The final touches are being applied to the newly refurbished Bury Transport Museum, in preparation for its reopening by The Duke of Gloucester on Friday 26 March 2010.
Bury Transport Museum, which is operated by the East Lancashire Railway, has undergone a major two year restoration programme at a cost of more than £3m and the former East Lancashire Railway Goods Warehouse, which dates from 1848, at Castlecroft in Bury is now ready to welcome visitors once again. The museum was closed to the public in 2003 following concerns about the condition of the roof on the Grade II listed building, which required complete replacement and along with a host of other structural works, the museum has been transformed from its previous run-down condition into a showpiece attraction that is sure to become a popular addition to Bury’s already extensive range of tourist and visitor attractions.
The Bury Transport Museum of 2010 is very different to that which greeted visitors before it was closed, and the building now boasts a bright, airy and spacious display of historic road and rail vehicles, along with displays of transport artifacts and interactive displays telling the story of local transport through the ages. One of the highlights of the new museum is bound to be the specially adapted bus simulator, allowing visitors the chance to try their hand at being a bus driver.
The project has been funded by a number of organisations, with principal funding contributions made by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Biffaward, PEC, Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, the East Lancashire Light Railway Co Ltd and the East Lancashire Railway Preservation Society.
The Museum will be opened to the public from Saturday 27 March 2010 and will be open from Wednesday to Sunday every week and also on Bank Holiday Monday’s (excluding Christmas Day) from 10.00am to 4.00pm. More information about the museum can be found at the new Bury Transport Museum website at www.burytransportmuseum.org.uk.
East Lancashire Railway General Manager Andy Coward said: “A lot of hard work has been done on the museum and it is wonderful to see the building coming back to life, having been closed for several years. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has assisted us in making it possible and we look forward to welcoming our visitors from this Saturday.”
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive, Northwest Regional Development
Agency (NWDA) said: “I am delighted to be attending the opening event on behalf of the NWDA. The East Lancashire Railway is one of the Northwest’s most authentic illustrations of our proud industrial heritage. The opening of Bury Transport Museum will not only be an attractive visitor experience in its own right, but will also enhance the cluster of visitor products throughout Bury and East Lancashire, which will increase the contribution of the town’s tourist industry and boost the local economy.”
