Hooton - Helsby DMU Ewing service 1970's

[Foxcote]

I have a memory of the daytime DMU service being extended to run on weekday evenings between Hooton and Helsby. The last train left Helsby about 2300 hrs.

Has any member information on this please? I would like to know when this service started and finished.

Thanks to those members who kindly responded to my previous query on the Nottingham train, I have now completed my work on this matter.

 

[Bevan Price]

I have a memory of the daytime DMU service being extended to run on weekday evenings between Hooton and Helsby. The last train left Helsby about 2300 hrs.

Has any member information on this please? I would like to know when this service started and finished.

Thanks to those members who kindly responded to my previous query on the Nottingham train, I have now completed my work on this matter.

LMR Timetable, 1973/1974
Almost all trains ran between Helsby, Hooton & Rock Ferry
Approximately hourly, some variations at peak hours.
First & last trains:
Helsby dep. 06:51 to 21:51
Rock Ferry dep. 06:19 to 21:38, plus
22:38 Rock Ferry - Ellesmere Port
23:26 Hooton - Helsby (connection off 23:08 Rock Ferry - Chester)

No Sunday trains.


BR Yimetable, 1978/1979
Only small changes since 1973/74, apart from a change to last through train from Rock Ferry.
First & Last trains:
Helsby dep. 06:30(SO)/ 06:35 (SX) to 21:55
Rock Ferry dep. 06:18 to 22:36

Some other years can be checked if you want, but I don't have time to check every single year .

 

[Foxcote]

Thank you for a prompt answer. It would seem that the evening half hour service that I thought may have started in '75 or so did not last very long.

 

[Bevan Price]

Thank you for a prompt answer. It would seem that the evening half hour service that I thought may have started in '75 or so did not last very long.

I have now checked the timetables for 1975, 1976, 1977 & 1981. None of these contain a half hourly service into the evening. There were services approximately every 30 minutes in the morning & afternoon peak hours.

For example, from 1977 timetable:
Helsby dep. 06:36, 07:29, 07:56, 08:14, 08:51, hourly to 21:51 on saturdays,
or (SX) until 14:51, 16:14, 16:57, 17:39*, 18:11***, 18:51 then hourly to 21:51
plus a 16:37 Stanlow & Thornton to Rock Ferry
* - probably a misprint, but timetable shows this to Little Sutton only.
*** - To Hooton only

Rock Ferry dep. 06:19, 07:18, 07:28(SX), 07:48, 08:08(SX), 08:40, 09:38 then hourly to 15:38, 16:18(SX), 16:38 (SO), 16:58 (SX), 17:28(SX), 17:38(SO), 17:58(SX), 18:38 & hourly to 21:38, 22:38 (to Ellesmere Port)
plus Hooton to Helsby dep. 18:17(SX), 23:26


Things had gone downhill by the 1981 timetable. Still mostly hourly in daytime, but last trains were much earlier.

Helsby dep. 17:45 (as amended in supplement) to Rock Ferry,
plus 19:05(SX) to Hooton only

Rock Ferry to Helsby 17:49(SX) or 18:31(SO),
plus 18:40(SX) Hooton to Helsby

Going back a few years, you are partly correct in that the evening service had been improved in the mid 1970s, but only to hourly. This seems to have started in the May 1972 timetable. In the 1971 timetable, the last trains were
Helsby dep. 19:15 to Hooton
Hooton to Helsby dep 19:45

(Only a few peak hour trains ran throughout between Rock Ferry & Helsby; at other times there was an irregular shuttle between Hooton & Helsby)

 

[Foxcote]

Thank you for a marvellous reply Bevan Price, there is nothing more left to say on this topic, except thank you for devoting so much time and effort to my query. Well done!
I had a vague memory of a train from Helsby about 2300 hrs and trouble at the station from local youths, but could not identify the year.
Just goes to show memories decline in ones 70's

 

[Bevan Price]

Thank you for a marvellous reply Bevan Price, there is nothing more left to say on this topic, except thank you for devoting so much time and effort to my query. Well done!
I had a vague memory of a train from Helsby about 2300 hrs and trouble at the station from local youths, but could not identify the year.
Just goes to show memories decline in ones 70's

No problem - glad to help when I can, and today's weather made staying at home the best option.

By the way, there would be later trains at Helsby, but on the Chester - Warrington line - I think that the loco hauled 22:xx Manchester Victoria - Holyhead was still running in the 1970s. Also, the e.c.s. of the last arrival from Rock Ferry / Hooton would have to go somewhere - maybe some "well-lubricated" yobs tried to get a ride on it ??