2. Journey back-10.07.15

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2015 > 42. Trip to Liverpool-08-10.07.15 > 2. Journey back-10.07.15

Before our journey home and whilst my wife was shopping, I went up the Radio City Tower that affords superb views across the grand city of Liverpool.

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Images 1-17 of 17 displayed.

Liverpool Lime Street station from St. John`s Beacon
Taken from the dizzy heights of the St. John's Beacon tower that dominates Liverpool's city centre, Lime Street station is seen from this elevated position. The two train sheds look to be in good condition with the station having undergone a series of restoration works over recent years. Also dominating the scene is the North Western hotel, built in the Renaissance Revival style resembling a French château. Beyond the hotel is the portland stone-faced Liverpool Empire theatre built in 1925 to a free Neoclassical classical style. Both buildings are Grade II listed along with the station itself.
Keywords: Liverpool Lime Street station from St. John`s Beacon

Site of Liverpool Central station, from St. John`s Beacon
A visit up to the top of St. John's Beacon tower in Liverpool offers superb panoramic vistas of the city from the one hundred and twenty two-metre-high viewing platform. Looking south and of particular interest is the site of the former Liverpool Central railway station not be confused with the Merseyrail station that is below ground at the same location. The station was opened by the Cheshire Lines Committees' in 1874 and eventually closed after a protracted and deliberate rundown by BR on 17.04.74 with just one platform remaining open by that time. The trains entered the station throat from the tunnel under the grey and white tower block. The platforms occupied the area this side of the bridge where the cars are parked with the whole space spanned by an impressive trainshed that was tragically demolished soon after closure despite calls for it become part of a covered shopping area. As can be seen, today the area is in use by building contractors but predominantly by Network Rail
Keywords: Site of Liverpool Central station from St. John`s Beacon Cheshire Lines Committees'

Class 50X, 10.50 Ormskirk-Liverpool Central (2G37), Vauxhall viaduct, from St. John`s Beacon
With the expanse of the River Mersey as it enters the Irish Sea in the background, a part of the Port of Liverpool is seen in this view taken from the top of St. John's Beacon Tower, the home to Radio City 96.7. Standing out is a Merseyrail class 50X unit crossing Vauxhall viaduct working the 10.50 Ormskirk to Liverpool Central service. The huge building in front of the wind turbine is the Stanley Dock Tobacco warehouse built in 1901. It is a grade II listed building and is the world's largest brick warehouse. In recent decades it has fallen out of use with calls, notably from the Liverpool Echo, to restore it to use again. There are now plans for it to be converted into the inevitable apartments accompanied by businesses, cafés and retail outlets on the ground floor
Keywords: Class 50X 10.50 Ormskirk-Liverpool Central 2G37 Vauxhall viaduct from St. John`s Beacon Mersey

350105, LM 13.05 Liverpool Lime Street-Birmingham New Street (1L97), Liverpool Lime Street station
350105 stands inside Liverpool Lime Street's grand trainshed preparing to depart with the 13.05 to Birmingham New Street. At the moment platforms, eight and nine are open with access also afforded to Virgin's platform seven behind where I am standing. All the other platforms are gated and I have never had any success gaining access to take photographs unless having a valid ticket to travel.
Keywords: 350105 13.05 Liverpool Lime Street-Birmingham New Street 1L97 Liverpool Lime Street station London Mildand Desiro

156428, NT 11.44 Manchester Oxford Road-Liverpool Lime Street (2F99), Liverpool Lime Street station
156428 coasts into Liverpool Lime Street's platform nine with the 11.44 Northern Trains service from Manchester Oxford Road. It is services such as this that will go over to electric in the coming few years as the electrification is completed and new stock is introduced. I wonder if it will be completed on time?
Keywords: 156428 11.44 Manchester Oxford Road-Liverpool Lime Street 2F99 Liverpool Lime Street Northern Trains Sprinter

185110, TP 09.50 Scarborough-Liverpool Lime Street (1F85), Liverpool Lime Street station
185110 arrives at Liverpool Lime Street passing the 1948 LMS signal box crammed in between the track and the steep sandstone cutting wall. The signal box is scheduled to close over the coming months with control moving to the Manchester RSC.
Keywords: 185110 09.50 Scarborough-Liverpool Lime Street 1F85 Liverpool Lime Street station TransPennine Express

319374, NT 13.20 Liverpool Lime Street-Manchester Victoria (2J36) & 319369, NT 13.16 Liverpool Lime Street-Manchester Airport (1H49), Liverpool Lime Street station
A pair of former Thameslink class 319s wait under the impressive ironwork of Liverpool Lime Street in their new and shiny Northern Trains paint scheme. To the left, 319374 will work the 2J36 13.20 to Manchester Victoria whilst 319369 will form the 1H49 13.16 to Manchester Airport. Despite them being stopgap units until the arrival of the new Civity Class 331s the standard of refurbishment is impressive being considerably more than a quick repaint.
Keywords: 319374 13.20 Liverpool Lime Street-Manchester Victoria 2J36 319369 13.16 Liverpool Lime Street-Manchester Airport 1H49 Liverpool Lime Street station

350375, LM 13.34 Liverpool Lime Street-Birmingham New Street (1L99) & 156428, NT 13.27 Liverpool Lime Street-Manchester Oxford Road (2H40), Liverpool Lime Street station
Our journey home from Liverpool to Northampton was completed in three stages. The first part of the journey was on 350375 from here at Lime Street to Stafford on the 13.34 to Birmingham New Street. The train waits at platform eight whilst 156428 will work the 13.27 to Manchester Oxford Road.
Keywords: 350375 13.34 Liverpool Lime Street-Birmingham New Street 1L99 156428 13.27 Liverpool Lime Street-Manchester Oxford Road 2H40 Liverpool Lime Street station London Mildand Desiro Northern Trains Sprinter

390137, VT 11.07 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street (1F15), Liverpool Lime Street station
The driver of Pendolino 390137 brings his train carefully to a halt at Liverpool Lime Street as the train terminates with the 11.07 from London Euston. Notice the trio of Virgin staff who, along with a team of cleaners, wait to board the train to prepare it during its short turnaround and its departure to London again.
Keywords: 390137 11.07 London Euston-Liverpool Lime Street 1F15 Liverpool Lime Street station Virgin Pendolino

390132, VT 13.30 London Euston-Glasgow Central (1S69), Stafford station
390132 'City of Birmingham' passes through Stafford's centre road forming the 13.30 Euston to Glasgow Central. Usually, trains pass through Stafford at a fair speed but due to engineering works associated with re-signalling and track re-modelling taking place this one was travelling at a more modest pace. Indeed, a Colas liveried track machine can be seen in the distance associated with the said works.
Keywords: 390132 13.30 London Euston-Glasgow Central 1S69 Stafford station Virgin Pendolino

Stafford No. 5 signal box (BR, 1952)
With just three more weeks in operation Stafford No. 5 signal box stands guard to the north end of the station. The box is a large LMR Type 14 box dating from 1952 and contains a one hundred and fifty lever 'Derby' frame. It is one of the few grade seven boxes still in use but not for much longer. Notice the huge BR enamel running-in sign attached to the front of the box.

PS Unlike No. 4 signal box that was demolished withing six weeks of closure, the shell of No.5 languished on for some time finally being brought down during 2017
Keywords: Stafford No. 5 signal box 1952 Stafford Number 5 signal box

390016, VT 13.55 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1A41), Stafford station
Virgin Trains always seem to make an extra effort to keep their stock looking smart. The condition of 390016 is no exception to this still wearing its smart livery over ten years after it entered service on the WCML. The Pendolino is seen passing through Stafford's centre up road with the 13.55 Manchester Picadilly to Euston service that has taken the Crewe route rather than the more direct but slower Stoke route. Once the train reaches Colwich Junction it will tear down the Trent Valley route at full speed to reach London in an hour and a half.
Keywords: 390016 13.55 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1A41 Stafford station Virgin Pendolino

350120, LM 14.02 Crewe-London Euston (1U34), Stafford station
The second train of our journey home from Liverpool to Northampton arrives at Stafford station. We took 350120 working the 14.02 Crewe to Euston as far as Rugby. Unfortunately, from there it ran fast to London via the Weedon loop so was no use for us needing to get to Northampton.
Keywords: 350120 14.02 Crewe-London Euston 1U34 Stafford station LOndon Midland Desiro

350120, LM 14.02 Crewe-London Euston (1U34) & 390049, VT 14.35 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston (1A44), Rugby station
Breaking the photographic rules by looking into the warm afternoon summer sunshine but under a 'big' sky, 390120 passes through Rugby with the 1A44 14.35 Manchester Piccadilly to Euston train. Meanwhile, 350120 waits for the Pendolino to clear before it will continue its journey behind it as the 14.02 Crewe to Euston train. My wife and I had just alighted from the London Midland Desiro having travelled down from Stafford on it.
Keywords: 350120 14.02 Crewe-London Euston 1U34 390049 14.35 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 1A44 Rugby station

350102 & 57309, stabled, Rugby station
In time past many trains terminated and originated from Rugby station. Today no services use the south-facing bay platforms with the north-facing ones having completely disappeared during the recent re-modelling of the station. However, as can be seen in this image, they are still used for stabling. In this case, 350102 rests between duties keeping company with WCML Thunderbird 57307 'Pride of Crewe' sits basking in the summer sunshine.
Keywords: 350102 57309 stabled Thunderbird Rugby station Pride of Crewe London Midland Desiro

350105, LM 15.14 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1Y58), Rugby station
Mrs. On The Up Fast does not look very happy and not quite able to understand why I am taking a picture of yet another London Midland Desiro as it enters Rugby station! However, she is still able to proudly show-off her latest handbag purchase made in Liverpool even if it remains in the black bag! We took 350105 working the 15.14 Birmingham New Street to Euston as far as Northampton making it our third and final train of our journey back from Lime Street.
Keywords: 350105 15.14 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1Y58 Rugby station London Midland desiro

Tickets, Liverpool Lime Street-Northampton
The return single fare of £7.50 was the same as our outward fare. Both these represent excellent value being £30 for both of us to get to Liverpool and back. This was not using split ticketing but just with our two together discount loaded.
Keywords: Tickets Liverpool Lime Street-Northampton

Images 1-17 of 17 displayed.