and is also responsible for the Institute of Railway Studies.

Other structure changes at the museum include a head of development responsible for fundraising and projects, and a head of museum operations who will look after marketing, education and visitor services.

Andrew Scott, head of the National Railway Museum, said: "The NRM already has an award-winning team of staff and volunteers.

"The aim of the proposed changes is to give them the right structure, focus and resources they need to care for the National Collections and to meet the needs of the next generation of visitors and users."

Updated: 08:43 Thursday, July 10, 2003