Wirral Transport Museum

Wirral Transport Museum is a museum situated 1 mile from the Mersey Ferry service at Woodside, Birkenhead, England.

A vintage tram service links the museum and the ferry at certain times. Admission into the museum is free with a broad selection of vintage and classic vehicles, including trams, buses, cars, bikes, and a fire engine. It also includes views of ongoing projects in the museum's workshops, a 26 feet long model railway layout and a reconstructed 1930s garage scene.

Trams

The tramway collection was set up in collaboration with volunteers from Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society. [citeweb|url=http://www.visitwirral.com/site/absolutely-wirral/cultural-wirral/museums/wirral-transport-museum-and-tramway|title=Wirral Transport Museum & Tramway|accessdate = 2007-08-25] The tramway commenced service in April 1995 with the Hong Kong built 1948 style units. Operated under contract to Blackpool Tramways for Wirral Borough Council, who took overall control in 2005.

Tramcar 69, which bears the name of 'George Francis Train & Phileas Fogg', received a new 'Prenton style' livery in 2005. Tramcar 70, named 'Thomas Brassey' after the well known 19th century railroad builder, has been painted in a fictional 'Birkenhead Blue' livery (which was only ever carried by the town's bus fleet after 1934).

Vehicle display

As a working transport museum, vehicles are sometimes loaned and hired out and therefore museum visitors may not always get to see a listed vehicle.

Birkenhead Corporation

*BG 8557, a 1943 Guy Arab (324) rebodied in 1953 (242). Now restored with help from Paul Anderson / Home front funding, 1BG Project

*BG 9225, a 1946 Leyland PD1/1a (105). Restored with support of Ovaltine and match funding, 1BG Project.

*RCM 943, a 1964 Leyland Leopard L1 (93). Restored by Wirral Museum / Hamilton Quarter funding.

*GCM 152E, a 1967 Leyland PD2/37 (151). Restored with Hamilton Quarter funding, Wirral Museums / 201 Bus Group Project.

Wallasey Corporation

*1951 Leyland PD2/1 AHF 850 (54). Preserver Cedric Greenwood (1973). Funding purchased New Wallasey, 1BG Project.

*1954 Leyland PD2/10 CHF 656 (106). Preserver Mayers. Restoration funding from New Wallasey, Wirral Museums / 201 Bus Group Project.

Crosville Motor Services

*1960 Bristol / ECW FLG (319 PFM) Preserved by 1BG / N Moore / Wirral Museums (2007)

Operational fleet

*London Routemaster 101 CLT (RM 1101). Purchased 1994 via A1A Travel - Hamilton Quarter

*London Transport Daimler Fleetline (DMS 1692). Purchased Wirral Education 1998. Mobile classroom.

*Chester City 75 Open Top ex 54 Daimler Fleetline OFM 957 K.

*Operator Licence held National / Standard (2) Transport Manager: Robert Tennant.

Other waiting projects

*Crosville MS18 1949 Bedfore Beagle. Converted Mobile Office a 1BG Project funding needed.

*Liverpool A344 1949 AEC Regent. Preservers Bill Barlow / David Forrest. Transferred to Wirral Transport Museum in 2006)

ee also

*Birkenhead buses

References

External links

* [http://www.wirraltransportmuseum.org/ Wirral Transport Museum]