The Centre was officially opened by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to mark the 150th anniversary of the first train to arrive at Crewe Railway Station in 1987. Originally forming part of the Crewe Heritage Festival which was an eight week long event with activities and celebrations taking place all over the town of Crewe, members of the public were also invited to visit the historic Locomotive Works and see first hand how railway locomotives were constructed and maintained by British Rail. Following a really successful festival, Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council decided to open the Heritage Centre again in 1988, the popularity of the Heritage Centre grew, attracting visitors from all over the United Kingdom and even the world. In 1989 the council handed the running of the museum over to the newly formed Crewe Heritage Trust who continue to operate the museum to this day.