THE TRANSPORT Museum in Wythall re-opens this Easter weekend and Monday’s visitors can get a real taste of the old days by taking part in a special centenary celebration.
“Birmingham’s bus route 1 has been running for 100 years so on Easter Monday classic buses from our collection will carry visitors along the most historic part between Moseley and Five Ways’ said Malcolm Keeley, a trustee of the museum.
“Our museum specialises in restoring classic buses and riding on them really makes things come alive.
“We’ll be running them at Easter not only on town trips but into the countryside too.
“They are pure nostalgia for some while car users and kids relish the chance to look over the hedges and across the lovely countryside.”
The route between central Birmingham, Five Ways and Moseley began with horse buses in the 19th century, being replaced by primitive Midland Red motorbuses in 1913.
A deal saw the route transferred to Birmingham Corporation Tramways (BCT, later known as Birmingham City Transport) which gave it the prestigious number 1 in March 1916.
BCT ran it for over half a century with its distinctive blue and cream buses.
The route still runs today, having been extended to Acocks Green and Gospel Lane estate.
It is now operated by National Express West Midlands whose Acocks Green garage has been looking after service 1’s passengers since it opened in 1928.
The museum will also be open on Good Friday and Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays until the end of October, plus Wednesday afternoons during school holidays, including March 30 and April 6.
Volunteers entirely run the museum, restoring and preserving around 100 classic buses, coaches, milk floats and bread vans, including a 1949 Wolverhampton trolleybus – powered by electricity through overhead wires.
The museum’s exhibition hall, largely funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, takes visitors through the decades.
There are games, films, and younger children can enjoy the play cabin.
Further details about the museum and when the classic buses run can be found on www.wythall.org.uk
