Children invited to join Michael Morpurgo for live railway storytelling event
Posted on Wednesday 22 April 2026
The free session, titled All Aboard the Story Time Express, will be broadcast from a railway carriage, once pulled by a steam train, at the National Railway Museum (NRM) on Wednesday 10 June 2026.
Organised by the York Festival of Ideas in partnership with the NRM and supported by LNER (London North Eastern Railway), the event forms part of celebrations for the National Year of Reading 2026.
Research from LNER shows Britain is rediscovering the love of a good book on the train. Of those surveyed, 52 per cent of travellers listened to audiobooks and podcasts, 30 per cent have enjoyed e-books, 15 per cent have turned the pages of virtual newspapers and magazines, while 45 per cent of those who read onboard still choose a physical book.
History and memory
At the event, Michael Morpurgo, a former Children’s Laureate, will read from his book Flying Scotsman and the Best Birthday Ever and answer questions from young viewers about his life and work.
The session will be hosted by BBC News’ Culture and Media Editor Katie Razzall, and while most children will join online, a group of pupils from York’s St Barnabas CE Primary School will attend in person at the museum’s Station Hall.
Michael said: “For me, when history and memory meet can be all I need to dream up a new story. I loved steam trains as a child, and wanted to be a train driver when I grew up.
“To tell my story, in York, from a carriage once hauled along the railway by a steam locomotive will be wonderful. And maybe I could sound a whistle again! And again. And again. I’ll sound it out for books and storytelling, and for the York Festival of Ideas!”
Celebration Day
The event is the centrepiece of the Festival’s annual Michael Morpurgo Celebration Day, which honours his contribution to literature and the arts. Last year’s live online event was enjoyed by over 18,500 schoolchildren from across the UK and beyond.
Director of York Festival of Ideas, Joan Concannon, said: “Michael has an incredible ability to connect with young minds and we are immensely proud to host this extraordinary event in celebration of the National Year of Reading. By partnering with the National Railway Museum and LNER, we are able to use the power of digital technology to bring the beauty of literature and York’s rich railway heritage to tens of thousands of children across the country and beyond."
Further events linked to the Festival include a day of railway and engineering themed family activities at the National Railway Museum, and a concert at the University of York featuring Michael Morpurgo and cellist Clare O’Connell.
Inspiring young people
Jake Orros, Community Partnerships Manager at LNER, said: “At LNER, supporting the communities along our near-1,000 mile route is at the heart of everything we do. It is always great to work with the York Festival of Ideas and the National Railway Museum to stage such exciting events to help inspire futures and influence the lives of young people.”
York Festival of Ideas, which is led by the University of York, will run from 30 May to 12 June 2026, with more than 200, mostly free, events taking place both in person and online.
Sarah Price, Head of Public Programmes at the National Railway Museum, said: “There’s something about train travel and storytelling that just go together – trains are a catalyst, a way for characters to meet, a vehicle to take them to new and exciting places. They are also a space for us as readers to get lost in stories, something that is more precious than ever in these busy, hyper-connected lives we all lead.
"We are delighted to be hosting one of Britain’s most beloved writers as he transports listeners to experience the thrill of riding the most famous locomotive in the world, Flying Scotsman, all through the power of storytelling.”
All Aboard the Story Time Express with Michael Morpurgo will take place on Wednesday 10 June 2026 from 10am to 10.45am. School teachers and home educators can register their class or school now and find out more information by visiting the York Festival of Ideas website.
Further information
About York Festival of Ideas
York Festival of Ideas 2026 will take place from 30 May to 12 June under the overall banner of ‘Place and Space’ with more than 200 mostly free events, in-person and online. Led by the University of York, it’s one of the largest free festivals of its kind in the UK.
About National Railway Museum
- The National Railway Museum in York has the largest collection of railway objects in the world and is the most visited free attraction in the region. The collection includes more than 260 locomotives and rolling stock, thousands of railway objects, and over 1.75 million documents, photographs and artworks in its archives.
- The National Railway Museum celebrated its 50th birthday in 2025 and has welcomed almost 40m visitors since it first opened in 1975.
- The National Railway Museum forms part of the Science Museum Group, along with sister museum Locomotion in Shildon, the Science Museum in London, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford and the Science and Innovation Park in Wiltshire.
- As a charity, the museum relies on the generous support of individuals, businesses, and charitable trusts to preserve the rich history of Britain’s railways. Find out how you can add your support: railwaymuseum.org.uk/support-museum.
- Admission to the National Railway Museum is free, although visitors are encouraged to book in advance, visit our website.
About LNER:
LNER, which is publicly owned by DFTO, is on a mission to transform rail travel. Our modern Azuma fleet of trains continue more than a hundred years of LNER tradition - setting new, higher standards in comfort, reliability and customer experience. LNER calls at more than 50 stations along almost a thousand miles on the East Coast route, including major towns and cities between London, the East Midlands, Yorkshire, the North East of England and Scotland.
