Crewe Heritage Centre
The Crewe Heritage Centre is home to a 600 metre long, 18.5cm (7.25”) gauge Miniature Railway which takes visitors on an exciting journey around the Heritage Centre. You can catch the train from one of two stations ‘Crewe Old Works’ and ‘Spider Bridge’. Unlimited rides on the miniature railway are included in your admission ticket, don’t forget to ask the driver if you can sit in the driving seat for the ultimate photo opportunity.
ADVANCED PASSENGER TRAIN - PROTOTYPE
The Advanced Passenger Train (‘APT’ for short) was built in 1979 by British Rail at Derby Works. The train was part of an experiment testing the new technology of Tilting to allow trains to travel at faster speeds.
In 1988 the APT was moved to the Heritage Centre from the nearby Electric Traction Depot where it had been stored since it was withdrawn from service by British Rail.
NORTH JUNCTION SIGNAL BOX
Constructed in 1938 by the London Midland & Scottish Railway Company and built to an ‘ARP’ (Air Raid Precautions) design, is in fact the fifth generation of Signal Box to have controlled Crewe North Junction, built with 38cm thick reinforced concrete walls and a 45cm thick concrete roof in order to survive aerial bombs during the second world war. In 1985 as part of the Crewe Station remodelling project the Signal Box was closed and replaced with the new Signalling Centre located only 50 meters away, shortly after in 1987 the Signal Box was given a new lease of life as it was incorporated into the museum.
The signal box is home to our fabulous Mainline Viewing Area, Cafe and Gift Shop.
For more information, visit the website