Dundee Museum of Transport project now motoring forward

The former Maryfield Tram Depot may have stood silent for some time, but behind the scenes, momentum has been building. The team at Dundee Museum of Transport has been working tirelessly to transform the statuesque but decaying symbol of Dundee’s transport heritage to create a dynamic new home for the museum.

Over the past twelve months, the team has secured £3.25 million in funding from multiple sources, the most recent being a £1 million award from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF).

This recent award is the latest in a series of major funding successes that include £1.2m from the Community Regeneration Partnership programme, £300,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation, £250,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, £250,000 from the Northwood Charitable Trust, £200,000 from the Wolfson Foundation and £58,000 from Museums Galleries Scotland.

Paul Jennings, Executive Director of Dundee Museum of Transport, said, “Our consistent efforts over the last few years are now being rewarded with funding success, putting us in a position to appoint a main contractor later this year. While we still have additional funds to raise, once building work begins, they will continue through to completion of the new museum, which we anticipate will be by the end of 2026.”

In addition to this important capital funding, the museum has also received support from the National Fund for Acquisitions to secure its first artefact for its new premises: a vintage 1953 AEC Regent III double-decker bus in original Dundee Corporation livery.

Lovingly restored, this iconic Number 137 bus served the city between 1954 and 1974. It will take centre stage in the new museum in a nostalgic street scene depicting life in Dundee in the 1950s.

With its first exhibit secured, the museum is now working with a specialist team of designers and curators to develop detailed plans for the permanent exhibitions. The new museum will tell the story not only of Dundee’s rich transport history, but also of the tram depot itself, which will be open to the public for the first time in its 124-year history. Exhibition planning is expected to conclude later this year, laying the groundwork for the involvement of fit-out specialists and shaping the overall visitor experience.

Alongside the fundraising activity, the museum is also seeking a small number of sponsors to support key areas of the development, including the permanent exhibition space, community areas and workshop facilities.

Once complete, the new museum expects to welcome over 50,000 visitors every year, creating up to 30 new jobs, 100 volunteer opportunities, and delivering an annual economic impact for the city of around £2.5 million.

Until then, visitors can hop aboard the Number 137 bus at the museum’s current premises at Market Mews, where they can see a display of other Dundee Corporation artefacts, including ticket machines, uniforms and badges.

Dundee Museum of Transport is open seven days a week, from 10am until 4.30pm, at Market Mews, Market Street.

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Maryfield Tram Depot is located in the heart of Stobswell between Stobsmuir Park and Morgan Academy on Forfar Road. With assistance from Dundee City Council, the museum purchased the tram depot and surrounding two acres of grounds in 2015. The now dilapidated 120m long building has been on the ‘Buildings at Risk’ register since 2010 and is Grade B listed. Innovative designs from local architect Andrew Black and his team will give Dundee a world-class transport museum housed in an iconic building.

Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) is the National Development Body for Scotland’s museums sector. We support 455 museums and galleries through strategic investment, advice, workforce development, and advocacy. For further information about Museums Galleries Scotland visit: https://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/about-mgs

The Wolfson Foundation is an independent charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to support civil society by investing in excellent projects in science, health, heritage, humanities and the arts.

Since it was established in 1955, some £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) has been awarded to more than 14,000 projects throughout the UK, all on the basis of expert review.