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Black Country Museum

Many thanks Bill. My information came from an outside source and I was hoping you would come back with more positive news so thanks again for that. I travelled on 433 back in October, did a few runs and thoroughly enjoyed it. The conductor did in fact refer to the brakes when we were chatting!! I had been on 862 on my previous visit so good to be able to sample both. Exploring the depot was most interesting too, cursed my luck that West Bromwich Daimler 174 was in the back corner so I couldn't get a proper photo but will catch up with it again. I met you briefly Bill (at least I think it was you!) at the Aston Manor AGM at Aldridge a few days later....

Thanks again

Your very welcome Simon, I wasn't at the AGM perhaps it was Ken Rhodes you were talking to, I'm not a member of Aston Manor, We did take 174 to an open day and I chatted to a few people then. This is one of the odd things about the internet its quite possible to rub shoulders with someone you regularly converse with via the 'net' and would not know them from Adam in reality!

This link should (fingers crossed) take you to some of my group photos.........Best wishes Bill
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48235702@N06/sets/72157625055925737/
 
My husband's family were hawkers from Ruiton, selling salt licks around the country. On a visit to BCM a few years ago, I mentioned this to a volunteer at the Chemist shop. She said 'If you go to the school playground you will see a genuine, hawker's wagon, from Ruiton. It would not normally be on display but we recently had a procession and it hasn't yet been put away yet'. Of course we went over and were amazed to see how his ancestors had travelled and lived in these small wagons. Unbelievable. Anne
 
Next Saturday, 13th September there is a celebration of two special centenaries, West Bromwich buses and Guy Motors Ltd. West Brom buses were a familiar sight working into Birmingham and the Birmingham City Transport fleet featured large numbers of Guy buses. There is a gathering of lots of vintage buses at the museum on the day with a chance to travel on many of them around the site. I will be travelling over for it.

Simon
 
Next Saturday, 13th September there is a celebration of two special centenaries, West Bromwich buses and Guy Motors Ltd. West Brom buses were a familiar sight working into Birmingham and the Birmingham City Transport fleet featured large numbers of Guy buses. There is a gathering of lots of vintage buses at the museum on the day with a chance to travel on many of them around the site. I will be travelling over for it.

Simon

I will be there to Simon, there should be around five ex West Bromwich buses there. I hope you enjoy it.
 
I will be there to Simon, there should be around five ex West Bromwich buses there. I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks Bill, I have met you a couple of times this year at Aston Manor, Wolverhampton & the BCLM but will make sure to introduce myself properly next time!! Looking forward to Saturday.

Simon
 
Thanks Bill, I have met you a couple of times this year at Aston Manor, Wolverhampton & the BCLM but will make sure to introduce myself properly next time!! Looking forward to Saturday.

Simon

Make sure you do Simon, I have no idea how many Guys are likely to turn up but it should be a pleasant day.:unconscious:
 
Just seen a trailer for the new BBC series 24 hours in the past where various "celebrities" have to live as people did in the past (apparently starts 28th april) At least one episode is obviously in the Black Country museum).
 
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This coming weekend, 9th & 10th July is Black Country Weekend and the Newcomen engine will also be in steam. I plan on going on the Saturday myself and spending the day there, hopefully catching up with some friends in the transport group, enjoying the atmosphere and having a pint of ale in the Bottle and Glass :)

Simon
 
may see you there simon...ive been 4 times already this year..got one of those unchained tickets..dont forget the fish and chips either before or after the bottle and glass lol

lyn
 
may see you there simon...ive been 4 times already this year..got one of those unchained tickets..dont forget the fish and chips either before or after the bottle and glass lol

lyn

I will keep a look out for you Lyn:). The unchained tickets are fantastic value, its a great place to visit.

Simon
 
Hi Everyone,
We bought an unchained ticket last summer to go to the 40's weekend. We managed to use it again for the same special weekend this year and have been in between, when it was quieter, to look more closely at the buildings. If you buy the ticket on-line apart from the bonus of the discount you don't have to queue when you get there - just go straight through and head for the shop where they will sort your pass out. Don't forget to print out the paperwork to take with you. Parker likes all the WW2 vehicles and I like to see all the costumes both of the people who work there and the visitors. On these special days they have a park and ride which is free.
This summer I found myself teaching some little girls how to skip with a long rope tied to a lamp post. I even managed to remember some of the rhymes - 'I'm a little girl guide' and 'teddy bear, teddy bear' to name a couple. I could never quite manage the two ropes going in opposite directions though!
 
Black Country museum 1980's.jpg I have only visited once with my late Wife not long after it opened, poured with rain all day!!! Must be at least 30 years ago. No doubt there as been numerous features/buildings added since then. Have attached a painting based on my visit. Eric
 
hi pen...i also have an unchained pass for the bcm...pay once and get in for nothing for a year..all expect for the themed evening events...i go at least 5 or 6 times a year..love the place and i am constantly taking my hat off to the people of the black country who about 40 years ago had a vision..a great vision to preserve their heritage and are still adding to it...something that i am sorry to say was and is badly lacking in our fair city...

lyn
 
Hi Lyn,
Totally agree with your last comment. If only we'd saved a few more things. Well done to the folk at the BCM for having the foresight to build the museum.
 
Eric. this was taken before your visit as the shop was not yet completed.
 

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hi pen and of course we have nothing left now to save..well not on the same scale as the bcm...i am waiting for the 1st of sept..thats when the tickets go on sale for their evening christmas event...they put 3 nights on last year and within 3 days they were sold out so they put another night on and by the time i found out that two was a sell out:( i am determined to get there this christmas..

lyn
 
Think we should have more museums like this. Let's face it there'd be plenty of historical buildings which could be moved to one. And there's no shortage of visitors to these places. Must be great to work there too. Viv.
 
i agree viv but it should have been done many years ago..the st georges day concert is no more and the sheldon fest i went to yesterday could be the last one...with the cut backs and lack of funding we have these days there is no chance of this happening now...yet another sad fact

lyn
 
fantastic news viv....once again well done to the black country for not only having the vision over 40 years ago to create what they have now but also the vision to bring us forward to the 1960s..it just goes to prove that if you have the love of your history and heritage in your hearts anything is possible..preservation not destruction is my motto...i wish them well..:)

lyn
 
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Glad they did not extend it to the 70s, else someone might want to centre it on a version of the library that has , thankfully, just been demolished
 
I recently signed up as a volunteer with the Transport Group at the museum although living so far away I can't really use my membership to full advantage. We provide the vintage transport within the museum, something we are very proud of. The new plans look very exciting and I really hope they get approved. I love the artists impression which includes a Wolverhampton trolleybus heading though the proposed 1950s town, hopefully on occasions I will be on the platform as the conductor :)

Simon
 
DING DING simon...i shall be one of your first passengers then:D very exciting news

lyn
 
Presumably the BCLM wish to create a time line which would show townscapes over the period 19th. and up to 21st. century eventually. In my neck of the woods we have plenty of historical towns and villages which have buildings - usually churches or some form of fortified building , which in themselves are a kind of timeline, dating back to Norman times.
 
This is great. A 1940s - 60s town to be recreated at the Museum. Includes a library, Marsh & Baxters, pub, bowling green .... These are all existing buildings to be moved to the Museum.

We need more of this in other areas. If only Brum could do this - let's face it, there's no lack of buildings such as the Golden Lion at Cannon Hill and others on the brink of collapse (before mysterious fires seal their fate). Viv.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/wh...lack-country-living-museum-expansion-13189197
 
saw this on the news earlier viv i am so excited...well done to the black country... still putting birmingham to shame
 
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