Merseyrail

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Merseyrail

(24/11/2023 18:58)507022 Wrote:  If these two units stayed on their circuits as planned, you were correct that 2W48 would’ve been the last working for 508141; the last working for 508139 would’ve been 2S48 1736 Hunts Cross to Southport. However there is always a risk they may have been swapped at some point on Wednesday

Many thanks indeed. 508139 could well have been on that service and presumably it then ran empty to Kirkdale on the Thursday morning? Using RTT with all its foibles, I tracked 508139 from seeing it on Tuesday to the 1721 Hunts X - Southport service on Thursday, but it's far from unknown for platforms to appear incorrectly on there.

Also, in the words of the Beautiful South, apparently blue is the colour for 507001 in the coming days.

[507022]

RE: Merseyrail

(25/11/2023 18:21)H101GEV Wrote:  Many thanks indeed. 508139 could well have been on that service and presumably it then ran empty to Kirkdale on the Thursday morning? Using RTT with all its foibles, I tracked 508139 from seeing it on Tuesday to the 1721 Hunts X - Southport service on Thursday, but it's far from unknown for platforms to appear incorrectly on there.

Also, in the words of the Beautiful South, apparently blue is the colour for 507001 in the coming days.

All will be revealed regarding 507001 during the first half of next week - sworn to secrecy!!

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Merseyrail
507002 and 507016 are on the Ormskirk line today in six car formation to handle the EFC crowds. Very well loaded indeed both ways but 507002 performed admirably - a superb unit.

[507022]

RE: Merseyrail
508139/141 are due to leave Birkenhead North for scrap at 1055 tomorrow

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Merseyrail
507001 is now in heritage BR blue and grey livery. I caught the briefest of glimpses of it going inside Birkenhead North earlier and it's now out of view in the main shed.

Noticed a couple of variations: doors are all grey a la 313201 and the white and grey section is curved beside the doors. The front lights retain their black surrounds by the look of it as well.

[wirralbus]

RE: Merseyrail

(28/11/2023 16:06)H101GEV Wrote:  507001 is now in heritage BR blue and grey livery. I caught the briefest of glimpses of it going inside Birkenhead North earlier and it's now out of view in the main shed.

Noticed a couple of variations: doors are all grey a la 313201 and the white and grey section is curved beside the doors. The front lights retain their black surrounds by the look of it as well.

It will be a nice change from the present Merseyrail livery , it will be getting lots of photos taken of it now , im sure

[childwallblues]

RE: Merseyrail
I was on the 1238 NBN-LVC which passed Birkenhead North Depot at 1249 just as 508131 was dragging 507001 in its new livery out of the depot.
With only seven 508s left in service I was lucky to ride 508103 on the 1131 MRF-NBN and 508108 on the 1451 SDL-HNX.

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Merseyrail
507001 made its debut in heritage colours today on the West Kirby line. The blue is a very good match to the original and it is certainly striking, although not as impressive as 313201 due to the inaccuracies. The front end is a letdown, but it does look superb overall and I'm really glad they've done this.

[wirralbus]

RE: Merseyrail
The front end you have to satisfy the safety requirements , to be honest why did they have to put the decal about the 46 years on the side , it just looks out of place ., otherwise it brings back memories of days gone by .

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Merseyrail

(02/12/2023 22:24)wirralbus Wrote:  The front end you have to satisfy the safety requirements , to be honest why did they have to put the decal about the 46 years on the side , it just looks out of place ., otherwise it brings back memories of days gone by .

The traditional BR blue and grey front ends are perfectly compliant with safety requirements, illustrated by the superb heritage Class 313 which has the correct front end style. 507001 looks fantastic in my opinion too but the fact remains, not perfect.

I rather like the 46 years decal actually, a nice touch and possibly an eye opener for regular passengers, many of whom have the refurbished 507/8s down for a lot younger than they actually are.