New transport museum, Birkenhead.

With plans advancing for the new museum on former railway land at Birkenhead Docks we can only hope that they consult people already involved in running similar sites, such as Shildon, with a view to operational rather than static exhibits. The museum will contain Mersey Tunnel Railway no. 5 'Cecil Raikes' and a Mersey Docks and Harbour Board Avonside tank loco.
Being a National Museum would presumably entitle them to loan appropriate locos of local interest from the N.R.M. collection. Several of their locos would be appropriate, such as 46229 (ex - Edge Hill, 42700 (ex- Birkenhead) and 92220 , an example of a class which had 50 plus based at Birkenhead.
There is still a main line link at either end of the site, with potential for short rides.
The Liverpool Museum store also contains steam road engines, cars and buses.
We can only wait and see who they employ as consultants.

Bob.

 

Thanks, where exactly will it be located?

Dave

 

I don't think you are going to have too much room for exhibits from elsewhere............
https://op-en.co.uk/projects/the-transport-shed

 

Not even NS 3737 from Utrecht that is in the first image?

 

I think it's a wonderful idea that can only benefit the local area and Merseyside in general. Fingers crossed it comes to fruition!

 

Hadn't looked too closely at that !
I like the motorcyles dangling from the ceiling, though we have done that with bicycles at our museum.....

 

Still crossing my fingers for an NRM here in South Wales, Birkenhead already has our envy in the Wirral Transport Museum!

 

IF this goes ahead, it will be a miracle. Previous 'form' can be quoted: the 03 shunter (permanent loan to Llangollen), the Class 503 (now at Margate), the tram/exhibition hall on Pacific Road, the model of Woodside (disappeared somewhere).... all promised permanent homes in the Wirral Transport museum over the years. A secure site was identified at Birkenhead Central, but too many were against. A short 'heritage' line from Rock Ferry to Birkenhead North via the Docks line- Peel Holdings against (as it would lower the value of their proposed luxury developments). So many have hoped for a permanent accessible home for the steam and diesel locos in storage, but nothing ever seems to happen

 

I just hope that they build a suitable building, unlike the two 'cheese graters' that are adjacent to Albert Dock and are home to 'Lion' and the Overhead Railway coach. The money spent on that eyesore would have paid for a basic museum on a cheaper site, large enough to hold the entire collection and pay for the necessary restoration costs.
The site is restricted to a four track wide cutting at one end, but the rail exhibits could cover three tracks wide of this.

Bob.

 

Peel Holdings should never be forgiven for the forced destruction of HMS Plymouth.

 

Fortunately they don't own the land involved in this project. There is a large area of former railway land at the Rock Ferry end of the line near the shipyard , including a new bridge which has never seen a train.

Bob.

 

I was around Birkenhead/Wirral about six years ago and spotted four wagons on isolated track next to a road junction, I think they had been used as advertising hoardings. I can't find my photos but Google shows them at East Float docks on the SE side of the road junction.

Dave

 

I agree entirely - what a gloomy mess that is, distracting from its historic setting and doubtless part of the reason for the area loosing its international status I'd also cite the tall gimmicky building in Glasgow that replaced the previous transport museum behind the Kelvin Hall.
But overall this is a gain not a replacement, and it will be good to see Cecil Raikes again: a shockingly neglected loco.

 

The wagons had new bodies built to display advertising hoardings. They are slightly out of gauge, and no doubt the years of exposure won't have done them much good.
The area is being redeveloped and i'm not sure if they are still there.

Bob.

 

The wagons have gone..... cut up and scrapped. The entire dockside is being developed, something like 1500 new flats/apartments being built...

 

The wagons could of been used for giving rides. They should look at small engines to give rides at a museum not one where nothing moves. They should looks at the model railway called museum of transport for lots of ideas as this is the best model railway of a museum. When an engine called kilmersdon is I’m finished it will be a grate size for a museum to borrow to run.

 

What planet do you live on? Do you have ANY idea what it takes to set up a 'working museum', or for that matter, any public display? I would respectfully suggest to you to stop posting these silly ideas and suggestions online, go and volunteer on your nearest preserved railway (if they will take you...) and learn a bit about life!

 

The wagons concerned were 'Grampus' Ballast/Sleeper wagons, and were basically frames with a tin box added. Numbers were :

DB 990408
DB 986653
DB 986480
DB 990728

All scrapped earlier this year.

 

Maybe try being kinder...

 

Maybe, or maybe one needs to be blunt to get the message across. I don't know which may work better. I have a certain person on Ignore anyway.