This week, we are so excited to share our latest Scotland travel article as it is one of the only museums that we’ve been to that is dog friendly. Therefore, join our tour guides-in-training, Walter and Arthur, as they visit the Dundee Museum of Transport!
Walter has been hard at work training to be a tour guide for our Edinburgh walking tours, but this was Arthur’s first training mission. While they both had a wonderful time, it’s clear that they still have a lot of training ahead of them as they were in a very energetic and rambunctious mood that day.🤪🐾Of course, this is understandable as they are still puppies.
Dundee is a wonderful place that we love to visit, and we previously wrote about our outing at the HMS Unicorn. However, we still have a lot more places to share with you. So be sure to subscribe to our blog so that you can get our articles ‘hot off the presses’. But let’s head back to the Museum of Transport to learn a bit more about this hidden gem.
There is so much to see and do at the Dundee Museum of Transport, but we are just going to show you a few highlights as we highly recommend that you visit in person. It’s a fantastic interactive museum that is fun for all ages. For example, when you visit, if you see a star on a vehicle, then that means you are allowed to “get inside, play, and touch, but please keep your feets off the seats and be gentle!”
Heeding our title, let’s start off by showing you a picture of a historic ‘plane’ and its connection to Dundee. Pictured below is “Preston Watson’s First Flying Machine’- a fascinating artefact invented by a Dundee aviation pioneer. At the turn of the last century, Preston Watson, inspired by his study of seagulls, was convinced he could create a machine that could fly. He was a contemporary of the Wright Brothers and there is much speculation as to whether he conducted his heavier-than-air flight before they did in 1903. Unfortunately, he died in a plane accident in 1915 at the age of 35.
As we move on to trains, we regrettably have another tragic story to share. One of the worst rail accidents in the history of the United Kingdom occurred on the 28th of December 1879. On that fateful day, a train travelling on the Edinburgh-Aberdeen line, was crossing the Tay Bridge into Dundee, which was its final stop. However, it never made its final destination as the bridge collapsed just as the train was crossing. The Museum has a touching memorial room to honour the victims of the Tay Bridge Disaster.
As for other trains, the Museum has model railways and photos highlighting different trains, lines, and stations.
Regarding automobiles, The Dundee Museum of Transport has a fascinating collection ranging from a 1912 T59 Overland to some of the earliest electric cars.
One of the most famous automobiles on display at the Museum is a licensed replica of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car. Although this might not be the Gen 11 Prime Chitty Chitty Bang Bang model, the one on display even has the working wings built into it. Both Walter and Arthur took turns modelling in front of it.
Here are a few more automobiles from the collection:
Finally, regarding cars, there is a restoration garage area at the back of the Museum. While you can’t go into the work area, you can still get a nice peek at the important work they do there.
As we alluded in the article title, there is ‘much more’ to be seen at the Museum. For example, there are a variety of historic methods of transport. We were particularly intrigued by the horse-drawn vehicles including an ambulance from the early 1900s as seen below.
Notably, they have information about Dundee’s last horse-drawn tram.
They also have several displays and models of historic dockyards and shipbuilding in the area as well as a few models of the famous ‘Fifies’. These were the historic ferries used to cross the River Tay before the Tay Road Bridge opened in 1966.
Currently, as you enter the Dundee Museum of Transport, there is an interesting motorcycle display on exhibit that includes historic Harley Davidsons, Indians, and much more.
Here are a few more photos from our visit:
Walter still had a lot of energy to burn after our visit, but wee Arthur was quite exhausted and decided to take a break in the historic Dundee bus at the Museum.
And, if you feel like you need to take rest as well, don’t worry, there is a lovely café where you can get a little pick-me-up, as they serve a variety of hot beverages as well as a nice selection of lunch options. However, please note that the café only serves “limited hot food on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays”.
Lastly, don’t forget to browse through the Museum Shop on your way out.
Overall, we had a wonderful time visiting the Dundee Museum of Transport! If you are in Dundee, we highly recommend that you take the time to visit this lovely, dog-friendly museum. With all the treats that our boys received from the friendly staff, we are certain that they’ll be asking to go back there every time we’re in Dundee. Of course, we definitely plan on doing this as the Museum is always getting new exhibitions. In fact, they also have a large outdoor space that can be used for lorry/large vehicle exhibitions. Check out their website so that you can best plan your own transport adventure.
Until next time- Explore & Discover!
