About Us

Grampian Transport Museum is an independent museum and charity in the heart of Alford, Aberdeenshire.

Our Collections

From Carriages to Charging Points

Grampian Transport Museum's ever-evolving, award-winning collection takes you on a journey from the elegance of horse-drawn travel to the evolution of electric-powered vehicles, with plenty of stops in between.

It turns out, people have actually 'reinvented the wheel' quite a few times over the years — and these are stories worth telling and retelling.

If cars and bikes excite you, then we have plenty to share, but we're more than just a museum of classic automobiles. We offer a hands-on tour through forgotten chapters of transport history, celebrating motoring mavericks and embracing the nostalgia of bygone eras, while exploring those unusual detours that eventually took us to the world of transport we live in today.

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Your GTM Visit

More Than Motoring

Making a day of it at Grampian Transport Museum couldn't be easier.

Our Motorbites tearoom is a perfect pit-stop for light lunches, tea breaks and catch-ups — a cosy, welcoming place to take a well-earned break (with great cake).

Throughout the year, the museum hosts a vibrant programme of outdoor events, including our ever-popular Ride It days, Allford at Alford, and new for 2026: Nipp(in) On, Retro Revival, Classics Unlimited and so much more.

We welcome school groups, education visits, car clubs, motorcycle clubs and travel trade throughout the season — we love being a destination for jaunts, excursions and tours through the North East of Scotland.

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Our History

The GTM Story

Grampian Transport Museum's story began in the early 1970s, when local enthusiasts recognised the strong interest in historic transport across the North East of Scotland. Eventually, in 1978, a public meeting in Aberdeen led to the formation of the Grampian Transport Museum Association, with the aim of establishing a permanent transport museum.

Alford was chosen as the museum’s home, centred around the former railway terminus. Fundraising efforts — most notably the annual Alford Cavalcade vintage rally — supported early restoration work and development plans for the project.

Following grant support from the European Economic Community and Grampian Regional Council, construction of the exhibition hall and restoration of the station building were completed in 1982.

The museum officially opened in April 1983, welcoming 25,000 visitors in its first year of opening.

Since then, the GTM site has expanded significantly, including a major extension in 1998 supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the development of the outdoor road circuit, the creation of the Collections Centre, and the addition of a new reception area in 2016 — reflecting the museum’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the experience for our visitors.

Today, the museum is operated by Grampian Transport Museum Trust, a registered Scottish charity (SC017625), fully accredited and recognised as a leading visitor attraction.

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Our Future

GTM Development Plan

As a forward-looking organisation, Grampian Transport Museum operates a rolling development plan to guide future improvements.

We invite GTM+ members to contribute ideas and take part in shaping the museum’s future.

Meet the team

Behind every exhibit, event, and engine revving into life at Grampian Transport Museum is a passionate team of people who keep the wheels turning. From preserving remarkable pieces of transport history to creating memorable experiences for visitors of all ages, our management team combines expertise, enthusiasm, and a shared love of storytelling.

Ross McKirdy MA

Museum Manager

Since joining Grampian Transport Museum as Museum Manager in October 2021, I’ve swapped the world of operational and commercial work for one filled with heritage, history, and preservation - although, in truth, it was probably inevitable that I’d end up here eventually.

Alongside overseeing the day-to-day running of the museum, I’m also a trustee of the Museums Association, Industrial Museums Scotland, and the Save Bon Accord Baths project. If it involves heritage or places at risk of being lost to time, there’s a good chance I might be involved.

Away from the museum, you’ll usually find me visiting museums, checking out a new coffee spot or bakery, with the dog in tow.

Sharon Whiteley

Museum Co-ordinator

I help keep the day-to-day wheels of the museum turning - whether that’s tackling payroll, stocking up on toilet roll, or dealing with just about everything in between. Since joining the team in March 2024, no two days have ever looked quite the same, and that’s exactly what makes life at Grampian Transport Museum so rewarding.

Before stepping into the world of heritage, my background was firmly rooted in engineering. I spent 22 years serving in the Royal Air Force before running my own canine hydrotherapy business for a decade.

One of the most exciting parts of my role is preserving the old while embracing the new. I’m currently heavily involved in developing our STEM area and look forward to seeing visitors engage with the project as it evolves.

Outside the museum, life is rarely quiet. Between spending time with the dogs, experimenting with textile crafts, and studying bookkeeping, there’s always another project underway somewhere.

Nick Webb

Assistant Curator

As the museum’s Assistant Curator, and resident advocate for “just one more car”, my role covers everything from documenting and recording objects within the collection to uncovering the stories behind those mysterious items tucked away in the stores. Every object has a history to tell, and part of the challenge is piecing those stories together to help shape future exhibitions.

After completing the Museums and Galleries Scotland Apprenticeship in Museums and Galleries Practice, I developed a particular interest in the connections between objects, people, and places - and how these threads can come together to create engaging new ways of exploring transport history.

Outside the museum, my enthusiasm for vehicles doesn’t stop at the collection. I enjoy working on my own cars and can often be found with my hands buried somewhere deep inside an engine bay, usually convinced the next job will only take “five more minutes”.