The Science Museum Group is unveiling a groundbreaking digital initiative to bring 200 years of railway history to life, marking the National Railway Museum’s 50th anniversary and the bicentenary of the modern railway in the UK. In partnership with Google Arts & Culture, the project, titled Beyond the Tracks, leverages cutting-edge AI to unlock hidden stories from the UK’s national collection and make them accessible to a global audience. The railway is more than just a system of tracks and engines—it’s a powerful symbol of innovation, progress, and shared memory. From the hiss of steam to the clang of buffers, the railway has shaped the nation’s identity. Beyond the Tracks honors that legacy by transforming archival materials into interactive, immersive experiences. At the heart of the project is Google Arts & Culture’s new AI-powered Metadata Enhancement Service, which has been used to transcribe thousands of handwritten documents and artifacts. This technology makes previously inaccessible records searchable and discoverable, opening up a wealth of historical detail to researchers, educators, and the public. For the first time, users can explore the Locomotion museum in Shildon, County Durham, in full 360-degree virtual reality. Three new tours allow visitors to walk through the Main Hall, where massive historic locomotives are displayed at their true scale, and the New Hall, designed to resemble a traditional engine shed. You can even retrace the path of the Brusselton Incline—the original route of the world’s first public railway, opened in 1825. Beyond the engines, the project uncovers the human stories behind the rails. Nearly 1,000 items from the national collection have been digitized, including the Rastrick Notebook, a firsthand account of the 1829 Rainhill Trials that helped define the future of steam power. Visitors can also view Puffing Billy, the world’s oldest preserved locomotive, and a model carriage made from the wood of the sunken PS Princess Alice—a haunting reminder of a tragic Victorian disaster. The project features over 10 compelling stories that explore the railway’s far-reaching impact. Discover the engineering brilliance of Stephenson’s Rocket, the emotional final journey of Queen Victoria’s funeral train, the birth of modern tourism, and the often-untold contributions of the workers, engineers, and communities who built the network. Two unique Pocket Galleries offer immersive 3D experiences through mobile devices. One highlights the artistic relationship between the railway and visual culture, while the other showcases rare vintage railway posters, revealing how early advertising shaped the public’s perception of rail travel. This initiative builds on a long-standing collaboration between the Science Museum Group and Google Arts & Culture, which has already produced educational series on topics from flight to energy and cooking. Beyond the Tracks continues that mission: to inspire future innovators and ensure that the UK’s rich scientific and industrial heritage is preserved, shared, and understood by all.