Technical visits and social events

The course dinner

The Course Dinner will be held at The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester on Monday, 3 November 2008 where delegates can view the world's largest collection of working steam mill engines and historic locomotives.

History

Today the Museum occupies the former Liverpool Road Station, one of Manchester's most important historic sites. Liverpool Road Station, which opened in 1830, is the world's oldest surviving railway station. It only operated as a passenger station from 1830 to 1844, but continued as a goods station until 1975 when British Rail closed it.

At that time, the Museum needed a permanent home. Opened in 1969, the North Western Museum of Science and Industry quickly outgrew its temporary premises on Grosvenor Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock. Its main funder, Greater Manchester Council, agreed to purchase the 1830 part of Liverpool Road Station from British Rail for the token sum of £1 in 1978. Greater Manchester Council later decided to purchase the later eastern end of the Station too.

The Museum opened at its new site on 15 September 1983, the 153rd anniversary of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Initially, only the Power Hall and parts of the Main Building and Station Building were in use. Now funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the Museum has continued to restore the buildings to hold new galleries and facilities.

Address

Museum of Science & Industry
Liverpool Road
Castlefield
Manchester
M3 4FP

Tel: 0161 832 2244
Fax: 0161 833 1471

Technical visits

The course will feature two technical visits to see first hand the operation of a rail depot, including a visit to Manchester Stagecoach Metrolink and Longsight Depots on Tuesday, 4 November 2008.