Whenever you pop down to your local heritage railway station you're guaranteed to see train lovers milling around on the platform enjoying a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

Whether they are jotting engine numbers down, snapping photographs or simply savouring the sights and sounds, it’s a chapter of British history that continues to captivate young and old alike.

And, while trams may not be as popular as their iconic steam travel buddies, their role in the nation’s development remains just as important and captivating.

It’s a story that the folk over at the National Tramway Museum in Crich have been working hard on for years to celebrate ever since the attraction first took its roots in the area back in 1955.

Jason Hardy, the tramway operations and facilites manager at the National Tramway Museum, takes a moment to enjoy the attraction's Great Exhibition Hall.

placeholder image — Jason Hardy, the tramway operations and facilites manager at the National Tramway Museum, takes a moment to enjoy the attraction's Great Exhibition Hall.

Seven decades later the popular family attraction now boasts a wide collection of historic trams spanning roughly between the 1860s and 1960s, all coming with enthralling tales of their role in getting the masses moving.

Here you will find Jason Hardy, the attraction’s tramway operations and facilities manager and a fountain of knowledge when it comes to all things tram.

“This is a special place to be, but it is the people who make it what it is,” said Jason. “We are a family. You come in on a morning and have a smile and a natter. It is a magical place, we all love it and want to be here.

“You could be back in 1950 at times and it’s mesmerizing. You don’t have to be a tram lover to appreciate the place.

Jason Hardy takes charge of a tram at the National Tramway Museum.

“Trams are a strange hobby to have and can mean different things to different people. Someone might be into the facts and figures, the driver might know all about the people who built the tram and for me it is the stories that are behind the trams.

“The fascination for trams will always live on. The colours, the shapes, the smells and the noise, they are such an unusual item and they are history. Everyone loves history. I hope it carries on anyway.”

The trams run on George Stephenson’s original railway line which ran from the nearby quarry down to Ambergate.

Many of the museum’s trams are fully operational and provide rides for visitors along a scenic route that runs through the village and into the surrounding countryside.

The Great Exhibition Hall has 28 vehicles charting the history of trams from the 1860s to 1960s.

But for Jason there is no better on site experience than being able to step back in time in the Great Exhibition Hall.

Here you will find 28 vehicles of varying sizes and designs which chart the evolution of trams around Britain during their heyday.

“It’s not just a building full of trams, it's the stories behind it,” explains Jason.

“The trams tell an amazing history, but it’s not just about the vehicles, it's about us.

One of the historic trams at the National Tramway Museum.

“These are the stories of change as you walk around the hall, little changes either driven by the passengers, in some cases by greed and in other cases by progress.

“There’s tales of war, there’s tales of innovation and there’s a tale of love.

"It is a fascinating room to be in and, as a museum, it is important that we tell these stories properly. It’s a beautiful place to come and spend a couple of hours.”

The National Tramway Museum used to be known simply as the Crich Tramway Museum before it was rebranded last year.

It’s a change of name that Head of Marketing Lauren Coop hopes will help the centre’s appeal widen further.

“It is an honour to be the national museum, all the hard work over the years paid off to bring about national accreditation,” says Lauren.

Visitors can enjoy a retro tram ride up and down the National Tramway Museum.

“We have got the biggest collection of trams in the country and we wanted to shout about it and get national in the name.

“We are incredibly proud to be in Crich but the problem is not many people know Crich as a place.

“We do get a lot of people from abroad such as the Americans who love the quintessential Britishness.

“We have facebook followers from all over the world. People know what is going on, but we are trying to get across to new audiences such as students who come over here as well as getting the kids involved.

“We have all got different offerings and attractions in this area and we are one of them, but we are all different places and are not competing with each other.

“We can be connected with other places in the Peak District because there is a big market of tourists out there.”

The museum is operated by the Tramway Museum Society, a registered charity which receives no funding from local or central government and relies on admission charges and donations.

For further information on the National Tramway Museum visit https://tramway.co.uk/