Climb aboard a miniature train and enjoy a short circuit round the upper end of the museum’s newly reopened space outside of its iconic Power Hall, once the shipping shed of the historic Liverpool Road Station. 

Play and power take centre stage at the Science and Industry Museum this May half term, with 16 days of hands-on experiences designed to spark curiosity, creativity and imagination.

From Saturday 23 May to Sunday 7 June, families are invited to explore the playful side of power with trainloads of fun, from a miniature steam railway and engineering sessions to visiting steam-powered traction engines and performances inspired by the sounds of industrial Manchester.

Historic Transport and Hands-On Engineering Challenges

Visitors will be transported back in time to play the role of passenger as they board a pop-up miniature steam train. 

Almost 200 years ago, this was the site of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the world’s first inter-city passenger railway. 

Hosted by Little British Rail, rides are priced at £4, with under-1s going free. 

Expert Explainers will host hands-on Curiosity Stops for those waiting to board, using playful discovery to explore how engines power our lives.

The final weekend of the holiday, from 5 to 7 June, will also see members of Urmston & District Model Engineering Society steaming onto site with its early 20th century Fowler Showman’s traction engine and Foden steam wagon. 

Visitors can step back in time, don a flat cap and snap a selfie with these historical moving machines.

Exploring Manchester’s Industrial Heritage Through Play

Power Hall: The Andrew Law Gallery offers even more ways to explore. 

Visitors can discover the stories behind Manchester’s industrial heritage while engaging with a new interactive trail and live demonstrations. 

Sound becomes a playground in workshops with percussion group Drumroots, where visitors can experiment with music inspired by the pulses of historic steam engines.

Grace Brindle, Public Programme Producer at the Science and Industry Museum, said:

“We are so excited to be bringing power and play together in such a hands-on, dynamic way this May half term. 

“The forces that shaped Manchester’s industrial past weren’t just powerful, they were innovative, bold and full of possibility. 

“Through this programme, we’re inviting visitors to explore those ideas in ways that are active, playful and fun.

“It’s especially exciting to welcome a pop-up miniature steam rail experience to the museum as we celebrate the reopening of our Upper Yard. 

“The yard will give visitors even more historic outdoor space to explore, just in time for the summer months.

“The miniature rail is also a wonderful reminder of our museum’s special site, home to the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station. 

“Following extensive essential external repairs to the 1830 Station, looking to the future, feasibility work has begun on a new visitor experience that tells the story of this revolutionary railroad and static locomotive experience, which we aim to open ahead of the Liverpool-Manchester railway bicentenary in 2030.”

The full half term programme is here.

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