A Manchester bus garage is opening its doors to the public this weekend to celebrate its 125th anniversary. Visitors will have behind-the-scenes access to the Bee Network bus garage at Queens Road, next to the Museum of Transport, as part of an open day, as well as hop on board vintage buses for free.
Opened by Manchester Corporation Tramways in 1901 to operate the city’s first electric tram services, Queens Road Garage now provides Bee Network bus services to the people of Greater Manchester.
Queens Road Garage Open Day and Museum of Transport activities
The Queens Road Garage Open Day will take place on Saturday 6th June, between 11am and 3.30pm, where visitors can experience guided tours, see the Engineering Workshop, Stagecoach Manchester heritage fleet, and historic buses. Plus, there will be food, drink, displays, and family activities.
At Heaton Park, the Tramway Museum and workshop will be open with a model tramway exhibition and Metrolink driver training simulator in the Museum. The exhibition will feature a wide selection of tramway modelling, including classic Manchester trams, Manchester Metrolink, and larger-scale models, including the stunning Ashley Best collection of miniature tramcars.
On Sunday 7th June, the Museum of Transport will be celebrating 125 years of Manchester’s trams, with special displays of Queens Road and Manchester’s trams. Free heritage bus services to Heaton Park Tramway Museum will also be running, plus Bee Network staff on hand with promotional giveaways. There will be the chance to meet TravelSafe officers and understand the role they play in keeping public transport safe, alongside a passenger information technology display.
Free heritage bus services
Free heritage bus services will run on both Saturday 6th June and Sunday 7th June, starting and ending at the Museum of Transport. The Heritage Bus 5 route goes via Shudehill Interchange in Manchester city centre, and the Heritage Bus 6 Route goes via Heaton Park Tramway.
You can find timetables below:
Heritage Bus 5: Museum of Transport – Manchester city centre – Museum of Transport
Heritage Bus 6: Museum of Transport – Heaton Park – Museum of Transport
How much does admission cost, and how to get tickets
Standard Museum admission applies to Queens Road Garage Open Day. Admission can be purchased in advance here, or on the day from the Museum. Wristband(s) will be issued on the day, which will grant access to Queens Road Garage and the Museum of Transport for the day.
Adult admission costs £7.50, students cost £6, children under 16 go free with an accompanying adult, and disabled visitors get free entry.
How to get to the Museum of Transport
The Museum will be very busy for the event, and public transport or the free Heritage Bus service is recommended. You can also use rail tickets showing Manchester CTLZ as the destination to reach Manchester Victoria via Metrolink.
The Museum of Transport is 1.25 miles north of Manchester city centre, at the top end of Boyle Street, just off Queens Road (A6010). The full address is Museum of Transport, Boyle Street, Cheetham, Manchester, M8 8UW.
