MORE than 500 visitors headed to the Wythall Transport Museum for a ‘new normal’ August bank holiday weekend with social distancing and safety measures in place.
And, such was the success with the event maintaining its character, bosses at the venue have now promised there is more to come for the rest of the season.
Visiting buses provided variety and contrast to the museum collection, along with extra capacity.
A free bus service from Birmingham city centre on Sunday and Monday ferried visitors to the venue and Roger Burdett, a big museum supporter, brought along four vehicles on both days, including Southdown Leyland PS1 HUF 303 and newly-restored Coventry Transport Daimler CWA6 and GKV 94 on its first public outing.
Both buses could be sampled on the free service from Birmingham and during the day.
Former Coventry Transport bus driver Jim Bailey, who had driven both 94 and 366, who was there drove both buses when they were new.
Other highlights included the miniature railway and a glimpse of the future from National Express West Midlands’ modern all-electric services on the ADL EV500 on both days and the silent 001 ‘Electra’ on the Monday.
Trust Chairman Dave Taylor said: “It was pleasing to receive so many positive comments on the ground and across social media about the way we have organised the museum in these challenging times to ensure the safe passage of our visitors around the site.
“Everyone respected the signage, the café arrangements and our one-way system, which ensured a comfortable day for all.
“Through careful monitoring of people flow around the site since we reopened earlier in August we are now able to supply the demand from visitors by adding more capacity without compromising our standards’.”
The museum will now open on Saturdays throughout this month and next with October 4 being the Autumn Running Day – that will also feature free bus rides and the miniature railway.
And the venue will open on October 28 for school half term and on October 25 for the Twilight Running Day when the clock literally goes back to mark the end of British Summer Time. The free bus service from Birmingham city centre will run on this day.
And Sunday September 27, the J40 Club will attend with its annual pedal car rally, supported by a display from the fascinating world of stationary engines.
Visit www.wythall.org.uk for more information.
