Trio of historic trams donated to museum

The three trams arrived on the back of lorries after Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society donated the vehicles

Three historic trams have arrived in Derbyshire after being donated to a museum.

The Merseyside trams have been moved more than 90 miles to their new home in Crich Tramway Village, the base of the National Tramway Museum.

The Liverpool Corporation Tramways number 762, Birkenhead Corporation Tramways number 20, and Wallasey Corporation Tramways number 78 were transported over several days from their base at Wirral Transport Museum.

Graham Bennett, CEO of the National Tramway Museum, said: "The movement of three trams takes a huge amount of planning and hard work, and we're happy to welcome them to a new home at Crich for future generations to enjoy."

The Liverpool Corporation Tramways 762 transported passengers between 1931 and 1955

The trams were transferred from the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society (MTPS), based at Wirral Transport Museum.

There, the group carries out restoration projects as well as helping to operate a heritage tramway.

National Tramway Museum said due to recent changes in management at the attraction in Wirral, the MTPS decided to rehome the three trams.

The oldest of the three is the Birkenhead, which entered service in 1901 and was withdrawn in 1937, and has 55 seats.

The National Tramway Museum includes a collection of heritage trams, and a recreated period street

The tram from Wallasey Corporation Tramways was built and entered service in 1920 until 1933, with 68 seats.

Meanwhile, the Liverpool tram transported passengers between 1931 and 1955 and is a 70-seater fully enclosed tramcar.

Mr Bennett added he wanted to thank to everyone involved in this "incredible effort".

He said: "Our conservation workshop team will be assessing the trams in due course to determine the work needed to enable them to operate on our tracks in the future."