Tracks through Time: The Story of Hull’s Railways

Allowing the fishing industry and the docks to expand into national and global markets, the railway played a key role in Hull’s development into an industrial and maritime powerhouse. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of modern rail, Hull History Centre will be hosting a special exhibition which will explore the history of the railway in Hull.

The History Centre’s collections contain a wealth of information on the railway’s construction and expansion in the city, from the opening of the first line in 1840, to the privatisation of the industry in the 1990s. The exhibition will look at the development of the rail network in the local area, with special reference to the docks, and will explore key historical events and themes including transmigration, the First and Second World Wars, stations and locomotives, and the men and women who built and worked on the tracks.

The full Exhibition runs 23 September – 30 October 2025 with a condensed exhibition running until 11 December 2025