IT IS the busiest museum outside London, and new figures have revealed it keeps getting busier.

So just what is the secret to the National Railway Museum's success?

There has been a big increase in visitors since entry became free four years ago. The attraction saw the biggest rise in Yorkshire, of 43 per cent, with museum visits nationally rising by five million since the Government's decision to scrap admission fees.

Andrew Scott, head of the museum, said free entry had been a "tremendous boost".

He revealed the key to its continued success was moving away from the "dead and dusty" museum image and providing something different to encourage repeat visits.

"Our figures are pretty buoyant," he said.

"The secret is that we are not dead and dusty whenever people come. It's a friendly, noisy, environment with lots going on.

"The second thing is that whenever people come back they know there will always be something different.

"Now and then we get told that nobody is interested in railways anymore, but we're the busiest museum outside of London."

Mr Scott said recent successful innovations at the museum had included giving the public access to its workshop, and the private curator's store, where more than 10,000 objects are kept.

Other attractions like Thomas The Tank Engine, Railfest and the forthcoming Flying Scotsman Story also gave people a "special reason to visit".

Plans are also under way to install a big wheel on the museum site, giving tourists and residents a bird's eye view of the city.

On a more cautious note, Mr Scott said the introduction of free entry had meant they were very reliant on Government grants, and they were hoping the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward may invest in the attraction.

"It's all very well having lots more visitors, but of we are to be free entry then we do need the funds to provide the quality of service that people expect," he said.

"We bring in millions of pounds to the regional economy. We need the funds to provide the quality of service that people expect.

"In ten years time people still need to be flocking to our door."

Updated: 09:33 Wednesday, March 22, 2006