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History of TMS

It was on 29 May 1955 that a small group of tramway enthusiasts gathered at Blackpool’s Marton Tram Depot to witness the ceremonial handover of Southampton 45, the first tram to be saved by private enthusiasts, to the founders of the Tramway Museum Society (TMS).

Following the formation of the TMS, the search was on to find a permanent home for the trams. Word of a disused quarry railway at Crich in Derbyshire reached the ears of the TMS. Here they could realise their vision of not just preserving the trams in a museum, but creating a working tramway where future generations of visitors would be able to see and ride the trams in a street setting, as they were meant to be.

The TMS started welcoming visitors at Crich in 1963 with a horse car tram from Sheffield and a horse called ‘Bonny’. Success followed success and membership grew. The first electric trams ran at Crich in 1964 and by 1980 it became the National Tramway Museum. Visitors flocked to see the old trams now lovingly restored and the National Tramway Museum received acclaim and awards for its achievements.