DESPITE hailing from Darlington - the birthplace of the railways - I've never been remotely interested in trains. As far as I was concerned they were simply a means of getting from A to B in a relatively fast time.

I never had an electric train set when I was a child and only went trainspotting once. I soon decided that sitting on a freezing railway platform jotting down railway carriage serial numbers was not my scene.

So when my five-year-old nephew Oliver, a big Thomas the Tank Engine fan, and my niece, Emma, aged ten, asked if they could go to the National Railway Museum, I had my reservations. But I gave in, and I'm glad I did.

I'd been to the museum several times during my ten years or so in York, but these visits were work related. I'd never had the chance to have a good look round.

The museum, which straddles Leeman Road, is home to a staggering collection of 103 locomotives and more than 170 items of rolling stock which tell the story of the railway from George Stephenson's Rocket to the Eurostar.

It also houses hundreds of thousands of items of railway memorabilia, including tickets, nameplates, silver and crockery, drawings, posters and works of art.

But its the locomotives that steal the show.

You can't help but admire the craftsmen who built these magnificent steam engines.

One which the children liked in particular was the Mallard - its incredible steam speed record of 126mph still stands today.

Every day in the Great Hall, one of the engines is given a spin on a giant turntable while a member of staff answers any questions.

Also worth visiting is the new £4m extension, The Works, where, from a balcony, you can watch some of the great engines being lovingly restored by a team of enthusiasts.

There is also an Aladdin's Cave, packed with about 5,000 unusual objects and artefacts.

Emma and Oliver's favourite part of the museum by far was the interactive learning centre, which was designed primarily for use by visiting school groups, but it's been such a success that it's facilities are now open to all.

Here youngsters (and adults) get the chance to learn about the sciences involved in the railway industry in a hands-on manner.

You can build a bridge and railway track, experiment with a wind tunnel, sit in a driving cab - one diesel, the other steam - try your hand at wheel tapping and attempt to move a heavy signal lever, which, believe you me, does take some doing!

One of the most interesting displays is Palaces On Wheels - a collection of royal carriages dating back to Victorian times full of luxurious bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms, which the kings and queens of yesteryear enjoyed on their trips up and down the country.

One man standing next to me pointed to one of the carriages and commented: "It's bigger than my flat!"

If you're feeling peckish there's the Brief Encounter restaurant plus two picnic areas, one indoor and one out. The indoor one plays videos of Thomas the Tank Engine, which kept Oliver occupied for a while.

There's also miniature railway rides and steam train rides.

All in all the NRM is a first class day out.

Fact file

u The National Railway Museum, Leeman Road, York. Tel 01904 621261. 24-hour information hotline, 01904 686286.

u Admission: Adults £6.50, Over 60s and children free. A £1 fee for adults is expected shortly.

u Opening times: Daily 10am to 6pm.

u Car park: £3 per day.

u Disabled access: Ramps and chair lifts provide access to most parts of the museum. A lift to the balcony gallery has been installed. u Wheelchairs may also be borrowed.

Whats on

u Until August 31: Murals From A Great Canadian Train.

u The Platform 4 Theatre Group performs every weekend and on some additional mid-week dates too.

u For a virtual tour of the museum visit the website on www.nmsi.ac.uk.