What’s On
Come to Riverside and step inside a life-size replica driver’s cab
of the brand new Nova 2 train by FirstGroup TransPennine Express. The
child-friendly interactive display is based on a new state-of-the-art
electric locomotive, set to be introduced on routes between Scotland
and Northern England in 2020.
Leo Goodwin, TransPennine Express Managing Director, explained; ‘To
build this faster, greener, electric train, engineers first had to
make detailed drawings of what it might look like and how it would
run. Then they conducted many tests to see if their ideas worked. This
life-size replica cab was made to test the driver’s experience,
comfort and safety and to see how the train’s exterior would look in
real life.’
Riverside is home to Glasgow’s world famous transport and technology
collection, including some notable locomotives from the 1900s. Having
the Nova 2 train cab on show, representing the future of rail
transport, keeps our collection current. What’s more not many people
actually get to sit in the driver’s cab of a train, so the fully
accessible interactive is expected to be popular, especially with
younger visitors to the museum. Older ones can explore the vastly
different conditions train drivers enjoy today, when contrasted with
their compatriots who travelled up and down the country more than one
hundred years ago.
The new ‘TransPennine Express at Riverside’ display is enhanced by
a 360 degree view of the cab and flythrough of the new train’s
interior, some technical information, images and links to other
locomotives on display at Riverside and held in the city’s
collection. It is located on the ground floor of the main hall, below
the Infinite Velodrome display.
