Below you can see a timeline of the history of our museum and how far it has come from a field of waist high grass to the thriving world of transport it is in 2026.
1962 - Just a thought of a Museum
Our story began back in 1962 when four local tramway enthusiasts rescued the body of an old Lowestoft Tramcar Nº 14. It was in use as a summerhouse in North Lowestoft at the time. From this grew the idea of forming a transport museum. Lowestoft Tramcar Nº 14 is still in our fleet today. The picture below is of Nº 14 in Woolaston Road shortly after being found.
Photo Credit of Bernie Ward
1965 - Museum established on present site
The museum we know today was founded in 1965. Alongside this a society was formed to develop and run the museum. This started with a handful of vehicles, mostly loaned to the organisation with no real assets of its own.
1966 - Tram & Bus Depots erected & tram track laying commenced.
Photo Credit to Bernie Ward
1967 - First Vehicle Rally held
Photo Credit of Bernie Ward
1968 - Generator House & 1st phase of Trolleybus Depot erected
1969 - Trolleybus Depot extended & Workshop established
1970 - First traction poles & wiring put up
1970 saw the first traction poles and wiring erected within the museum. This paved the way for the first tram (159) to run under power later that year. This was utilising power generated by the Paxman Generator.
1971 - First Trolleybus ran under power
On 10th January 1971 history was made when London Transport Trolleybus Nº 1521 was the first of its kind to run under trolleybus overhead in a museum anywhere in the country.
The Freehold of Museum Land was also purchased in 1971, a huge leap forward for future of the museum.
1972 - Locos arrived for use on the newly laid East Suffolk Light Railway
The museum opened to the public for the first time on 28th May
1973 - East Suffolk Light Railway commences operation
Our light railway commenced operation in 1973 with a basic route between Chapel Road Station and Woodside Station. Over the years this has naturally developed but still runs along that original route to this day.
1973 - Railway service commenced
1974 - Society reformed as a company limited by guarantee with charitable status
Chapel Rd Trolleybus Turning Circle was also completed this year.
1977 - Tram & Trolleybus Depot extended
1980 - Mercury Arc Rectifier commissioned
1980 saw the Museum overhead powered by a Mercury Arc Rectifier which utilised power from the National Grid. The Paxman Engine previously used to generate the 550v DC power was reduced to standby use only.
1981 - Regular Trolleybus operation commenced
The 17th May 1981 marked a momentous occasion for the museum. Regular Trolleybus operation commenced using the new roadway as far as Woodside.
1982 - Woodland Tramway extension opened
In 1982 the Tramway extension down to our woodland stop (Hedley Grove) opened marking a significant increase in the museum tramway length.
Photo Credit of David Pearson
1984 - Modern Silicon Rectifier Commissioned
In 1984 the Mercury Arc Rectifier was decommissioned and a more modern (although still second hand) Silicon Rectifier was Commissioned to power the Museum Overhead Power Lines. This travelled all the way from Southend Pier.
1986 - 'London Event' sees Tramcar 1858 enter service
1988 - Eastern Coachworks Rally
1989 - Single Deck Trolleybus Depot erected
1990 - ``Diddler`` Trolleybus stars at second ``London Event``
We also opened our New Bookshop this year.
1991 - Extension works start on Bus & Tram Depot
1992 - London Transport Nº 1521 enters service at Carlton Colville
1994 - 'Woodland Tramway' extension land purchased
1995 - Chapel Road Turning Circle laid in Tarmac
1997 - Lowestoft Corporation Bus Nº 21 enters service following full restoration.
The ‘Old Lowestoft Tram Body’ also opened it’s doors to visitors for the first time.
1998 - 'Woodland Walk' footpath brought into use
2000 - 'Yarmouth Building' opens to the Public
2001 - Maidstone Nº 52 Trolleybus re-enters service following restoration
2002 - Hedley Lodge officially opened as Museum headquarters
2003 - Founder & First Chairman of EATM 'Dick Bird' dies aged 81
2004 - Museum 'Post Office' opens to the Public
2005 - Blackpool 'Vambac' Nº 11 re-enters service following 17,500 hours of restoration
2007 - ' Fleggburgh' Building opens to the Public
2008 - 'Herting Street' opens to the Public
2009 - Athens Trolleybus Nº 5088 enters service
2010 - London Trolleybus Nº 796 repatriated from France
2011 - ' Tar, Sweat & Steam' exhibition opens to the Public
2013 - East Suffolk Light Railway marks 40 years of operation
2014 - 50 years since London Tram Nº 1858 arrived from Chessington.
In 2014, we also erected the new ESLR Loco Depot at Woodside Station.
Find out more about London 1858
2015 - Tram track renewed in 'Tramway Avenue'
2022 - Arrival of RTL 1163 into our collection.
In June of 2022, the museum welcomed RTL 1163 into its collection following a kind offer from a member, Alan Nightingale.
2022 - Construction of New Tram Depot begins
October 2022 saw the construction of the new tram depot begin on our 5-acre field marking a huge leap forward in our expansion project.
2022 - Construction of New Tram Depot begins
November 2022 saw the arrival of Blackpool 726. This tram entered our collection and joined the queue to be restored to working condition.
2026 - Arrival of Blackpool 143 on loan from Fylde Transport Trust
February 2026 saw the arrival of Blackpool 143 into the museum collection. 143 is on loan from Fylde Transport Trust to the museum and will see it’s debut of service in 2027 following continued work by our team to get the tram ready for service.
Find out more about Blackpool 143
