Home | Newsletter

Home to over 90 buses representing fleets from Birmingham, Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton, plus several local independent operators, the Wythall Transport Museum is also home to one of the largest collections of battery electric road vehicles, including over 30 electric milk floats and bread vans from area operators. There will most certainly be some interesting cherished registrations on these interesting vehicles.

Previously the base for RAF Wythall, the site opened in 1939 as the headquarters of No.6 Barrage Balloon Centre with responsibility for the balloon defence of the southern part of Birmingham and Coventry. The territory eventually covered about 600 square miles and employed both RAF and WAAF personnel. Upon closure of the demobilisation centre, RAF Wythall became the headquarters of No.1 School of Administrative Trades, essentially a training centre for air force clerks. RAF Wythall's significant activity between 1952 and 1957 was being part of the Joint Services School for Linguists, which catered for all three services by teaching servicemen Russian, Chinese, Polish, Czech, and German, for them to become interpreters and translators. RAF Wythall finally closed operationally in December 1959.

The predecessor of the museum, The Birmingham Omnibus Preservation Society, was formed in 1973 and set out to preserve difficult to restore pre-war buses. Following hard work, in November 1977 the society became a legal trust and took possession of 1.17 acres of the derelict site at Wythall which grew into the Transport Museum of today. In 1980 the first building was completed and the site opened to the public for the first time in September 1980. A grant in 1984 enabled the original building to be trebled in size and a disused single storey building was purchased and reconstructed to become the café and shop.

During 1990 the site expanded to 3.5 acres and a second large display hall was erected with financial assistance from Scania and a substantial car park was opened in 1995. The freehold of the land was acquired in 2002, to protect future investment in the buildings and the Heritage Lottery Fund assisted with further redevelopment costing just over a million pounds.

Today there is something for everyone at the museum including free classic bus rides (open top subject to weather conditions), miniature train rides (extra charge of £2.00 and operated by the Elmdon Model Engineering Society), a Kids Kabin play shed and a large picnic and leisure area.

The on-site café serves hot and cold drinks and light refreshments and the gift shop carries a range of transport related memorabilia, models and books, both new and pre-owned.

There are three display halls, the Power Hall features how public transport has evolved and shows examples of bus company art and photography including some interactive exhibits. The Scania Hall features the collection of battery electric vehicles, whilst the Shire Hall is home to the running fleet and where volunteers restore and maintain the collection.

Most areas are accessible and on one level and are hard surfaced. Small dogs are welcome but must be kept on a short lead, they are not allowed in the café areas except for assistance dogs.

Wythall Transport Museum is situated south of Birmingham in north Worcestershire, near J3 of the M42.

HOW TO ENTER

Entry to the rally will be £8.00 per car which includes your listing in the rally programme, the various trophies and also includes access to the museum site for the vehicle and driver. Additional passengers will be charged on the day at £5.00 each which includes accesss to all the facilities.

Please click on the following link to download an entry form in PDF format, print and complete it and return the completed form with your remittance directly to Membership Secretary, Karl Formstone as indicated to arrive by Thursday 26 June 2025 at the very latest to ensure a listing in the rally programme. You can either pay by cheque made out to ‘The Registration Numbers Club’ or by PayPal using sec@TheRNC.co.uk If you pay by PayPal please indicate this on the form.

Rally'25 entry form

Alternatively scan this QR code or click on the link below it to complete your entry on a mobile device.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id

=iwKALpt7Ik6l4GRIonHvDVBTwa5wqM5BuZZRC9cKxEh

UNVZKWVRQTEo2SEVSVE5SNDNJRUFGS0IyVCQlQCN0PWcu

We will continue with the various class awards noting that the criteria for these are the same as in 2024. We may reduce the number of awards if there are limited entries. Full details of the various classes are on the booking form which will also be included in the May 2025 issue of RNC News.