User:Anmarshall/transport

Britain's un-rivalled transport heritage

The Trust runs the Our Transport Heritage scheme which places Red Wheel plaques on particularly important sites of transport heritage and through the Our Transport Heritage website [1] links together some one thousand sites around Britain to show that, by any measure, Britain’s contribution to the development of transport has been exemplary, constantly pushing the boundaries on land, on water and in the air. Historically, if we logged the number of world transport ‘firsts’ achieved in Britain, the rate and breadth of the country's technological progress would be the equivalent of sweeping the board for gold medals at the Olympics.

Almost every part of Britain has been touched by the then white heat of technology, whether as part of the Industrial Revolution or in a more recent era, yet - strangely - despite rich and globally important successes, it has never been seen as appropriate or relevant to construct a comprehensive log to promote what one would instinctively know to be a profound and glorious record across every one of the various transport modes. To applaud those great engineers and operating companies, the visions of Roman military strategists - and the teams that took us further, faster, cheaper - the Our Transport Heritage website [2] comprehensively sets out the history and importance of these one thousand locations, as well as the engineers and other individuals who pushed forward the boundaries. Just as transport linked towns and villages to generate economic prosperity, the internet links each Red Wheel plaque to educate, inform and enthuse the British population.

The Trust's objectives

The Trust is a registered charity that supports, both independently and in partnership with corporate members, specific restoration campaigns and it campaigns to establish covered storage for vehicles awaiting restoration to avoid further deterioration. It offers legal and technical advice to assist restoration and conservation projects and advises bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Trust organises special visits for members to places of transport interest - often to locations that are not normally open to the public. And it presents awards for outstanding projects, as well as grants at critical points in the progress of restoration projects.

The Transport trust has a particular mission to encourage young people to take part in restoration projects and supports specially funded workshops (Heritage Skills Centres). And it can act as a custodian for items of transport history bequeathed or given to the Trust for safekeeping.

The Trust's Patron is HRH Prince Michael of Kent.

By any measure, Britain’s contribution to the development of transport has been exemplary, constantly pushing the boundaries on land, on water and in the air. Historically, if we logged the number of world transport ‘firsts’ achieved in Britain, the rate and breadth of the country's technological progress would be the equivalent of sweeping the board for gold medals at the Olympics. Category:Industrial Heritage Category:Transportation Category:Engineering Category:Engineers

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  George Stephenson, the 'Father of Railways'
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  The 13th Century Bakewell Bridge
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  The Hawker Siddley Kestrel [Harrier], the world's first VTOL jet fighter
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  Construction of Winstanley's Lighthouse - the first Eddystone Lighthouse - was started in 1696
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  Pontypridd Old Bridge was the longest single-span stone arch bridge in the world
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  The Falkirk Wheel, opened in 2002, is the only rotating boat lift in the world
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  Telford's Galton Bridge in Smethwick was the highest iron bridge in the world
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  Liverpool Road Station in Manchester is the oldest railway station in the world

To applaud those great engineers and operating companies, the visions of Roman military strategists - and the teams that took us further, faster, cheaper - The Transport Trust [3] marks sites of special historic transport interest with a distinctive Red Wheel plaque. To place each plaque in historical and geographical context, each bears a link to the Our Transport Heritage website [4] which comprehensively sets out the history and importance of around 1,000 locations, as well as the engineers and other individuals who pushed forward the boundaries. Just as transport linked towns and villages to generate economic prosperity, the internet links each Red Wheel plaque to educate, inform and enthuse the British population.