Wirral Transport Museum

Wirral Transport Museum
Wallasey Corporation tram No. 78 in the tramshed, with Hong Kong tram No. 69 to the rear.
Established1995
LocationTaylor Street, Birkenhead,
Merseyside. CH41 1BG
United Kingdom
Coordinates53°23′46″N 3°01′09″W / 53.3961°N 3.0192°W / 53.3961; -3.0192
TypeTransport museum
Collection size
Trams, buses, other vehicles, static displays, model railway
WebsiteWirral Transport Museum
Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society

Wirral Transport Museum was a museum situated at Woodside, Birkenhead, England.

A heritage tram line linked the museum to the ferry terminal at Woodside. The museum and tramway closed in April 2023.

In 2025, Wirral Council withdrew a £4.5m funding offer for the museum's current owners, leaving the future of the site uncertain. [1]

History

The museum was established in 1995 as the tram shed for the Wirral Tramway.

In 2009, as part of its Strategic Asset Review, owners Wirral Borough Council planned to dispose of the museum, transferring it to a Community Development Trust. It recommended that "... the specialist role of the Transport Museum be protected as far as possible."[2]

In 2011, the museum welcomed comedian Ken Dodd, who took a ride on one of the trams for a BBC documentary.[3]

By 2013, the council was in discussions to hand over management to a volunteer organisation.[4] Merseyside Transport Preservation Society had been using the Taylor Street museum as a base for restoring and maintaining their collection for some time and were invited to take over the operation of the museum and tramway, which began in January 2014.

In December 2017 the museum closed for six months for a major revamp which included a new gift shop, cafe and lift, incorporating a pair of historic Mersey Ferries ticket booths into the new entrance.[5]

The museum was operated by MTPS volunteers of behalf of Wirral Council, who revealed in 2023 that the museum and tramway were costing the council approximately £85,000 per year to maintain. An asset transfer to local museum operators Big Heritage CIC was approved in March 2023.[6][7]

Big Heritage CIC were granted a 25-year lease with the stated aim of increasing visitor numbers to 40,000 a year.[6] The museum was closed for redevelopment in April 2023, with an initial goal of doubling the museum in size and creating at least 10 new jobs. In the interim, heritage bus and tram services were expected to resume in 2024.[8] MTPS maintained ownership of the historic tram fleet, and a breakdown in relations with Big Heritage led to them removing their tramcars in 2023-2025.

In March 2025, Wirral Council voted to withdraw £4.5m in grant funding for Big Heritage after consultants deemed the transport museum plans as 'undeliverable' within the required timescale. A smaller £1.5m offer was rejected and a legal dispute ensued, leaving the future of the tramway and museum in limbo.[9][10][1]

Trams

Liverpool double-decker tram No. 245, outside the museum at Taylor Street in Birkenhead

The tramway collection was set up in collaboration with volunteers from Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society.[11] The Wirral Tramway commenced service in April 1995 with the Hong Kong-built, 1948-style units, operated under contract by Blackpool Tramways for Wirral Borough Council, who took overall control in 2005.

Hong Kong tramcar 69, which bears the name of George Francis Train & Phileas Fogg, received a new 'Prenton style' livery in 2005. Hong Kong 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).

Liverpool 245, a Baby Grand owned by National Museums Liverpool but kept at Birkenhead since 2006, was restored to operational use by the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society.[12] This was funded with the help of a £50,000 lottery heritage fund grant in 2010, with completion of the restoration in 2014.[13]

Former operational trams of the fleet included Birkenhead 20, Wallasey 78, Liverpool 762 which were transferred to Crich Tramway Village in 2025[14] and Lisbon 730 which was moved to Beamish Museum transport collection in 2024.[15][16] Horse-drawn tram Liverpool 43 was moved to Hooton Park Hangars.[17] The partially-restored Warrington No. 28 (built from the original No. 2) owned by MTPS, remains at the former museum awaiting removal.

Buses

1943 Guy Arab

The Technical Custodian held a National / Standard (2) Operator Licence. Upon his retirement in January 2014 the entitlement for the museum to use vehicles on a hire and reward basis ceased; however many of the historic vehicles were maintained to a fully roadworthy status for occasional use, visiting local events and offering free tours.

Prior to the 2023 closure, the museum's bus fleet included a variety of vehicles from local operators:

Birkenhead Corporation

  • BG 8557, a 1943 Guy Arab (324) rebodied in 1953 (242).[18] Now restored with help from Paul Anderson / Home front funding, 1BG Project
  • BG 9225, a 1946 Leyland Titan PD1/1a (No. 105).[19] Restored with support of Ovaltine and match funding, 1BG Project.
  • RCM 493, a 1964 Leyland Leopard L1 (No. 93).[20] Restored by Wirral Museum / Hamilton Quarter funding.
  • GCM 152E, a 1967 Leyland Titan PD2/37 (No. 152).[21] Restored with Hamilton Quarter funding, Wirral Museums / 201 & 1BG Project.

Wallasey Corporation

  • AHF 850, a 1951 Leyland Titan PD2/1 (No. 54).[22] Preserver Cedric Greenwood (1973). Funding purchased New Wallasey, 1BG Project.
  • CHF 565, a 1954 Leyland Titan PD2/10[23] (No. 106). Preserver Mayers. Restoration funding from New Wallasey, Wirral Museums 201 project.

Crosville Motor Services

Other waiting projects

  • Crosville MS18 1949 Bedford Beagle. Converted Mobile Office a 1BG Project funding needed.
  • HKF 820, a 1949 AEC Regent III, Liverpool A344.[25] Preservers Bill Barlow / David Forrest. Transferred to Wirral Transport Museum in 2006.

Vehicles formerly on display

  • 101 CLT, a London AEC Routemaster (RM 1101). Purchased in 1994 via A1A Travel and restored with Hamilton Quarter funding. Withdrawn in April 2009, and is now to be found operating back on London streets with theghostbustours.com. RM1101 has reverted to its KFF 367 registration.[26]
  • THM 692M, a London Transport Daimler Fleetline (DMS 1692), MCW bodywork.[27] Purchased by Wirral Local Education Authority in 1998, it was previously used as a mobile classroom. Withdrawn in April 2009. Now to be found operating as a mobile church/youth club at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.
  • OFM 957K, a Daimler Fleetline, Chester City 75 Open Top ex 54. Sold to the North West Museum of Road Transport in January 2009.
  • F362 WSC, a Leyland Olympian, Alexander 81 seat bodywork. Operational since March 2009, the vehicle was re-registered as 101 CLT on 25 April 2009. Number previously donated back to RM 1101. This vehicle replaced the Millennium bus (DMS 1692). In April 2012 It was re-registered F362 WSC and the bus placed into preservation with a Yorkshire group. Routemaster Registration 101 CLT (from RM1101 now KFF 367), was exchanged for Ribble PD3 1841 registration TCK 841 and in line with museum policy its classic bus fleet continue to display their original registrations.

Static and other exhibits

A model of one of the former Bidston Dock cranes

The museum had an extensive collection on display, the majority owned by Wirral Museums. This included various items relating to the area's transport history alongside a wide variety of scale models. A 26-foot-long (7.9 m) OO gauge model railway layout depicting Mostyn in North Wales was removed after the museum's closure. A reconstructed 1930s garage scene and a shop scene were also present.[28]

Several vintage cars,[29] including an Austin 1800 dating to 1970,[30] an Austin 7,[31] a Morris Minor Traveller,[32] a Triumph Dolomite 1300[33] and a 1946 Wolseley 14-series police car[34][35] formed part of the collection.

Also in the collection were various vintage motorcycles,[36] including a BSA Bantam,[37] a Douglas,[38] a 1956 BSA C10L,[39] a 1938 Norton 16H[40] and a 1964 Honda CB92.[41] Mopeds include a Yamaha QT50[42] and a 1967 Honda P50.[43]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Legal dispute over Wirral Transport Museum ongoing". Wirral Globe. 24 January 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  2. ↑ Council approves Strategic Asset Review, Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, 16 January 2009, archived from the original on 13 June 2011, retrieved 19 June 2009
  3. ↑ "Ken Dodd takes nostalgic Wirral Transport Museum tram trip for BBC documentary". Liverpool Echo. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "Uncertain future for Wirral museums". museums Association. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "MERSEYSIDE TRAMWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY. About Us". www.mtps.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 Barnes, Edward (9 March 2023). "Transport museum in 'jeopardy' saved as charity takeover approved". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "Decision - Asset Transfer of Wirral Transport Museum". wirral.moderngov.co.uk. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "An exciting future for Wirral Transport Museum – Big Heritage". Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  9. ↑ www.liverpoolecho.co.uk https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/45m-plans-much-loved-museum-31188544. Retrieved 14 August 2026. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ "Removal of most funding for Wirral Transport Museum confirmed | British Trams Online News". Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  11. ↑ Wirral Transport Museum & Tramway, retrieved 19 June 2009
  12. ↑ "Liverpool No.245". mtps.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "Liverpool No.245 Restoration Progress Report" (PDF). mtps.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  14. ↑ McGrath, Rebecca (27 March 2025). "Historic Merseyside trams move to Derbyshire tramway village". Wirral Globe. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  15. ↑ "Lisbon tram No.730 has moved to Beamish Museum". Beamish. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  16. ↑ "Birkenhead Heritage Tramway". britishtramsonline.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  17. ↑ "MERSEYSIDE TRAMWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY. Liverpool No.43". www.mtps.co.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  18. ↑ "Birkenhead 242 - 1943 Guy Arab Massey BG8557". Flickr. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  19. ↑ "BG9225_26072014". Flickr. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  20. ↑ "RCM493_26072014". Flickr. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  21. ↑ "Has anyone seen the engine?". Flickr. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  22. ↑ "AHF850_26072014". Flickr. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  23. ↑ "CHF 565". Flickr. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  24. ↑ "319PFM_26072014a". Flickr. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  25. ↑ "Liverpool A344 - 1949 AEC Regent III Metro Cammell HKF820". Flickr. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  26. ↑ "The Ghost Bus Tours KFF 367". Flickr. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  27. ↑ "THM692M". Flickr. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  28. ↑ "Transport Museum". Wirral Council. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012.
  29. ↑ "Wirral Tramway & Wirral Transport Museum". visitwirral.com. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  30. ↑ "1970 Austin 1800 UVR1". Flickr. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  31. ↑ "Austin Seven EP5987". Flickr. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  32. ↑ "THREE OLD VETERANS". Flickr. 24 August 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  33. ↑ "SJ3289 : Triumph Dolomite 1300, Wirral Transport Museum, Birkenhead". Geograph Britain & Ireland. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  34. ↑ "1946 Wolseley police car JP5583". Flickr. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  35. ↑ "Vintage Police Car". Flickr. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  36. ↑ "Wirral Transport Museum". Flickr. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  37. ↑ "B.S.A. BANTAM". Flickr. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  38. ↑ "SJ3289 : Douglas motorcycle, Wirral Transport Museum, Birkenhead". Geograph Britain & Ireland. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  39. ↑ "SJ3289 : 1956 BSA C10L motorbike, Wirral Transport Museum, Birkenhead". Geograph Britain & Ireland. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  40. ↑ "SJ3289 : 1938 Norton 16H motorcycle, Wirral Transport Museum, Birkenhead". Geograph Britain & Ireland. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  41. ↑ "SJ3289 : 1964 Honda CB92 motorbike, Wirral Transport Museum, Birkenhead". Geograph Britain & Ireland. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  42. ↑ "SJ3289 : Yamaha QT50 moped, Wirral Transport Museum, Birkenhead". Geograph Britain & Ireland. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  43. ↑ "SJ3289 : 1967 Honda P50 moped, Wirral Transport Museum, Birkenhead". Geograph Britain & Ireland. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
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