East Anglia Transport Museum ~ 2013 Special Events

The East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville in Lowestoft has announced its programme of special events for 2013

History in Motion ~ Sunday 28th April 11am-5pm

A brand new event for 2013, focused on the museum’s own internal roadway system. Vehicles both large and small from the museum’s extensive collection that are not usually available for public use will be operating around the site, many of which will be offering the chance to ride alongside the driver. 

In addition, a selection of visiting classic and vintage vehicles of all types will be on display with some joining the museum’s own fleet out on our road. To add even more variety our trolleybuses will be operating in both directions along Herting Street, giving photo opportunities of historic road transport galore! 

40 Years of the East Suffolk Light Railway ~ Sunday 19th May 11am-5pm

This one-off event will mark the 40th birthday of our 2 foot gauge railway in style! The East Suffolk Light Railway has been offering rides to our visitors since 1973 and has developed to become a firm favourite with visitors of all ages. All of the serviceable locos will be running on the line and will be joined by some visiting examples as well.

For the first time ever, goods trains will be operating and unique line-side locations for photographers will be on offer to record all the action. Our trolleybus service will also be re-routed for the day, allowing visitors to travel to and from the Chapel Road Station. In addition, a display of military vehicles and model railways will be located around the museum.

“Hop on a Bus” Day ~ Sunday 23rd June 10:30am-5pm

With a new title for 2013, our ever-popular annual bus and coach event will have lots of vehicles in service operating on our free regular bus services to Lowestoft and Beccles.

There will also be excursions to local places of interest using the museum’s and visiting vehicles, which will be specially chosen to illustrate the development of buses and coaches in Britain from the classics of the 1940’s to the modern vehicles of today. As always plenty of free bus rides will be on offer with intensive timetables in operation! 

End of Season Gala Weekend Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th September

The first ever End of Season Gala will be an ‘everything goes’ weekend to round off the 2013 season! All available vehicles from our extensive fleet of Trams, Trolleybuses, Trains and Buses will be in action during the weekend.

And as the nights are starting to draw in, we will be offering after-dark rides on the Saturday evening with the museum staying open until 9pm so that visitors of all ages will be able to sample the unique setting of the museum by the gentle glow of lamplight.

Our motor bus fleet will offer free rides to Lowestoft and Beccles throughout the event, and a special “Historic Lowestoft” service will operate around the town as part of Heritage Open Days linking us with other local museums. Our largest event of the year, this truly has something for everyone!

My thanks goes to Neil Chilvers at the museum for his help in preparing this article - further details will appear on their website www.eatm.org.uk in due course