Transport Museum Wythall - Great British Bank Holiday Show Report

Published: 05/09/2022

The Great British Bank Holiday Show Report – a record breaker!

Records continued to be broken as The Great British Bank Holiday, Transport Museum Wythall’s August event, pleased the crowds in warm sunshine. A record 1000 visitors attended the event with visiting vehicles on display and running, the first public appearance in service of Birmingham City Transport AEC Regent 486, very British cream teas available in the café and lots of variety for family visitors. 

Visiting vehicles included Red and White Bristol MW JAX 117E, paired up with sister DAX 610C, owned by a TMW member; Devon General AEC pair Regent V EOD 524D and Reliance 9 RDV; Hutchings and Cornelius (South Petherton) AEC Reliance/Harrington Grenadier CYD 724C; rare Beadle bodied Wilts and Dorset Bristol L6B EMW 284 and local WM Travel stalwart, Volvo/Ailsa TOE 527N. A wide variety of TMW vehicles provided the core bus service including a surprise scheduling of newly restored BCT AEC Regent 486 on its first full public service event.

Two of the museum’s more modern low floor exhibits, NatEx Optare Spectra R1 NEG and recently acquired NatEx Alexander Dennis Trident BX02 ASV, ran the frequent car park shuttle, with their easy access delighting the push chair laden families. TMW is indebted to its neighbour Phoenix Insurance for the use of their staff car park on major event days. With over 250 cars attending on the day it is an enormous asset to the museum. The shuttle service from Birmingham city centre was also fully loaded, for this event Midland Red/London Transport sightseeing D9 3016 HA open topper was in service. 

The Wythall Miniature Railway offered a Ffestiniog railway theme with ‘Blanche’, a 7¼” narrow gauge replica of the famous engine, originally built for the Penrhyn slate quarry, pulling full loads of smiling faces throughout the day.

During the year the museum has been adding family attractions to its already established package of free bus rides, a variety of museum and visiting vehicles and miniature railway rides. Added attractions for the family audience included a bouncy castle, amusement arcade games and a hot food stand.

The next event will be held on Sunday October 2nd, the Autumn Running Day and Birmingham Bus Celebration.