A tram line links the museum to the ferry terminal at Woodside. The museum closed in April 2023.
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."[1] By 2014, the council was in discussions to hand over management of the museum to a volunteer organisation.[2]
In 2011, the museum welcomed comedian Ken Dodd, who took a ride on one of the trams for a BBC documentary.[3]
Ownership of the museum was transferred in March 2023 from Wirral Council to Big Heritage, a non-profit company that also runs the Western Approaches Museum and two visitor attractions in Chester.[4] The council revealed that it cost £85,000 a year to run the museum, which attracts around 6,000 visitors per year. Big Heritage were granted a 25-year lease and hope to increase visitor numbers to 40,000 a year. The museum was closed in April 2023.[5] It is hoped that it will reopen in the summer of 2026.[6]
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.[7] 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.[8] This was funded with the help of a £50,000 lottery heritage fund grant in 2010, with completion of the restoration in 2014.[9]
Other operational trams of the fleet included Birkenhead 20, Wallasey 78, Liverpool 762 which were transferred to Crich Tramway Village in 2025[10] and Lisbon 730 which was moved to Beamish Museum transport collection in 2024.[11][12] Meanwhile, horse-drawn tram Liverpool 43 was transported to its new home on Friday, 3rd November 2023, to Hooton Park Hangars.[13][bettersourceneeded]
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(May 2025)
The Technical Custodian held a National / Standard (2) Operator Licence. On his retirement in January 2014 the entitlement for the museum to use vehicles on a hire and reward basis ceased.
Birkenhead Corporation
BG 8557, a 1943 Guy Arab (324) rebodied in 1953 (242).[14] Now restored with help from Paul Anderson / Home front funding, 1BG Project
BG 9225, a 1946 Leyland Titan PD1/1a (No. 105).[15] Restored with support of Ovaltine and match funding, 1BG Project.
RCM 493, a 1964 Leyland Leopard L1 (No. 93).[16] Restored by Wirral Museum / Hamilton Quarter funding.
GCM 152E, a 1967 Leyland Titan PD2/37 (No. 152).[17] Restored with Hamilton Quarter funding, Wirral Museums / 201 & 1BG Project.
Wallasey Corporation
AHF 850, a 1951 Leyland Titan PD2/1 (No. 54).[18] Preserver Cedric Greenwood (1973). Funding purchased New Wallasey, 1BG Project.
CHF 565, a 1954 Leyland Titan PD2/10[19] (No. 106). Preserver Mayers. Restoration funding from New Wallasey, Wirral Museums 201 project.
Crosville Motor Services
319 PFM, a 1960 Bristol Lodekka / ECW FS6G[20] Preserved by 1BG / N Moore / Wirral Museums (2007)
DVG 487, a 1981 Bristol VR / ECW Crosville is also resident at the museum (2010)
Crosville MS18 1949 Bedford Beagle. Converted Mobile Office a 1BG Project funding needed.
HKF 820, a 1949 AEC Regent III, Liverpool A344.[21] Preservers Bill Barlow / David Forrest. Transferred to Wirral Transport Museum in 2006.
Former vehicles displayed
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.[22]
THM 692M, a London Transport Daimler Fleetline (DMS 1692), MCW bodywork.[23] 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.
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.
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(May 2025)
Other assets of the museum include an example model of one of the cranes at the former Bidston Dock, model buses, model trams and a model of the former Mersey ferry SS Thurstaston.[24][25] A 26-foot-long (7.9m)OO gaugemodel railway layout, a reconstructed 1930s garage scene and a shop scene are also present.[26]
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