Merseyrail 507's/508's

[TheSel]

I remember that HM the Queen formally opened the Merseyrail network back in the 1970s, and rode in one of the then new trains. For some time after that I seem to think the unit, and the seat, she had travelled in was marked in some way. That is now ancient history (or myth) but I wonder if that particular unit has been scrapped yet, or if its fame will be recalled when its day comes.

I remember that too, and always thought it was 507001.

A little internet searching has revealed this snippet, which includes a picture, and suggests the date was 25 October 1978, and that Her Majesty rode to Kirkby.

 

[Liverpool 507]

I remember that HM the Queen formally opened the Merseyrail network back in the 1970s, and rode in one of the then new trains. For some time after that I seem to think the unit, and the seat, she had travelled in was marked in some way. That is now ancient history (or myth) but I wonder if that particular unit has been scrapped yet, or if its fame will be recalled when its day comes.

I believe it was 507001 & 507002. Both still in service currently.

 

[Liverpool 507]

I remember that too, and always thought it was 507001.

A little internet searching has revealed this snippet, which includes a picture, and suggests the date was 25 October 1978, and that Her Majesty rode to Kirkby.

Apologies, our messages appeared at the same time!

 

[TheSel]

Apologies, our messages appeared at the same time!

No probs. Great minds think alike.

 

[507021]

508110 was the unit featured in Merseyrail publicity until the millenium, especially the front cover of timetables & maps, quite poignant that's one of the first to go to scrap.

It was the first unit to be refurbished as well, from memory.

 

[507 001]

508110 was the unit featured in Merseyrail publicity until the millenium, especially the front cover of timetables & maps, quite poignant that's one of the first to go to scrap.

It was also the first unit to be refurbished (although there was a prototype DMSO done earlier).

 

[gka472l]

I remember that HM the Queen formally opened the Merseyrail network back in the 1970s, and rode in one of the then new trains. For some time after that I seem to think the unit, and the seat, she had travelled in was marked in some way. That is now ancient history (or myth) but I wonder if that particular unit has been scrapped yet, or if its fame will be recalled when its day comes.

I *think* it was 507002 that the Queen went on.....as an aside, the 507's are by far the most complete 'PEP' class left, with only one of the 33 no longer existing (507022), and one of the driving cars from that is in 507004.

HTH

 

[gka472l]

I think it might have been a 313 she travelled in. If my memory serves me right 2 were sent up to trial before the 507 entered service.

I think there were as many as 4 313's sent up...313003/5/63, plus another I can't recall at the mo (313013??), have seen pics of them at various points on the Northern line....

 

[gka472l]

It was also the first unit to be refurbished (although there was a prototype DMSO done earlier).

64671 from 508123 was that one, had a couple of different interiors when it was the prototype, have seen a shot of it at Eastleigh in Arriva livery, not seen any shots of the prototype interior anywhere though.

 

[507021]

I think there were as many as 4 313's sent up...313003/5/63, plus another I can't recall at the mo (313013??), have seen pics of them at various points on the Northern line....

313003, 313005, 313013 and 313063 were the quartet.

Interestingly, it looks like three of them (003, 005 and 013) are going to outlive the majority of the 507s which resulted from the trial.

 

[prod_pep]

It was in fact three Class 313s that were sent to Merseyside: 313013 and 313063 were the first, arriving at Southport on 07/10/77, for use on clearance and performance trials ahead of Class 507 delivery. I'm not sure on the date these two returned to Hornsey. The third unit was 313003 which arrived at Hall Road Depot on 06/09/78 for use as a backup Royal train should 507001 and 507002 not have been ready. It departed on 21/11/78 for further use on tests on the Clyderail network prior to the Class 314s' arrival.

I've never seen any evidence that 313005 actually visited Merseyside, despite what Wikipedia says.

The Royal Special on 25/10/78 used both 507001 and 507002 and I believe it was 507001 which carried the Queen.

 

[507 001]

64671 from 508123 was that one, had a couple of different interiors when it was the prototype, have seen a shot of it at Eastleigh in Arriva livery, not seen any shots of the prototype interior anywhere though.

Yes I thought it was 123. I remember seeing itat Southport, although by the. It was in an early version of what became the wasp stripe livery. I remember looking through the windows but can’t for the life of me remember what it was like inside. In my defence I was about 10 years old!

 

[Ribbleman]

It was in fact three Class 313s that were sent to Merseyside: 313013 and 313063 were the first, arriving at Southport on 07/10/77, for use on clearance and performance trials ahead of Class 507 delivery. I'm not sure on the date these two returned to Hornsey. The third unit was 313003 which arrived at Hall Road Depot on 06/09/78 for use as a backup Royal train should 507001 and 507002 not have been ready. It departed on 21/11/78 for further use on tests on the Clyderail network prior to the Class 314s' arrival.

I've never seen any evidence that 313005 actually visited Merseyside, despite what Wikipedia says.

The Royal Special on 25/10/78 used both 507001 and 507002 and I believe it was 507001 which carried the Queen.

As a further back up in case neither a 507 or 313 was available on the day of the Royal Visit, a couple of Class 503s were polished up. Their use as the Royal Train would have been somewhat embarrassing but better than no train at all.

 

[Tynwald]

Somewhere I have a photo of a pair of 503's coupled to 507016, which had, had a very serious fire at Maghull. they towed the errant 507 back to Birkenhead North.

 

[hst43102]

I don't suppose any of the 507s / 508s are marked for preservation?

 

[507021]

I don't suppose any of the 507s / 508s are marked for preservation?

No idea, but I'm sure there's probably someone looking into it. For me, it has to be a 507, as they were actually new to Merseyside.

A whole unit would be nice, but failing that, a driving car restored to original condition for one of Liverpool's museums or the one in St Helens would be a good compromise.

Also pleased to hear it looks like my favourite unit is one of the fourteen being retained for a bit longer.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I *think* it was 507002 that the Queen went on.....as an aside, the 507's are by far the most complete 'PEP' class left, with only one of the 33 no longer existing (507022), and one of the driving cars from that is in 507004.

HTH

Presumably the 507 driving car that ended up being used as a replacement for a drowned 314 car is no longer with us?

 

[507021]

Presumably the 507 driving car that ended up being used as a replacement for a drowned 314 car is no longer with us?

It isn't, 314203 has been scrapped.

 

[Trains Trains]

I *think* it was 507002 that the Queen went on.....as an aside, the 507's are by far the most complete 'PEP' class left, with only one of the 33 no longer existing (507022), and one of the driving cars from that is in 507004.

HTH

B car to be exact

 

[MR-507508]

508110 was the unit featured in Merseyrail publicity until the millenium, especially the front cover of timetables & maps, quite poignant that's one of the first to go to scrap.

508110 also featured on the TV drama, Hollyoaks earlier this year. Filming took place on 3rd Feb 2020 between Southport and Sandhills.
Sadly, later in the evening, 110 suffered a broken window when a passenger decided to "smash" their way out of the train during a dispute with another passenger on the platform.
It was working a 6 car peak service on the Southport line (2S42 if I remember correctly).
Safe to say, 508110 had an eventful day on this day.
I should add, the door window was quickly repaired. I was on this unit, the following morning.

Somewhere I have a photo of a pair of 503's coupled to 507016, which had, had a very serious fire at Maghull. they towed the errant 507 back to Birkenhead North.

Would you happen to have this image to share please?
It would be really interesting to see.
Do you remember what caused the fire?

With the new units not entering service soon, what's the impact or potential impact on the network of this?

Are there many more that are due to leave?

Impact seems that the peak 6 car services on the Ormskirk line will be reduced, 2 x 6 cars will run both in the morning and evening peak (as oppose to the previous 3 x 6 cars which ran).
This appears to be the case, when the service frequency increases on the Ormskirk (and Kirkby lines) from the start of September it seems.
When 508134 was withdrawn, the peak 6 car service on the West Kirby line was reduced to 3 car.

 

[Trains Trains]

508110 also featured on the TV drama, Hollyoaks earlier this year. Filming took place on 3rd Feb 2020 between Southport and Sandhills.
Sadly, later in the evening, 110 suffered a broken window when a passenger decided to "smash" their way out of the train during a dispute with another passenger on the platform.
It was working a 6 car peak service on the Southport line (2S42 if I remember correctly).
Safe to say, 508110 had an eventful day on this day.
I should add, the door window was quickly repaired. I was on this unit, the following morning.
View attachment 82382



Would you happen to have this image to share please?
It would be really interesting to see.
Do you remember what caused the fire?


Impact seems that the peak 6 car services on the Ormskirk line will be reduced, 2 x 6 cars will run both in the morning and evening peak (as oppose to the previous 3 x 6 cars which ran).
This appears to be the case, when the service frequency increases on the Ormskirk (and Kirkby lines) from the start of September it seems.
When 508134 was withdrawn, the peak 6 car service on the West Kirby line was reduced to 3 car.

Think the fire was caused by vandalism

 

[Richard Scott]

Wonder if someone could answer a couple of queries, when and why was 507022 withdrawn? When did the driving car from 507022 get inserted into 507004 and what happened to 507004's original vehicle? Thanks in advance.

 

[Trains Trains]

All vehicles damaged got scrapped

 

[gka472l]

All vehicles damaged got scrapped. B car of 022 replaced damaged 004 b car but retained the 022 vehicle number as I'm sure you are aware. Incident was 1986 at Kirkdale depot. Happy to be corrected

Didn't know it was as far back as that, I thought it was about 1990/1....anyway, here's a shot of the withdrawn car from 507004 (64370) awaiting scrapping at Glasgow works in 1996 (71363 from 507022 behind)

507004 31.08.1996

507004 is seen withdrawn at St Rollox Works Glasgow. To date this is the only Class 507 to be withdrawn and scrapped, although one driving car was rebuilt and inserted into 314203. The car above 64370 was scrapped, along with the trailer vehicle attached, which is 71363 from 507022.

www.flickr.com

HTH

 

[Trains Trains]

Interesting

 

[Tynwald]

The fire on 507016 was caused by an electrial flashover in the equipment case, caused by low line voltage. This was quite a problem in those days (early 1980's). The equipment case was completely destroyed. 507031 & 508140 (I think) suffered very similar fires about the same time. I will try and find the photo, it was taken at Kirkdale.

 

[Trains Trains]

Interesting didn't know that. I'm think of the unit that was vandalised in the late 90s

 

[MR-507508]

Interesting didn't know that. I'm.think of the unit that was vandalised in the late 90s early 2000s so got my wires mixed up I think

That was unit 508118 if I remember correctly.

 

[prod_pep]

Yes, 508118 was the arson victim at Birkenhead North. April 2001 if I recall correctly.

The 507004 and 507022 Kirkdale collision was definitely during 1991. I have the exact date somewhere but can't find it at present.

 

[Liverpool 507]

Yes, 508118 was the arson victim at Birkenhead North. April 2001 if I recall correctly.

The 507004 and 507022 Kirkdale collision was definitely during 1991. I have the exact date somewhere but can't find it at present.

I‘ve seen elsewhere that this was at Rock Ferry?