Ipswich Transport Museum
Encyclopedia
The Ipswich Transport Museum is a museum
in Ipswich
, Suffolk
, England
devoted principally to the history of road vehicles as represented by those used or built in its local area.
The museum collection was commenced by the Ipswich Transport Preservation Group in 1965. In 1988 it obtained use of its present premises, the old Priory Heath trolleybus depot
in Cobham Road, and has been opened to the public since 1995.
Its collection of more than 85 vehicles includes tram
s and trolley- and motor-bus
es from Ipswich Corporation Transport
, the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company
and other local operators; commercial vehicle
s; fire apparatus
; mobile cranes
; bicycle
s; bier
s; horse-drawn vehicle
s; prams
; and wheelchair
s. There is a good representation of the Ipswich manufacturers Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies
and Ransomes & Rapier and of electric vehicle
s.
Local rail
and waterway transport and aviation
are represented mainly by photographic collections and smaller exhibits. The Museum also houses an archive and library together with costume and ticket collections.
The Museum is a registered charity
, and is normally open to visitors on Sundays from April to November; and on weekday afternoons during school holidays. It also organises occasional events including the annual Ipswich to Felixstowe Run
for vintage vehicles on the first Sunday in May, from Christchurch Park
, Ipswich
to the Promenade in Felixstowe
.
On the first Sunday in October they also have a 'come and ride on our buses' day, where the museums buses along with visiting buses from the area operate around the Ipswich area, including over the Orwell Bridge
.
From Town Centre, St Margarets Plain
by changing at Ipswich railway station
. At Derby Road the bus stop is 100m to the left of the station exit. From here use service 2, which stops outside the Transport Museum (Hourly Service - Not Weekends).
Sundays travel to Ipswich railway station
and walk into Ipswich following Princes Street, Friars Street, Falcon Street. Opposite Pals Bar is the Old Cattle Market Bus Station. From here you should use the 75A to Felixstowe. You should leave the bus at Saint Augustines Roundabout. From here cross the road, and follow the path round onto Felixstowe Road towards Ipswich, at the Railway Bridge cross over the road and walk down Cobham Road, from there you will see the Museum.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
devoted principally to the history of road vehicles as represented by those used or built in its local area.
The museum collection was commenced by the Ipswich Transport Preservation Group in 1965. In 1988 it obtained use of its present premises, the old Priory Heath trolleybus depot
Trolleybuses in Ipswich
The Ipswich trolleybus system once served Ipswich, the county town of Suffolk, England. Opened on , it gradually replaced the Ipswich tramway network....
in Cobham Road, and has been opened to the public since 1995.
Its collection of more than 85 vehicles includes tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s and trolley- and motor-bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es from Ipswich Corporation Transport
Ipswich Corporation
The Ipswich Corporation was a municipal corporation that owned property and government to town. The corporation kept highly details accounts of their operation, a great deal of which survives to this day...
, the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company
First East Anglia
First in Suffolk & Norfolk is a major bus operator in Norfolk and Suffolk in eastern England and is part of FirstGroup...
and other local operators; commercial vehicle
Commercial vehicle
A commercial vehicle is a type of motor vehicle that may be used for transporting goods or passengers. The European Union defines "commercial motor vehicle" as any motorised road vehicle, which by its type of construction and equipment is designed for, and capable of transporting, whether for...
s; fire apparatus
Fire apparatus
A fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
; mobile cranes
Crane (machine)
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
; bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s; bier
Bier
A bier is a stand on which a corpse, coffin or casket containing a corpse, is placed to lie in state or to be carried to the grave.In Christian burial, the bier is often placed in the centre of the nave with candles surrounding it, and remains in place during the funeral.The bier is a flat frame,...
s; horse-drawn vehicle
Horse-drawn vehicle
A horse-drawn vehicle is a mechanized piece of equipment pulled by one horse or by a team of horses. These vehicles typically had two or four wheels and were used to carry passengers and/or a load...
s; prams
Baby transport
Baby transport consists of devices for transporting and carrying infants. A "child carrier" or "baby carrier" is a device used to carry an infant or small child on the body of an adult...
; and wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
s. There is a good representation of the Ipswich manufacturers Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies
Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies
Ransomes, Sims and Jeffries was a major British agricultural machinery maker producing a wide range of products including traction engines, ploughs, lawn mowers, combine harvesters and other tilling equipment. They also manufactured aeroplanes during the First World War...
and Ransomes & Rapier and of electric vehicle
Electric vehicle
An electric vehicle , also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion...
s.
Local rail
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
and waterway transport and aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
are represented mainly by photographic collections and smaller exhibits. The Museum also houses an archive and library together with costume and ticket collections.
The Museum is a registered charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, and is normally open to visitors on Sundays from April to November; and on weekday afternoons during school holidays. It also organises occasional events including the annual Ipswich to Felixstowe Run
Ipswich to Felixstowe Run
The Ipswich to Felixstowe Run is an annual event in the English county of Suffolk. Up to 500 vehicles can participate in the event, which starts in Christchurch Park, Ipswich. The vehicles then make a journey to the promenade of Felixstowe, where they line up and remain for a large part of the...
for vintage vehicles on the first Sunday in May, from Christchurch Park
Christchurch Park
Christchurch Park is a area of rolling lawns, wooded areas, and delicately created arboreta in central Ipswich, Suffolk, England. It contains Christchurch Mansion which holds a public museum and art gallery. The park opened as the town's first public park in 1895.-History:From the 12th century the...
, Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
to the Promenade in Felixstowe
Felixstowe
Felixstowe is a seaside town on the North Sea coast of Suffolk, England. The town gives its name to the nearby Port of Felixstowe, which is the largest container port in the United Kingdom and is owned by Hutchinson Ports UK...
.
On the first Sunday in October they also have a 'come and ride on our buses' day, where the museums buses along with visiting buses from the area operate around the Ipswich area, including over the Orwell Bridge
Orwell Bridge
The Orwell Bridge was opened to road traffic in 1982 and carries the A14 over the River Orwell just south of Ipswich in Suffolk, England....
.
By Car
From the A14/A12 Copdock Interchange -- Follow signs for Felixstowe and take the first turn off after crossing the Orwell Bridge.
- From here follow signs for Ipswich (Nacton Road).
- At the first roundabout take the 3rd Exit (Ransomes Way).
- At the next roundabout take the 1st Exit (Ransomes Way).
- At the next roundabout take the 1st Exit (Felixstowe Road).
- At the next roundabout take the 1st Exit (Felixstowe Road).
- Just before the traffic lights take a left turn.
- 300m later take the second right (Wright Road), Park here.
From Town Centre, St Margarets Plain
- Follow Woodbrige Road up the hill and near the top turn into Grimwade Street.
- Cross the Traffic Lights.
- Follow the road to the left onto Fore Street.
- At the first roundabout take the 2nd Exit (Fore Hamlet).
- Continue along Felixstowe Road until you reach the 3rd set of Traffic Lights.
- Here take the first right (Cobham Road) not the 2nd onto (Kings Way).
- 300m later take the second right (Wright Road), Park here.
By Train
Weekdays travel to Derby Road railway stationDerby Road (Ipswich) railway station
Derby Road is a railway station serving the Rose Hill area of Ipswich in Suffolk. The station is situated on the Ipswich-Felixstowe line. In the eighties there were rail served coal and scrapyards here, but these have now closed...
by changing at Ipswich railway station
Ipswich railway station
Ipswich railway station is a railway station serving the town of Ipswich in Suffolk, England. The station is located on the Great Eastern Main Line 68¾ miles east of London Liverpool Street towards Norwich...
. At Derby Road the bus stop is 100m to the left of the station exit. From here use service 2, which stops outside the Transport Museum (Hourly Service - Not Weekends).
Sundays travel to Ipswich railway station
Ipswich railway station
Ipswich railway station is a railway station serving the town of Ipswich in Suffolk, England. The station is located on the Great Eastern Main Line 68¾ miles east of London Liverpool Street towards Norwich...
and walk into Ipswich following Princes Street, Friars Street, Falcon Street. Opposite Pals Bar is the Old Cattle Market Bus Station. From here you should use the 75A to Felixstowe. You should leave the bus at Saint Augustines Roundabout. From here cross the road, and follow the path round onto Felixstowe Road towards Ipswich, at the Railway Bridge cross over the road and walk down Cobham Road, from there you will see the Museum.