Class 507 preservation society.

[185]

Could open the two disused Edgehill tunnels as a heritage underground railway

 

[birchesgreen]

I don't know if tours with this EMU would be successful or not but when the 1938 stock runs on the underground it seems popular. I think there are quite a few enthusiasts who might find a tour on a 507 interesting especially after the other trains from it's generation have been withdrawn.

 

[Bertie the bus]

That is a really good idea - could also have a toilet fitted.

It isn't a really good idea at all. Hiring the train out for stag and hen dos is a ridiculous idea. Who wants a load of drunks roaming around the network? Merseyrail certainly doesn't because it has banned the consumption of alcohol on its network.

As for running it to special events. Retaining traction knowledge for a few trips to the golf or Southport air show per year would be ludicrously expensive and a complete pain and for what? A 3-car unit that can't multi with the rest of the fleet is hardly a crowdbuster.

 

[John Luxton]

It isn't a really good idea at all. Hiring the train out for stag and hen dos is a ridiculous idea. Who wants a load of drunks roaming around the network? Merseyrail certainly doesn't because it has banned the consumption of alcohol on its network.

As for running it to special events. Retaining traction knowledge for a few trips to the golf or Southport air show per year would be ludicrously expensive and a complete pain and for what? A 3-car unit that can't multi with the rest of the fleet is hardly a crowdbuster.

It was the overall concept of it being hireable for special events which I suggested was a good idea.

The stag and hen dos I agree it would not be a good idea.

 

[prod_pep]

Who wants a load of drunks roaming around the network?

Merseyrail are quite happy to have drunken people aboard when it suits them, e.g. whenever an Aintree or Chester race meeting disgorges.

The preserved Class 503 ran various specials and even some service trains for a couple of years after the rest of the class was withdrawn, and seemed to pull in quite a crowd according to photographs.

If the intentis for it to be used then condition is more improtant anything else. First delivered/first in service/carried the Queen is of minimal importance if you want to run it. If it is case of it being a static exhibit, then the "firsts" are of greater importance.

Actually, the historical angle is worth consideration whatever the intention. This unit's status as a 'Royal train', however tenuous, is of possible interest to non-preservationists. Again, 507001 is one of the most recently overhauled sets, so it's as good as it's likely to get regardless.

The idea that condition is the be all and end all and nothing else comes into it is overstated on this forum. Yes, you want the best you can get, but with 22 completely serviceable 507s left, the claim that some are totally rotten whereas others aren't at all is a little hyperbolic. All have undergone corrosion repair work at various stages but after over 45 years in service, the bodywork is going to need attention whatever unit is picked.

 

[Bertie the bus]

Merseyrail are quite happy to have drunken people aboard when it suits them, e.g. whenever an Aintree or Chester race meeting disgorges.

That isn't a load of drunks roaming the network. It is public transport fulfilling its purpose, i.e. taking people to and from where they want to go, and certainly for the Grand National event they have bolstered security and staffing. So that is extra cost, but for the large numbers involved and the extra revenue they get it will be negligible. If they had to employ extra security for a few drunks on a stag do party train that cost wouldn't be negligible compared to the income.

 

[prod_pep]

Believe me, drunk people do roam the network when the races are on. They seem to get everywhere!

I do agree and am not in favour of running stag or hen do trains either, but they definitely get around at times.

 

[Neil Polo]

I’ve a few days up that way starting tomorrow. Is it likely that 507001 will be running? Does merseyrail operate the sets on rotation or would all stock likely be used throughout the day?

I’ve a few days up that way starting tomorrow. Is it likely that 507001 will be running? Does merseyrail operate the sets on rotation or would all stock likely be used throughout the day?

 

[Northerngirl]

I believe its on the Southport - hunts Cross line

 

[Neil Polo]

I’ve just boarded her at Birkenhead North.

 

[357]

This has popped up on YouTube:

 

[Neil Polo]

Excellent .

 

[YorkRanger]

I am not sure how long this has been an option, but I can't remember it being a feature of the website the last time I had a nosy at it (I apologise if this is old news), there are now 3 different membership options available to support the efforts of preserving a 507.

Membership « Class 507 Preservation Society

www.class507.org.uk

[a link to the membership page of the class 507s preservation group website]

 

[Gwr12345]

Apparently storage has been found at Nant Mawr visitor centre, and an agreement to purchase 507001 has been reached. An appeal to fund the cost of moving the train is to be launched.

The Class 507 Preservation Society have reached an agreement to take over the ownership of a train that has served the Liverpool City Region for 46 years. Due to be scrapped later this year, subject to funding the train will now be taken to the Nant Mawr visitor centre 15 miles south of Llangollen for conservation work.
Train 507 001 was built in 1978 by BREL at their Holgate Road Works in York and has spent its entire life working on the Northern and Wirral lines of Merseryrail. On 25th October 1978 Elizabeth II unveiled a plaque at Moorfields station to open the Merseyrail network, before travelling on 507 001 to Kirkby. Now, the Class 507 Preservation Society are working to save 507 001 from the scrap yard and are about to launch an appeal to cover the costs of moving the train to secure storage at the Nant Mawr Visitor Centre.

Nant Mawr is a terminus of the long gone Potteries, Shrewsbury and North Wales Railway, (known informally as the ‘Potts Line’), which opened in 1866 to link the quarries of Criggion and Nant Mawr with the county town of Shrewsbury. Today the Nant Mawr visitor centre is home to the UK's largest collection of industrial monorail equipment (including some used in a James Bond film), a short narrow gauge line and over a mile of standard gauge track. There are also award winning nature trails through the surrounding woodland with many parts of the site having step-free access.

Funds needed
Whilst the Society have secured agreements with everyone involved for the train to be preserved, funds now need to be raised to move the train from the National Rail network to the Nant Mawr site. Expected to cost in the region of £10,000, the society is about to launch an appeal to cover the transport costs.

Society Chairman Robert Hampton said:

“It's fantastic news that we will be preserving this train for future generations. They have served the Liverpool City Region well in the 46 years since Elizabeth II travelled on this very train in 1978, be it taking people to and from work, for a day out to the seaside, or home after an evening out.
But we need to raise money to move the train from the mainline network to its new home at Nant Mawr or it faces being sent to South Wales and turned into razor blades. If everyone who remembers travelling on a train like this were to donate just £5.07 then we would be well on the way to saving this train for the people of Merseyside.

Mark Hignett from the Nant Mawr visitor centre said:

“I am thrilled that a train that carried Elizabeth II is coming to Nant Mawr. The area has many historic connections with Liverpool – lots of the city’s water comes from Lake Vyrnwy which is just 20miles away from us. We look forward to hosting this very special train.”

Press Release « Class 507 Preservation Society

www.class507.org.uk

 

[D365]

Another PEP derivative bound for Wales!

 

[Northerngirl]

Unfortunate that its not in merseyside, but it all sounds quite hopeful that it will be saved

 

[43096]

Another PEP derivative bound for Wales!

That hotbed of PEP derivative knowledge…

 

[D365]

Unfortunate that its not in merseyside, but it all sounds quite hopeful that it will be saved

Going by the sad demise of the 503 - I'd suggest it's for the better!

 

[Townsend Hook]

Another PEP derivative bound for Wales!

I believe it’s actually on the English side of the border, despite the name.

 

[CaramellDansen]

Could open the two disused Edgehill tunnels as a heritage underground railway

Surely the North Mersey branch is a much more reasonable proposal for local heritage?

 

[eldomtom2]

Positive news, as long as Nant Mawr can keep it undercover and aren't inclined to kick out at some point in the future.

 

[StephenHunter]

I believe it’s actually on the English side of the border, despite the name.

It's in a formerly Welsh-speaking area; Oswestry was in Wales before the marcher lordships were ended under Henry VIII.

 

[8A Rail]

Surely the North Mersey branch is a much more reasonable proposal for local heritage?

This has already been discussed at length on the relevant thread, so let us keep it there please.

Positive news, as long as Nant Mawr can keep it undercover and aren't inclined to kick out at some point in the future.

Ten year agreement in place but certainly in the short / medium term as far as can be established, not under cover.

 

[Chris 1980]

The crowdfunding website to raise the much needed £10,000 to move 507001 by road to Tanat Valley Light Railway once she retires from the Merseyrail network is now open!

Please click the link below, and donate if you would like to see 507001 preserved! EVERY penny and contribution helps, and I'm sure all donations received will be very much appreciated by the Class 507 Preservation Society!

Please help save this magnificent piece of Merseyrail heritage and the finest of BREL York engineering for future generations to all love and enjoy!

Preserve a Class 507 EMU

Raise funds to move a Merseyrail Class 507 train by road to a new home in North West Shropshire, where it can be preserved for the future.

www.crowdfunder.co.uk

 

[prod_pep]

Hopefully some of the industry magazines will help spread the word about this. It's off to a bit of a slow start sadly.

 

[Formby EMU Fan]

I was wondering why the unit couldn't be hauled by a Diesel Loco from the Merseyrail network to their nearest station at Gobowen and transport the last 6 miles by road.
I am not familiar with the Tanat Valley Railway or the local area round there, but from their website I think it the site is isolated from the National Rail network. Can anyone advise if this would be a cheaper option, or even possible?

 

[lyndhurst25]

I was wondering why the unit couldn't be hauled by a Diesel Loco from the Merseyrail network to their nearest station at Gobowen and transport the last 6 miles by road.
I am not familiar with the Tanat Valley Railway or the local area round there, but from their website I think it the site is isolated from the National Rail network. Can anyone advise if this would be a cheaper option, or even possible?

I suspect that most of the time and money is spent on the loading and offloading of the carriages on the road trailers, rather than the milage driven, so it likely works out cheaper to use road only, rather than rail+road.

 

[Bertie the bus]

Hopefully some of the industry magazines will help spread the word about this. It's off to a bit of a slow start sadly.

To be fair that is about twice as much as I thought they would get in total. Let's be realistic, it doesn't matter how much publicity it gets they are not going to get £10K to transport a unit to some random, rural site in Wales to sit there for a few years until either the money runs out or they have a disagreement, followed by a trip to the scrappies.

 

[Ksp]

I was wondering why the unit couldn't be hauled by a Diesel Loco from the Merseyrail network to their nearest station at Gobowen and transport the last 6 miles by road.
I am not familiar with the Tanat Valley Railway or the local area round there, but from their website I think it the site is isolated from the National Rail network. Can anyone advise if this would be a cheaper option, or even possible?

Its actually more expensive to haul it by rail then by road and it makes quite sense. Consider the cost to hire a loco, fuel, driver salary compared to loading it on lorry which costs around 3k-5k+, compared to rail which costs much much more.

 

[prod_pep]

The fundraiser is cooking with gas now, a quarter of the target having been raised at £2,500. Most encouraging for a fortnight's work, with 44 days still remaining for the rest.