East Anglia Transport Museum - News and updates

[Trainfan344]

We don't have a dedicated topic on here for this small museum.

This year for the first time the museum is posting the Tram and Trolleybus Rotas online and I have attached these.

With the new tram depot now complete and lots of ongoing work it is an exciting time for the museum.

The current operational tram fleet consists of Blackpool VAMBAC 11, Blackpool Standard 159 and Amsterdam 474.

Sheffield 513 is out with a brake overhaul and London HR2 is currently undergoing extensive work.

The museum also has Glasgow 488 undergoing restoration

While Blackpool tram cars 290, 625 and 726 have recently joined the fleet.

The museum reopens on Sunday 2nd April and is mainly open on Thursdays and Sundays.

 

[Cymroglan]

Thanks for this information! It’s a really lovely place and has a fantastic collection of vehicles! It’s really helpful that they now publish a rota.
I haven’t caught either of their Bournemouth trolley buses actually working on any of my occasional visits. I really must head for Lowestoft when one is scheduled to work, but, sadly, I can’t make it in the lifetime of this list. Will definitely keep a close eye on it though!

 

[Trainfan344]

They'll be published on their Facebook page but I'll do my best to update this thread when they come out.

Due to adverse weather conditions recently the winter track works in the woods has overrun so the trams will only be operating on the street section at the moment.

However to make up for this, an hourly bus tour using heritage buses will operate around Lowestoft.

 

[Trainfan344]

From Sunday 23rd April the heritage tram service will return to full length running following the completion of track works.

Blackpool VAMBAC 11 and Amsterdam 474 are scheduled to be in use on that day subject to the usual caveats.

Trolleybus and Tram rotas for May are now out.

Sheffield Roberts car 513 returns to operation from the beginning of the month

 

[Trainfan344]

Tram and Trolleybus Rotas for June.

Special mention to Sunday 18th June which should see both Bournemouth Trolleybuses out (Subject to driver availability).

 

[Cymroglan]

Tram and Trolleybus Rotas for June.

Special mention to Sunday 18th June which should see both Bournemouth Trolleybuses out (Subject to driver availability).

Thanks for highlighting this. As things currently stand, I have a fair chance of being able to make it to Lowestoft that day. Two Bournemouth trolleys would be amazing!

 

[JBuchananGB]

Difficult place to get to. Train to Lowestoft (change at Ipswich) then bus. On Sunday bus (X22) is every 2 hours, but train from London due in at 12.36, bus departure 12.46 so should be possible. There's a bus which will get you back to the station by 17.33, and even one 1 hour after that, for trains at 1800 or 1905.
Many years a go I took a group of friends there by train from Billericay. It was so long ago that trains from London were actually running direct to Lowestoft, and the bus service was different.

 

[paul1609]

Difficult place to get to. Train to Lowestoft (change at Ipswich) then bus. On Sunday bus (X22) is every 2 hours, but train from London due in at 12.36, bus departure 12.46 so should be possible. There's a bus which will get you back to the station by 17.33, and even one 1 hour after that, for trains at 1800 or 1905.
Many years a go I took a group of friends there by train from Billericay. It was so long ago that trains from London were actually running direct to Lowestoft, and the bus service was different.

If coming from the south (London Ipswich etc.) and of normal fitness, alight at Oulton Broad South and walk down the main road its about 1 1/2 miles just over 30 mins.

 

[Trainfan344]

Or depending on bus times, change at Beccles and walk 10 minutes to the bus station for a bus from there.

X2s also stop at the Carlton Crown a short 5 minutes walk away.

Bus connectivity is a lot better now than 15 years ago...

 

[Trainfan344]

Appologies for not bumping this thread sooner. I've attached the tram and trolleybus rota's for the rest of this month,

 

[railfan99]

Or depending on bus times, change at Beccles and walk 10 minutes to the bus station for a bus from there.

X2s also stop at the Carlton Crown a short 5 minutes walk away.

Bus connectivity is a lot better now than 15 years ago...

On a Eurailpass later this year, I stay for two nights in Lowestoft (a town name I keep having difficulty in correctly pronouncing). While I want to do the 'alternative' branch line with its isolated, among least used in England stations but a very limited frequency, I thought of visiting this museum and previously noted that route. It's annoying the museum isn't closer to the rail line as last year when trying to visit Crich Tramway Museum, a bus that I was one minute early for at a connecting station did not front: had to get a taxi.

The Esat Anglian Museum has received excellent reviews on TripAdvisor, preferable to looking at than Google reviews, as TA ones are more detailed and credible.

 

[ChrisC]

Or depending on bus times, change at Beccles and walk 10 minutes to the bus station for a bus from there.

X2s also stop at the Carlton Crown a short 5 minutes walk away.

Bus connectivity is a lot better now than 15 years ago...

Border Bus 146, Norwich-Beccles-Southwold also stops outside the museum. No Sunday service, but Monday to Saturday this does run at least hourly and actually runs every 30 minutes Mon-Fri during the morning until early afternoon.

I had completely forgotten that this museum existed until I passed it on the 146 a couple of weeks ago returning from Southwold to Norwich.

 

[306024]

Difficult place to get to. Train to Lowestoft (change at Ipswich) then bus. On Sunday bus (X22) is every 2 hours, but train from London due in at 12.36, bus departure 12.46 so should be possible. There's a bus which will get you back to the station by 17.33, and even one 1 hour after that, for trains at 1800 or 1905.
Many years a go I took a group of friends there by train from Billericay. It was so long ago that trains from London were actually running direct to Lowestoft, and the bus service was different.

Simple enough these days. I went last Saturday for the excellent bus event. 08.00 Liverpool St to Ipswich, then East Suffolk line to Beccles, short walk to Tesco where the X22 dropped me off right outside the museum just before the 11.00 opening time.

This really is a cracking museum, so much variety, with a narrow guage train, trams and trolley buses operational. Plus last Saturday frequent vintage buses running three different routes including via Lowestoft station for the trip home via Norwich.

 

[Trainfan344]

Simple enough these days. I went last Saturday for the excellent bus event. 08.00 Liverpool St to Ipswich, then East Suffolk line to Beccles, short walk to Tesco where the X22 dropped me off right outside the museum just before the 11.00 opening time.

This really is a cracking museum, so much variety, with a narrow guage train, trams and trolley buses operational. Plus last Saturday frequent vintage buses running three different routes including via Lowestoft station for the trip home via Norwich.

It's very impressive what can be achieved on such a small site. The expansion is coming along slowly but surely! It has to be one of the largest museums to open using entirely volunteers.

 

[Trainfan344]

Tram and trolleybus rotas now up for August.

The museum has a special event on the 20th August, Emergency services day.

 

[Cymroglan]

Thanks! I really appreciate your regular updates. I came so close to being there for the 2 Bournemouth trolleybuses in June. I was only about 50 miles away at a family wedding the previous day, but I had to have sole charge of my two littlest grandchildren on the running day, so didn’t make it to Lowestoft!

 

[Trainfan344]

Your best bet now would be to try and make it accross to Trolleybus weekend, 23rd and 24th September, museum is open 12-9 on the Saturday with buses running to Lowestoft and Beccles.

 

[Cymroglan]

Your best bet now would be to try and make it accross to Trolleybus weekend, 23rd and 24th September, museum is open 12-9 on the Saturday with buses running to Lowestoft and Beccles.

Thanks for this good tip. Is it a case of everything works that weekend? I’m obviously rather interested in the Bournemouth trolleybuses!
This might be the moment to suggest a weekend in East Anglia in late September to the Domestic Authority!

 

[Trainfan344]

Yes, obviously I can't guarantee anything but we try to get every available trolleybus working over the weekend. Recent years have seen between 11 and 14 Trolleybuses working.

Generally run 3-4 at a time and rotate throughout the day.

 

[Cymroglan]

Fabulous, thanks! The campaign for a short break in East Anglia has started…

 

[railfan99]

Yes, obviously I can't guarantee anything but we try to get every available trolleybus working over the weekend. Recent years have seen between 11 and 14 Trolleybuses working.

Generally run 3-4 at a time and rotate throughout the day.

I have changed my itinerary to include a visit after I travel in the morning by rail from Lowestoft to Great Yarmouth and return (for line 'bashing').

On Th 17 Sep, probably a quiet day (great you're open!), is it likely just one tram, one trolleybus and perhaps the light railway will operate, or do you have multiple vehicles for each mode in service a la Crich?

Looks excellent. Contrary to the brochure mentioning Oulton Broad Sth and Nth as 'closest stations' and suggesting walking, I'll travel to Lowestoft and connect to the X2 bus that stops outside and has a good half-hourly frequency.

 

[Trainfan344]

Our routine operation is 2 tram cars and a trolleybus, plus the light railway.

X2 and X22 from Lowestoft bus station, X2 stops a 5 minute walk away and the x22 stops outside the museum.

 

[Trainfan344]

London HR2 1858 has been out doing some more evening testing recently following work, it is hoped to see the tram return to service again soon.

 

[Trainfan344]

London 1858 returns to service next weekend!

Tram and trolleybus rotas are now available for September.

Trolleybus weekend takes place on the 23rd and 24th September, with the 23rd seeing the museum open 12pm till 9pm.