Crewe Heritage Centre facts for kids
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'Get on Track for a Great Day Out'
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| Former name | Crewe Railway Age |
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| Established | 24 July 1987 |
| Location | Vernon Way, Crewe, Cheshire, England |
| Type | Railway museum |
| Visitors | c30,000 annually |
| Owner | Crewe Heritage Trust Limited |
The Crewe Heritage Centre is a fun railway museum in Crewe, England. It's managed by the Crewe Heritage Trust. You can find it between the railway station and the town centre. This spot used to be where the 'Old Works' was, a big railway factory that was taken down in the early 1980s.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The Crewe Heritage Centre started in an old railway yard. This yard was once part of the famous Crewe Works. It sits between the railway line to Chester and the main West Coast Main Line. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the centre. She was with the Duke of Edinburgh. This special event happened on 24 July 1987.
In 1992, the museum's owners, a charity, changed its name to Crewe Railway Age. But in early 2008, a new group of volunteers took over. They decided to change the name back to Crewe Heritage Centre.
What You Can See and Do
The centre has many cool things to explore. You can see the only remaining APT-P train. There's also a miniature railway to ride. You can explore model railways and three real signal boxes. The museum also has a collection of steam, diesel, and electric trains. Sometimes, special guest trains visit too!
The Main Exhibition Hall is full of interesting items. These items tell the story of Crewe. They show how the town built trains and carriages. They also highlight Crewe's famous railway station.
The Amazing Advanced Passenger Train
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The Class 370 Advanced Passenger Train (APT) was built by British Rail in the 1970s and 1980s. The one at the museum, numbered 370 003/006, is the only APT-P train left. You can go inside this train at any time. On some days, there's even a cafe in the original buffet car.
Inside one of the carriages, you'll find an APT-P museum. It has many photos from the APT project. In 2013, this train was tilted for the first time since it came to the museum. In early 2018, another part of an APT train arrived. This power car, M49006, is shown next to the main train.
Ride the Miniature Railway
The Crewe Heritage Centre Miniature Railway was built in 1992. It's 600 metres long and has a track width of 184mm (7.25 inches). The railway takes visitors on a fun journey. You start at 'Crewe Old Works' station. Then you travel to 'Spider Bridge' station. You pass 'Forge End' station along the way.
The railway uses different types of locomotives. There are steam, petrol, and battery electric trains. Rides on this miniature railway are included in your museum ticket.
The Main Exhibition Hall
The Heritage Centre also has a large Exhibition Hall. It's about 1,000 square metres in size. This hall is used for events and is also the main museum building. It features displays and exhibits about the town of Crewe. The building was updated in late 2018 and early 2019. This included new entrance doors and a fresh coat of paint inside.
Explore Real Signal Boxes
Signal boxes are important buildings. They help control train movements on the tracks. The Crewe Heritage Centre has three signal boxes you can explore.
- Crewe Station A:
This signal box is open for you to look around. It was moved to the museum site after it closed in 1985.
- Crewe North Junction:
This box was built in 1939. It was designed to be very strong. It could even withstand bombs during World War II. The roof is 46 cm (18 inches) thick. The walls are 38 cm (15 inches) thick. It's located between the main railway lines. This makes it a great spot to watch trains go by. You can often see demonstrations of how the box worked. These are linked to a train simulator. In 1987, the building was made bigger. This added more space for the Heritage Centre. It also included a cafe, a small shop, and a large American model railway.
- Exeter West:
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This signal box used to control trains in Exeter. It managed the split between the Great Western Railway and the Southern Railway. It had 131 levers! Only the best signalmen were allowed to operate it. Now, volunteers operate it every weekend. They use a demonstration timetable from the 1960s. This includes busy summer services. These services saw famous express trains like the Torbay Express and the Atlantic Coast Express.
Trains You Can See
The museum has a collection of trains. Here's an example of one you might find:
| Class | Number | Picture | Built | Type | Livery | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Rail Class 47 | 47 192 | 1965 | Diesel locomotive | BR Green | Working (currently on loan to the Weardale Railway) |
More to Explore
Don't Get Confused With
- Crewe Railroad Museum in Crewe, Virginia, USA
