Wirral Tramway facts for kids
Two trams pass each other at Pacific Road.
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| Operation | |
|---|---|
| Locale | Wirral |
| Open | 14 April 1995 |
| Status | Temporarily closed |
| Lines | One |
| Routes | Wirral Transport Museum to Woodside Ferry Terminal |
| Owner(s) | Wirral Council |
| Operator(s) | Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society |
| Infrastructure | |
| Track gauge | Standard |
| Stock | see vehicles |
| Statistics | |
| Route length | 0.7 miles (1.1 km) |
| Stops | 6 |
The Wirral Tramway is a special old tram line that opened in 1995. It's called a heritage tramway because it helps keep the history of trams alive. The tramway was started by the Wirral Borough Council and a group called Hamilton Quarter.
For a while, a company called Blackpool Transport Services ran the trams. But since 2005, the Wirral Council has been in charge. The tramway and the Wirral Transport Museum work together. They got help from volunteers like the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society.
Right now, the tram service runs on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. It also runs during school holidays. The Wirral Council is looking for new owners to help the tramway grow. There are ideas to make the line longer in the future. It might even reach the center of Birkenhead or other places.
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History of the Wirral Tramway
The idea for the tramway was approved in 1994. Building started soon after that. When the line first opened on April 14, 1995, it was quite short. It ran from Woodside Ferry Terminal to a stop near Pacific Road. This first part of the track was about 400 yards (370 m) long.
The tracks used for the Wirral Tramway were special. They came from the old Liverpool Corporation Tramways system. There were plans to make the line longer. This was part of a bigger project to improve the Birkenhead docks area.
Special Trams from Hong Kong
Two trams were built just for the Wirral Tramway in 1992. They came all the way from Hong Kong Tramways Ltd. These trams are double-deckers, meaning they have two levels. They are fully enclosed, so you stay dry inside.
Even though they came from Hong Kong, they run on standard gauge tracks. This is the normal track width in the UK. Hong Kong trams usually use a different, narrower track. These trams arrived in the UK in 1993. They were tested on the Blackpool tramway before the Wirral line opened. Blackpool Transport Services helped run the tramway at first.
Making the Line Longer
The tramway was later made longer. It now goes past the Wirral Metropolitan College. Then it turns away from the river at Egerton Wharf. After crossing the A554, it runs through an industrial area. Finally, it crosses Taylor Street to reach the Wirral Transport Museum. There is a special side track before Taylor Street. There is also a passing loop at Pacific Road. This lets trams pass each other.
Changes and Volunteers
In 2010, Wirral Council looked at all its important properties. They decided to find a new owner for the tramway and museum. At first, Merseytravel was interested. But they decided it would cost too much.
Then, the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society (MTPS) stepped in. They made a good plan to take over running the museum and tramway. The council agreed to let the MTPS manage things.
The tramway had to close for a short time in October 2011. This was because the council's electrical engineer retired. It closed again from October 2012 to February 2013 to put new safety rules in place. Since January 2014, the MTPS has been in charge. Now, the tramway is run completely by volunteers.
Wirral Street Car Project
The Wirral Street Car is a plan to make the tram line even longer. The idea is to connect it to the Merseyrail train network. This would help people get to the new Wirral Waters development. The project might use old tracks and trams.
Vehicles on the Wirral Tramway
The Wirral Tramway uses several interesting trams. Two of them are the special four-wheeled trams from Hong Kong. They are numbered 69 and 70. These numbers continue from the old Birkenhead Corporation Tramways trams, which went up to 68. These trams run from the Wirral Transport Museum.
The Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society (MTPS) also uses other trams. Here are some of them:
- Liverpool Corporation Tramways No. 762: This tram is a large, eight-wheel tram from 1956. After it stopped running, its bottom part was used as a clubhouse. Volunteers rescued it in 1977 and slowly restored it. It started carrying passengers in 2001.
- Birkenhead Corporation Tramways No. 20: This tram is very old, from 1900. It was one of the first trams in Birkenhead. After the tram system closed in 1937, it was used as a shed. Volunteers found it in 1983 and worked hard to restore it. It started running again in 1999.
- Wallasey Corporation Tramways No. 78: This tram was built in 1920. It has a covered middle section on the top deck but open ends. When the Wallasey tram system closed in 1933, it was used for storage on a farm. Volunteers got it in 1986. With some funding, they finished restoring it, and it started service in 2002.
- Lisbon (Carris) No. 730: This single-deck tram is from Lisbon, Portugal, built in 1930. It was given to the MTPS in 2004. The tracks in Lisbon are narrower, so this tram had to be changed to fit the Wirral Tramway's standard tracks. It was restored by 2006 and is the only single-deck tram on the line.
- Liverpool Corporation Tramways No. 245: This tram is part of the National Collection of historical vehicles. It moved to the museum in 2006. Volunteers worked on restoring it with a special grant. After four years of work, it was ready to carry passengers in September 2015.
- Warrington Corporation Tramways No. 28: This tram was originally No. 2. It was used as a shelter on a bowling green until 1977. Volunteers rescued it and are restoring it. They are rebuilding its top deck to have covered but open balconies.
Other Trams at the Museum
The museum also has other trams that are not currently running on the line:
- Birkenhead Horse car No. 7 (in storage)
- Liverpool Horse tram No. 43
- Douglas Bay Horse Tram 11
- Douglas Bay Horse Tram 47
These trams need new wheels. The Douglas Bay Horse Trams also cannot run because their tracks are much narrower than the Wirral Tramway's tracks.
The museum also shows many other old vehicles. You can see cars, buses, motorbikes, and bicycles. There is also a large model railway. Volunteers run the museum and can tell you a lot about the exhibits. It is one of the best transport museums in the country. It connects directly to Woodside through the Wirral Tramway.
