The National Tramway Museum ~ Crich Tramway Village, July 2018

The Tramway Museum Society was founded in 1955 by enthusiasts when it became apparent that Britain’s remaining street tramways were disappearing. The Crich quarry site was “discovered” by members of the Talylln Railway Preservation Society who were recovering narrow gauge track from a George Stephenson-constructed mineral tramway. The museum opened in 1963 and has expanded over the years. It now has about 1 ½ miles of running track, tram sheds, workshops, an exhibition hall, and a streetscape of reconstructed buildings rescued from several northern cities housing offices, archives and a pub.
The museum's 70+ trams mostly show the development of double-deck double-ended tramcars which were one ubiquitous across Britain and wherever the British had influence. (Double deck trams still operate in Alexandria and Honk Kong). The trams are often lent out to other organisations. Lack of investment, WWII damage and the notion that trams “got in the way” of cars saw the demise of most British tram systems by the end of the 1950’s. Paradoxically, post-war reconstruction in mainland Europe meant that modernised tramways were in a fit state to survive and evolve into light rail and metro systems, something which tantalisingly very nearly happened in Leeds and Liverpool.
For a longer version of this video with a complete end-to-end run click here:
• Crich Tramway Museum J...