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National Transport Trust (est. 1965 as Transport Trust) is the only national body which promotes and encourages the preservation and restoration of Britain's transport heritage in all its forms - road, rail, wings and water.
 
 

Our Mission

Britain’s place in the history and development of transport is demonstrably second to none. It is an achievement of which the Trust, and the nation, are justifiably proud. This country's growth and prosperity has been inextricably linked with the movement of people and cargo. We take it as our mission to ensure the story of our heritage does not slip into oblivion.

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Restore & Preserve

The National Transport Trust aims, for the benefit of the nation as a whole, to promote and encourage the permanent preservation of transport items of historical or technical interest.

 

Document & Record

The Trust promotes the preservation of documents, drawings, pictures, books and artifacts of significance. Where items or collections are at risk for want of a home, the Trust is happy to advise.

About Red Wheels

The Transport Heritage programme commemorates Britain's rich and globally important legacy in the development of transport. Our aim is to present a comprehensive overview for each site, in a way that will attract a new and wider audience.

The most significant of these locations are marked by erecting a National Transport Trust Heritage Plaque or “Red Wheel” on the physical site. You can use the extensive search functions within this website to locate sites of greatest significance. To date we have placed over 150 Red Wheels around the UK.


This programme links with, and takes advice from, national and local historians, industrial archaeologists and other experts, and historical societies. We work in partnership with relevant organisations - as an example the Canal & River Trust

 

Additional sites of interest

As well as the Red Wheels sites, this website has a searchable database of over eight hundred interesting Transport Heritage Sites which can be readily visited and inspected. Many represent an extraordinary technical or engineering leap from the then recieved wisdom, and are a source of pure wonder.

To be listed on our Transport Heritage Sites website database, the building(s), artefacts or general site has to be shown to have special value within their general category; for architectural reasons; as an illustration of progress in social or economic history; as involving technological innovations; for their associations with particular individuals or events; or for their group value. 

 

On 4th July 2021, Lord Montague of Beaulieu unveiled a Red Wheel plaque at Micheldever Station commemorating the first documented car journey in UK, which started at the station on 5th July 1895. More details...

 

Entries on the Heritage Sites and Red Wheels database are generated from many sources of historical information, including Wikipedia. The Trust welcome's feedback and notification of errors in entries. The Trust cannot be held responsible for errors made in good faith by its volunteers compiling entries. 

 

How to search for Red Wheel and Heritage Sites (download pdf guide).

 

Members Area

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Supporting Restoration Excellence

Personal Awards

Annual awards that acknowledge and publicise the contributions of individuals across all age ranges.

 
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Restoration Awards

These annual awards assist specific restoration projects of historic importance to completion and public display.

 
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Grants and Loans

Projects in need of "tide over" funding with a real prospect of success may be eligible for a loan or grant.

 
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Red Wheel Sites

Map Legend:
Red Wheel Site
Transport Heritage Site
View full map of Red Wheel and Heritage sites

Upcoming Events

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Latest News

Recent news updates involving the National Transport Trust and its members
National Transport Trust, Old Bank House, 26 Station Approach, Hinchley Wood, Esher, Surrey KT10 0SR