A MUSEUM'S tribute to an historic locomotive that drew crowds from far and wide is on track for an award.

The Great Goodbye at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon has been shortlisted in the North East England Tourism Awards' tourism event of the year category.

More than 120,000 people visited the Great Goodbye during its nine-day run in April.

The event featured six A4 class locos - Mallard, Bittern, Union of South Africa, Dominion of Canada, Dwight D Eisenhower and Sir Nigel Gresley - which were brought together to conclude the 75th anniversary celebrations of Mallard becoming the world's fastest steam engine.

The awards are billed as the region's tourism Oscars.

Organisers received 85 entries, with 52 making the shortlist.

Other shortlisted entries include Beamish Museum, which is competing in the large attraction of the year category and Hall Hill Farm, Lanchester, which is up for a tourism experience award.

Sarah Stewart, chief executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, which organises the awards on behalf of the Northern Tourism Alliance, said the tourism industry was an important part of the North-East economy, employing more than 55,000 people with an additional 500 jobs created over the last 12 months.

She added: “This year we have seen a fantastic range of applications spanning the whole of North East England, from Berwick in the north to Guisborough in the south.

“The North East England Tourism Awards are an important platform, recognising the quality and innovation that ensures our tourism offer remains one of the strongest in the country - congratulations to all those shortlisted and good luck.”

Judges have visited all of the shortlisted businesses to determine who should take gold in the 15 categories.

Silver, bronze and highly commended accolades will also be announced at a celebration of the tourism industry’s success on November 11 at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.

Winners at the regional awards will have the opportunity to compete nationally at VisitEngland’s Excellence Awards 2015.

The Shortlist

Access for All Tourism Award

Discovery Museum, Newcastle

Calvert Trust, Kielder

Sage Gateshead

Bed & Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year Award

Martineau Guest House, Whitley Bay

Northumbria University, Newcastle

Business Tourism Award

Event Durham, Durham University

Sodexo Prestige / Newcastle United

Caravan Holiday Park / Holiday Village of the Year Award

Ord House Country Park, Berwick upon Tweed

Golden Sands Holiday Park, Creswell

Seafield Caravan Park, Seahouses

Northumbrian Water / Leaplish Waterside Park, Kielder

Large Hotel of the Year Award

Jurys Inn, Newcastle

Matfen Hall Hotel, Northumberland

Newcastle Marriott Gosforth Park Hotel

Macdonald Gisborough Hall Hotel

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award

National Glass Centre, Sunderland

Beamish, the living museum of the north

Sage Gateshead

International Centre for Life, Newcastle

Self Catering Provider of the Year Award

Rennington Cottages, Rennington

Springhill Farm, Seahouses

Calvert Trust, Kielder

Herding Hill Farm, Haltwhistle

Taste of England Award

Zeera, South Shields

Northumberland Cheese Co. Ltd

Carriages Tea Room, Bellingham

Knitsley Farm Shop, Consett

Tourism Event of the Year Award

Locomotion, The National Railway Museum at Shildon / Mallard 75 - The Great Goodbye

South Tyneside Council Events Team - South Tyneside Summer Festival

Northumbrian Water - Kielder Winter Wonderland

Tourism Experience of the Year Award

Iles Tours, Newcastle

Hall Hill Farm, Lanchester

Lane7, Newcastle

The Cycle Hub, Newcastle

Tourism Pub of the Year Award

The Bridge Tavern, Newcastle

The Staith House, North Shields

South Causey Inn, Stanley

Visitor Information Provider of the Year Award

Durham Visitor Information Network

NewcastleGateshead Visitor Information Centre

Northumberland National Park Centre, Once Brewed

Small Hotel of the Year Award

Langley Castle Hotel, Hexham

Seaham Hall, Durham

Doxford Hall Hotel and Spa

Sustainable Tourism Award

St Cuthbert’s House, Seahouses

Durham University

Sage Gateshead

Northumberland National Park Centre, Once Brewed

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Award

Ouseburn Trust – Victoria Tunnel

WWT Washington Wetland Centre

Kielder Observatory

The Cycle Hub, Newcastle