Merseyrail 507's/508's

[507 001]

I always thought the 508's where Thyristor controlled.

Nope, only the 314s and 315s were thyristor controlled in the PEP family.

 

[Tynwald]

313, 507, 508 camshaft resistance controlled. 314, & 315 thyristor controlled.

 

[andytriv]

Nope, only the 314s and 315s were thyristor controlled in the PEP family.

Thanks guys. You can learn something new after nearly 40 years

 

[karlbbb]

Thanks very much for the info, very interesting.

On the 507/508s, it's getting a bit embarrassing now that almost every day Merseyrail are tweeting about cancelled services due to train faults.

 

[D821]

I've not had any disruptions lately, but I'm still keen to see the new trains in operation. I've still yet to see one in the flesh.

 

[jamesst]

Thanks very much for the info, very interesting.

On the 507/508s, it's getting a bit embarrassing now that almost every day Merseyrail are tweeting about cancelled services due to train faults.

In all fairness a couple of the big delays last week were caused by faults with the MPV.

 

[karlbbb]

In all fairness a couple of the big delays last week were caused by faults with the MPV.

Sorry, still a bit green here - MPV?

 

[M-Train]

Sorry, still a bit green here - MPV?

Multipurpose Vehicle—a modular DMU for sandite & inspections.

 

[karlbbb]

Multipurpose Vehicle—a modular DMU for sandite & inspections.

Ah thank you! Think I saw that this morning on the Southport line just after it branches from Sandhills

 

[deltic14]

Class 507/508 workings recorded today:

Wirral Line:

Chester: 143, 003, 026 (swapped with 111 in the afternoon), 114, 001, 124, and 017.

Ellesmere Port: 013, 004 , and 019.

New Brighton: 024, 012, and 140.

West Kirby: 117, 023, 030, and 005.

Stabled at New Brighton: 016.

Stabled Birkenhead Central: 018.

Outside Birkenhead North Depot (at 16:00): 126, 123, 008, and 104.



Northern Line:

Southport: 131 + 029, 002 + 138, 139 + 033, 137 + 127, 112 +125, 027 + 141, 128 + 136, and 010 + 020.

Ormskirk / Kirkby: 122, 014 +115, 015, 009 + 031, 011 + 028, 007, and 108.

777 006 was also out on test.

 

[507020]

Class 507/508 workings recorded today:

Wirral Line:

Chester: 143, 003, 026 (swapped with 111 in the afternoon), 114, 001, 124, and 017.

Ellesmere Port: 013, 004 , and 019.

New Brighton: 024, 012, and 140.

West Kirby: 117, 023, 030, and 005.

Stabled at New Brighton: 016.

Stabled Birkenhead Central: 018.

Outside Birkenhead North Depot (at 16:00): 126, 123, 008, and 104.



Northern Line:

Southport: 131 + 029, 002 + 138, 139 + 033, 137 + 127, 112 +125, 027 + 141, 128 + 136, and 010 + 020.

Ormskirk / Kirkby: 122, 014 +115, 015, 009 + 031, 011 + 028, 007, and 108.

777 006 was also out on test.

777006 being the unit that was graffitied at Tonbridge yard before even being delivered.

I assume you didn’t observe any of these 507/508s having failed.

Merseyrail may be tweeting about train faults but I haven’t actually seen any disruption caused by train faults, however there has been some caused by a trespasser repeatedly gaining access to the line and the MPV.

 

[deltic14]

Apart from a set swap at Rock Ferry I didn't see any failures or delays in the time I was there (Wirral Line 11:00 to 1600, and Northern Line 16:00 - 20:00). For the record 026 arrived at Rock Ferry from Chester at 13:00 or thereabouts and I assume the passengers were transferred into 111 which was in the bay platform. 111 then continued in 026's diagram and 026 went (according to RTT) to Birkenhead Central C.S. but when I returned from Chester it was not there but 018 was which had been at Birkenhead North Depot a couple of hours earlier.

 

[Liverpool 507]

Thanks very much for the info, very interesting.

On the 507/508s, it's getting a bit embarrassing now that almost every day Merseyrail are tweeting about cancelled services due to train faults.

All trains suffer with faults, regardless of age. They still perform excellently, considering they are 43 years old.

 

[Bikeman78]

All trains suffer with faults, regardless of age. They still perform excellently, considering they are 43 years old.

Indeed. The only class 508 failure I have encountered was a Connex unit.

 

[MR-507508]

Apart from a set swap at Rock Ferry I didn't see any failures or delays in the time I was there (Wirral Line 11:00 to 1600, and Northern Line 16:00 - 20:00). For the record 026 arrived at Rock Ferry from Chester at 13:00 or thereabouts and I assume the passengers were transferred into 111 which was in the bay platform. 111 then continued in 026's diagram and 026 went (according to RTT) to Birkenhead Central C.S. but when I returned from Chester it was not there but 018 was which had been at Birkenhead North Depot a couple of hours earlier.

507026 was working on the Northern line today, on the diagram which ends with the final Ormskirk to Liverpool Central working this evening.

 

[WesternLancer]

General question - long time since I've been on Merseyrail. Generally speaking how long have a I got left to ride on 507/508 units?

By that I mean head over to Merseyside for a day and have a decent chance of an older unit on most or a majority of trains on any particular line.

All advice gratefully received.

 

[jamesst]

General question - long time since I've been on Merseyrail. Generally speaking how long have a I got left to ride on 507/508 units?

By that I mean head over to Merseyside for a day and have a decent chance of an older unit on most or a majority of trains on any particular line.

All advice gratefully received.

At the very least a year I'd say, dont worry the 507/8s aren't going anywhere for a good while yet.

 

[WesternLancer]

At the very least a year I'd say, dont worry the 507/8s aren't going anywhere for a good while yet.

Thanks - sounds like I could plan for a visit before the May 2022 timetable changes as opposed to Dec 2021 then without too much risk.

Will be nice to get a bit more PEP travel in!

 

[jamesst]

Thanks - sounds like I could plan for a visit before the May 2022 timetable changes as opposed to Dec 2021 then without too much risk.

Will be nice to get a bit more PEP travel in!

100%, in all fairness you could plan a visit before the December 2022 changes and still pretty much be guaranteed the existing stock!

 

[Gareth]

Thanks - sounds like I could plan for a visit before the May 2022 timetable changes as opposed to Dec 2021 then without too much risk.

Will be nice to get a bit more PEP travel in!

I wouldn't worry. You'll probably go for scrap before they do.

 

[WesternLancer]

I wouldn't worry. You'll probably go for scrap before they do.

 

[prod_pep]

Fourteen 507s are proposed to be retained until late 2023 pending the completion of works at Southport to accommodate 8 car formations of the new stock, so there is still plenty of time to enjoy the current units.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Fourteen 507s are proposed to be retained until late 2023 pending the completion of works at Southport to accommodate 8 car formations of the new stock, so there is still plenty of time to enjoy the current units.

God how old will they be by then?! 45 years plus I'd say!

 

[507020]

God how old will they be by then?! 45 years plus I'd say!

And of course the works at Southport will overrun so they will still be running well into 2024 and beyond!

 

[507 001]

And of course the works at Southport will overrun so they will still be running well into 2024 and beyond!

One can only hope.

 

[507020]

One can only hope.

45 years in service 1 November 1978 - 1 November 2023 will easily be achieved if they’re staying until the end of 2023. The next big achievement would be to exceed the 49 years of the 4-CEP of 1956!

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

45 years in service 1 November 1978 - 1 November 2023 will easily be achieved if they’re staying until the end of 2023. The next big achievement would be to exceed the 49 years of the 4-CEP of 1956!

Well oldest 313 is 46 in Feb 22 so could that could set new benchmark for a UK EMU outside of underground stock of course