JUDGES in one of the country's leading art competitions stepped back into the age of steam when they visited the North-East's first national museum yesterday.

Museum bosses proudly showed off the attractions that have helped Locomotion: National Railway Museum in County Durham get down to the last four in the Gulbenkian Museum of Year Awards.

The three judges were given a warm welcome when they arrived in Shildon to explore the multi-million pound museum before going away to make their decision.

Broadcaster Joan Bakewell, sculptor Sokari Douglas Camp and journalist Victoria Hislop enjoyed a guided by tour by Andrew Scott, head of the National Railway Museum, George Muirhead, manager at Locomotion, and Phil Ball, director of leisure services at Sedgefield Borough Council.

They were also joined by retiring Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster, dignitaries from Sedgefield Borough Council and representatives from community groups.

Their journey started in the former Sunday School that now houses the museum's Welcome Centre and one of the world's finest railway treasures - the Sans Pareil.

The group was then transported back through time to the days when Hackworth made history with the Darlington and Stockton Railway Company.

A tour of the rail pioneer's former home showed the judges how Shildon was at the very cutting edge of the steam era, changing the world forever.

They also learned how the town basked in the glory of the wagon works, before being plunged into despair by its demise in the 1980s.

Ms Bakewell said that she and her colleagues could see why the museum was one of the final four and it would be difficult to choose a winner.

She said: "It is a very huge responsibilty for us to undertake and we take it very seriously. An enormous amount has been achieved here and the museum certainly deserves to be shortlisted. It is as strong a contender as any of the others and it is certainly something that the people here should be very proud of.''

The museum faces competition from the Time and Tide Museum in Great Yarmouth, Big Pit: The National Mining Museum of Wales and Coventry Transport Museum .

A winner will be announced on Thursday, May 26, at an award ceremony at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London during Museums and Galleries Month 2005.

Published: 19/04/2005