Forums Forums Local News Alterations in front of Birkenhead Town Hall

A subtle observation indeed !

Also the Grasshopper engine in the pump house between Woodside ferry and Hamilton Square station, which used to pump the water from the railway tunnel at the side of the floating roadway, (the torrent of water that came out of the pipe in the wall used to frighten me as a child), restored but no longer open to the public.

....and if you remember there were unusual outdoor sports ( whilst wearing a hi viz jacket) going on in the gardens, a couple of years ago ??


Pumping Station, I believe is now on land owned by Peel Holdings, or so I was told. That was a real treasure and so well cared for by the chaps, with a huge sense of pride.

I remember last year or so wallasy town hall blowing £20,000 on a Downton Abbey style toilets with fixtures and fittings..and a whooping £25,000 replacing carpets for the town hall stairs ! cash that could have been spent on any of the above? (Would be nice to see the grasshopper) restored and reopened.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/20000-spend-penny-wirral-council-7253314

The tram venture struck me as a hopeless project from day one. There seems to be an assumption by tram enthusiasts that everyone is as keen as they are on the things, but few can be bothered with them.

Whenever I see a tram trundling along the short track in Birkenhead it contains one or two passengers if that, and I am surprised it has lasted as long as it has. It is simply not a tourist attraction.

Manchester's approach to trams has been far more sensible. Use them as an up to date form of transport where folk use the in large numbers to get around.

Tram should have gone down the haymarket/mollington line but I guess it wouldn't have been so visible then - mind you who sees it now!

Birkenhead Trams are a tourist attraction, and Tramway Preservation Society, where as Manchester's trams are a transport system.

You'd be very surprised as to how many people do visit Birkenhead trams, from a great distance and the local people. The children love them particularly at Christmas. I think they still do a Santa Tram for the children. (According to this link it is now 'sold out').
Or how about this ? Happening this Friday.

http://www.mtps.co.uk/events.html

That was exactly the problem, why weren't the trams made to be part of a functional transport solution - most of the year there aren't many tram loving tourists around Birkenhead. Woodside is no longer a central hub like it used to be - if they tried to make a white elephant they would have been hard pressed to do better than this.

Blackpool has them as transport and tourism and is a pretty successful model.

Tram Preservation Society and Museum. What does that mean ? We can't take horse drawn trams out any longer or old buses for public transport, and as said in my above post, Birkenhead Trams are very popular and have always been so.
More support from local people might keep the balance.

Birkenhead Trams are not "very popular" they have been very close to closing down for a number of years now.

Why are you mentioning horse drawn trams? Are you getting mixed up between Wirral Transport Museum and the running trams, the running trams belong to and are operated by Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society.

When the tramway was being develop it was stated "The tramway is perceived as a tourist attraction but also as an obvious transportation system of great potential and historical significance"

The News page is nice to see. Wirral Bus and Tram Show 2015.


http://www.mtps.co.uk/news.html

Birkenhead Trams, Tram Preservation Society, Wirral Transport Museum are all the same thing! All operate from the same building are all operated by the same staff and volunteers.

From the Liverpool side there is very little information about what to do when you get across the water after travelling on the Ferry.

Before I was a local and came to Liverpool on a day trip, I took the obligatory ferry trip. Got to Woodside and there was nothing, save a sign for the Grasshopper, which was closed. I and others milled around a bit, then went back to the ferry, disappointed. Some don't even get off the boat.

There needs to be more promotion of the town and the attractions nearby (Hamilton Square, Gallaghers, Italian Consulate, Birkenhead Priory, Grasshopper, the Victorian Street, the trams), a free bus to New Brighton perhaps,

No they aren't the same thing at all.

The Transport Museum belongs to Wirral Council, Merseyside Tram Preservation Society doesn't.

Just because they have cross-agreements and co-locate (to an extent) does not mean they are one and the same.

The tram sheds are in Pacific Road, the museum is in Taylor Street.

One tram is stored at Pacific Road, or was. Council own 2 Hong Kong trams'

David Taylor says:

Thursday 7 June 2012 at 14:19


It is interesting to note that the bad news travels fast. Members of the MTPS were only told on Wednesday. Three committee members attended the meeting which was confusing as the councilers did not know the facts. They thought that council employees operated the system and were taken aback when informed that 90% of the operations were done by the society. With only a few paid staff such as electrician, Caretaker and four platform staff

The tram sheds ie. where they are maintained and repaired are in Taylor Street. Before they moved into Taylor Street, they were housed and maintained in Pacific Road. (Pre track extension). I spent quite a time at Pacific Road working on the Class 503 electric unit. Taylor St. has more spacious accomodation and houses many preserved buses too. With the ever expanding working fleet of trams, maybe one or two have to be shedded at Pacific Road now. A while since I've been on an inspection !!