Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester facts for kids
 |
|
.jpg)
The vehicle collection in the Museum of Transport
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 27 May 1979 |
|---|---|
| Location | Cheetham Hill, Manchester, UK |
| Type | Transport museum |
| Accreditation | Arts Council England |
| Collections | Horse buses, buses, trolleybuses, trams, transport-related objects and documents |
| Owner | TfGM and Greater Manchester Transport Society |
| Public transit access |   Queens Road |
|
Listed Building – Grade II
|
|
| Official name: Bus Depot and Transport Museum | |
| Designated: | 19 June 1988 |
| Reference #: | 1247471 |
The Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester is a cool place to learn about the history of public transport in Greater Manchester, England. It's located in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester. The museum works to keep old buses, trams, and other transport items safe for everyone to see.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's History
The museum first opened its doors on May 27, 1979. It was started in 1977 at Boyle Street, Cheetham Hill. Many dedicated volunteers help run the museum every day. They make sure everything is ready for visitors.
The museum building used to be a bus garage for Manchester Corporation Transport. It's behind an old electric tram shed built in 1901. The museum building itself was added in two parts. A special bus garage was finished in 1928. This part is now the museum's entrance and upper hall.
Later, in 1935, a roof was built over the open space between the tram shed and the 1928 bus depot. This created the lower hall. The old tram shed is still used today as a bus depot by Stagecoach Manchester. Because of its important history, the whole group of buildings became a special "Grade II listed" site in 1988. This means it's protected for its historical value.
The museum became a registered charity in 1980. This means it's a non-profit group that helps the community. In May 2003, it became an officially recognized museum.
Amazing Vehicle Collection
The museum has a huge collection of vehicles. There are about 80 buses in total! Around 70 of these buses are kept at the museum site. This makes it one of the biggest collections of its kind in the UK.
Because the building is so big, some vehicles are stored off-site. The exhibits change often, so there's always something new to see. During summer, some vehicles even travel to events around the country. Visitors can often watch as old vehicles are being fixed up and restored.
The collection also includes two trolleybuses. These are from Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne. You can also see the very first design for a Manchester Metrolink tram.
More Than Just Vehicles
Besides the vehicles, the museum has many other interesting items. You can find old transport signs, uniforms, and parts from vehicles. There's also old equipment used for tickets.
A cool fact is that the museum has several items used by Warner Bros. These were for filming Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban!
The museum also has a large collection of old documents. These include timetables, maps, books, and posters. You can even see old manuals and plans. This collection is available for research if you arrange a visit.
Fun Events to Attend
The museum hosts several exciting events throughout the year.
- February: A special event for Morris Minor cars.
- May: A themed event with different activities.
- September: The museum takes part in UK Heritage Open Days.
- October: Another themed event for visitors.
- December: The Christmas Cracker is a market day. You can find specialist retailers and booksellers there.
In 2023, the museum had a 'twilight running day'. Visitors could ride on the old buses into the evening.
For most of these events, a special heritage bus service runs. It goes from Manchester Victoria station to the museum. Buses run every 20 minutes between 9:50 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Finding the Museum
The museum is about 2 miles north of Manchester city centre. It's near where the A665 (Cheetham Hill Road) and A6010 (Queens Road) meet. You'll find it at the north end of Boyle Street, next to the Go North West bus garage.
The Queens Road tram stop for the Manchester Metrolink is only about 200 meters away. Bus services 41, 135, and 151 also stop nearby. Look for signs to the museum from the Manchester Fort shopping centre.
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays. It is closed during Christmas and New Year.
See also
- Science and Industry Museum
- List of museums in Greater Manchester
- List of transport museums
- Listed buildings in Manchester-M8
