1. Merseyside & Carlisle-20.06.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2024 > 53. A Cumbrian caper-20-22.06.24 > 1. Merseyside & Carlisle-20.06.24

A straightforward drive from home in Northamptonshire to Liverpool South Parkway station enabled free parking for the day and for us to access the Merseyrail network. We had pre-purchased a couple of Day Saver tickets that permitted unlimited travel on the network from after 09.30. At just over £10 for the pair of us it represents superb value and we certainly maxed out our travel on the tickets! As well as travelling on some new Class 777 units we also bagged some Class 507s in what will be their final couple of months of operation. After our day out we travelled north to Carlisle whilst listening to England performing unconvincingly in their Euros Group match against Denmark drawing 1-1 as well as a ten-minute car charging stop at the superb Tebay services.

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Images 1-23 of 23 displayed.

777038, ME 10.26 Hunts Cross-Southport (2S17, 1L), Liverpool Central station
Our first journey of the day on the Merseyrail network took us from Liverpool South Parkway to Liverpool Central for us to change from the Northern Lines to a Wirral Lines train. On arrival at Central, I turned my camera towards 777038 working the 10.26 Hunts Cross to Southport 2S17 service. I was taking a risk doing this following my altercation with Merseyrail staff on my last visit to this station, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/23847801404/x507025-2u23-liverpool-central-station
Keywords: 777038 10.26 Hunts Cross-Southport 2S17 Liverpool Central station Mreseyrail

777019, ME 10.13 Rock Ferry-Chester (2C15, RT), Chester station
I thought that when Andy and I travelled on Merseyrail's 10.13 Rock Ferry to Chester service from Liverpool Central that we were both travelling on virgin track. For Andy it was but I realised that I had traversed part of this route back in 1984 between Hooton and Rock Ferry on the Conwy Crusader railtour on 10.03.84 behind 40029; today we had to make do with the newly introduced 777019! The train is seen after arrival at Chester. Photographs of the fabled Conwy Crusader railtour will be uploaded when I get to processing my 1984 images. At the present rate of progress, this will be in about ten years!
Keywords: 777019 10.13 Rock Ferry-Chester 2C15 Chester station Merseyrail

197118, AW 11.43 Chester-Liverpool Lime Street (1F96, 1L), Chester station
197118 basks in the morning sunshine at Chester station waiting to depart with the TfW 11/43 service to Liverpool Lime Street via Frodsham, Runcorn and Liverpool South Parkway. This part of Chester station was the site of the disastrous fire back in 1972, see... https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=489
Keywords: 197118 11.43 Chester-Liverpool Lime Street 1F96 Chester station TfW

777019, ME 11.45 Chester-Chester (2C23, 1L), Chester station
After a coffee and snack at Chester, our third train of the day on the Merserailnetwork waits to leave as the 2C23 Chester return service. Andy and I took this train as far as Hamilton Square on the Wirral line. During the journey, we had a very interesting talk with a member of the Merseyrail staff who outlined some issues that they were experiencing with the Class 777 units, more of that to come later as well as some positive things.
Keywords: 777019 11.45 Chester-Chester 2C23 Chester station Merseyrail

777023, ME 12.08 New Brighton-New Brighton (2N24, RT), Hamilton Square station
After alighting at Hamilton Square our train from Chester Andy and I changed platforms to get the 12.08 New Brighton circular service to its destination. 777023 is seen arriving at Hamilton Square working the Merseyrail 2N24 service.
Keywords: 777023 12.08 New Brighton-New Brighton 2N24 Hamilton Square station Merseyrail

Frontage, New Brighton station
When I last visited New Brighton in 2021 it was on a Class 507 unit and the station building was encased in scaffolding and shrouded in plastic sheeting for extensive renovation. Today all that has gone to reveal a superb 1888 structure freshly restored in all its Victorian glory made even more impressive on this sunny and bright day.
Keywords: Frontage New Brighton station

777016, ME 13.08 New Brighton-New Brighton (2N28, failed), New Brighton station
We were talking to a Merseyrail employee a little earlier in our travels about the issues facing these new Class 777 units. He said that there were particular problems with camera software preventing the units from running and this is exactly what happened to 777016 at New Brighton. We were sitting waiting to depart with the driver struggling to power up the unit with repeated power-downs to try to reset the systems. During this time we could hear him on the 'phone to Stadler control with them attempting to help to no avail. In the end, 2N28 was declared a failure and we were transferred to an adjacent unit. This is an all to common problem with all new trains these days and particularly concerning for Merseyrail as the Class 777s have now been in operation for some time with things still far from good.
Keywords: 777016 13.08 New Brighton-New Brighton 2N28 New Brighton station Merseyrail

777039, ME 13.23 New Brighton-New Brighton (2N29, RT), New Brighton station
We were forced to transfer to 777039 at New Brighton following the failure of our earlier train. This did put us back a little bit but was not a major inconvenience. We travelled on the 2N29 from New Brighton as far as James Street.
Keywords: 777039 13.23 New Brighton-New Brighton 2N29 New Brighton station Merseyrail

777022, 14.42 Ellesmere Port-Ellesmere Port (2Y18, 2E), Liverpool St. James Street station
Just a short jump was taken from James Street to Moorfields station for us to access the Northern Lines. 777022 arrives at James Street with the 14.42 Ellesmere Port return service.
Keywords: 777022, 14.42 Ellesmere Port-Ellesmere Port (2Y18, 2E), Liverpool St. James Street station Merseyrail

777146, ME 13.50 Liverpool Central-Headbolt Lane (2K30, 1E), Moorfields station
777146 arrives at Moorfields station working the 2K30 13.50 Liverpool Central to Headbolt Lane service. This is one of the seven Class 777/1 sub-set that are fitted with traction batteries adding up to a total of 320kWh to provide power on the sections of non-electrified track up to the new station at Headbolt Lane that opened in October 2023. We travelled aboard this train to its destination with the only difference appearing to be that its acceleration away from stations when on battery power was a little more subdued.
Keywords: 777146 13.50 Liverpool Central-Headbolt Lane 2K30 Moorfields station Merseyrail

777146, ME 14.26 Headbolt Lane-Liverpool Central (2F34, 1L), Headbolt Lane station
A new station for both Andy and I, Headbolt Lane opened in its present state on 05.10.23. Juat beyond the buffer stops and the hoarding is the other portion of the station operated by Northern with services running to Manchester via Wigan. The arrangement is similar to that at Ormskirk. With the introduction of the battery-powered Class 777/1s services could then operate from Liverpool direct as far as Kirkby where the station is located. One of the seven battery-powered Class 777s waits in the sunshine at Headbolt Lane that will work the 14.26 service to Liverpool Central. Andy and I took this train back to Sandhills.
Keywords: 777146 14.26 Headbolt Lane-Liverpool Central 2F34 Headbolt Lane station

507018, ME 14.21 Hunts Cross-Southport (2S34, RT), Sandhills station
Our hunt for an operational Merseyrail Class 507 was successful on arrival back at Sandhills. Whilst using a vending machine in the waiting room this unit rolled in so Andy managed a cool drink whilst there was no time for me to get mine with a trip aboard 507018 trumping it! We travelled on the 14.21 Hunts Cross to Southport service from here at Sandhills to its destination. The contrast between our journies on the Class 777s with this forty-five-year-old train was marked but were the new ones any better; I'm not so sure.
Keywords: 507018 14.21 Hunts Cross-Southport 2S34 Sandhills station Merseyrail

Branding, 507001 (64367), ME 15.27 Southport-Hunts Cross (2U40, 5L), Southport station
On arrival at Southport, another pair of Class 507 units were waiting in the adjacent platform to work back to Liverpool. The rear unit of the 15.27 Southport to Hunt's Cross was celebrity set 507001 complete with this branding having been repainted into BR blue and grey. Despite not having air conditioning, the bin windows of the 507s open providing good ventilation. This is more than can be said of the air conditioning fitted to the 777s that is set too high and not within the control of the crew being set by CAF. Andy and I found the 777s extremely stuffy with no available fresh air.
Keywords: Branding 507001 64367 15.27 Southport-Hunts Cross 2U40 Southport station Merseyrail

507017 & 507001, ME 15.27 Southport-Hunts Cross (2U40, 5L) & 507029, ME 15.42 Southport-Hunts Cross (2U41, 2L), Southport station
The old order still prevails at Southport! To the left 507029 will work the 15.42 service to Hunts Cross whilst to the right 507017 and 507001 will soon leave working the 15.27 to Hunts Cross. Andy and I travelled aboard the 15.27 all the way back to Liverpool South Parkway to pick up the car and continue our journey north. This will almost certainly be my last journey on one of these venerable units that have been in operation from new around Merseyside for forty-three years now.
Keywords: 507017 507001 15.27 Southport-Hunts Cross 2U40 507029 15.42 Southport-Hunts Cross 2U41 Southport station Merseyrail

Andy, 507017, ME 15.27 Southport-Hunts Cross (2U40, 5L), Southport station
Andy is aboard Merseyrail's 507017 as it waits to leave Southport working the 2U40 15.27 service to Hunts Cross. We both travelled on this train as far as Liverpool South Parkway enjoying getting some miles in on what are now the oldest operation units on the national network (excluding the the TfL 1972/3 underground stock). We were advised that due to continuing problems with the Class 777 uints the Class 507s will be in service until the early autumn.
Keywords: Andy 507017 15.27 Southport-Hunts Cross 2U40 Southport station

507017, ME 15.27 Southport-Hunts Cross, (2U40, 5L), Liverpool South Parkway station
Our final trip on the Merseyrail network for the day waits to leave Liverpool South Parkway station. Andy and I had travelled on the 15.27 Southport to Hunts Cross service in unit 507017.
Keywords: 507017 15.27 Southport-Hunts Cross 2U40 Liverpool South Parkway station Merseyrail

507001, ME 15.27 Southport-Hunts Cross, (2U40, 5L), Liverpool South Parkway station
What will almost certainly be my last photograph of a Class 507 unit in operational service. Celebrity unit 507001 leaves Liverpool South Parkway as the 15.27 Southport to Hunts Cross. Andy and I had travelled almost the entire length of the Merseyrail Northern Line network on this train from Southport. It's a shame that the confined lighting does not reveal that this unit is painted in a reproduction of BR's blue and grey livery as it first appeared when it entered service back in 1978.
Keywords: 507001 15.27 Southport-Hunts Cross 2U40 Liverpool South Parkway station Merseyrail

397006, TP 20.12 Edinburgh Waverley-Manchester Airport (1M65, 10L), Carlisle station
After our curry at an establishment appropriately close to Carlisle station, we spent some time on the platforms before heading back to our accommodation. It was notable how much lighter it was at this time of the late evening that bit further north than we are used to in the south. Indeed, we were able to take photographs with no assistance from tripods or artificial lighting at past 22.00! Running a little late, 397006 is ready to leave Carlisle station working the 20.12 Edinburgh to Manchester Airport service.
Keywords: 397006 20.12 Edinburgh Waverley-Manchester Airport 1M65 Carlisle station Trans Pennine TPE Nova 2

390148, VT 16.39 London Euston-Edinburgh Waverley (9S93, 33L), Carlisle station
Running very late, as all services both north and south were, 390148 'Flying Scouseman' drifts into Carlisle station working Avanti's 16.39 Euston to Edinburgh Waverley service. This train did make up a little more time during the last part of its journey arriving a mere thirty-three minutes adrift!
Keywords: 390148 16.39 London Euston-Edinburgh Waverley 9S93 Carlisle station AWC AvantiWest Coast Flying Scouseman

156501 & 156462, SR 23.10 Carlisle-Dumfries (2L74, 4E), Carlisle station
156501 and 156462 sit at Carlisle's platform seven to work the 23.10 service to Dumfries later in the evening. I love photographing in these sorts of conditions that provide its own challenges making the user use the camera's function creatively. However, the Canon G1x, that is my normal 'go-to' camera had started to play up not writing the images to the card despite my trying an alternative one. It was a good job that I had by 5D Mk. II with me as a backup!
Keywords: 156501 156462 23.10 Carlisle-Dumfries 2L74 Carlisle station ScotRail

Andy & 156462, SR 23.10 Carlisle-Dumfries (2L74, 4E), Carlisle station
Andy looks to be very excited at the prospect of a day's traversing the Cumbrian Coast line the following day! I doubt that it is 156462 working the 2L74 23.10 service to Dumfries that is causing him to throw his hands in the air! Notice the Grade 1 listed western tower of Calisle's impressive citadel that was originally commissioned by Henry VIII even though the towers were both rebuilt by Thomas Telford and Sir Robert Smirke in 1822.
Keywords: Andy 156462 23.10 Carlisle-Dumfries 2L74 Carlisle station ScotRail

90003 & 90011, 19.36 Coatbridge FLT-Crewe Basford Hall (4M86, 3E), Carlisle station
It's ten minutes to ten on the day before the longest day so a reasonable photograph can still be taken of a moving train here at Carlisle. Unfortunately, the 4M86 19.36 Coatbridge to Basford Hall caught me unawares so the framing of both 90003 and 90011 is not perfect between the canopy supports.
Keywords: 90003 & 90011, 19.36 Coatbridge FLT-Basford Hall (4M86, 3E), Carlisle station

Merseyrail Day Saver ticket
Our on-line pre-purchased Merseyrail Day Saver tickets are seen. Despite having a QR code it could not be used to access stations and trains with the rather moth-eaten A4 paper ticket having to be shown to gate staff and travelling inspectors. I have been extremely critical of Merseyrail in the past with their over-bearing approach but credit where it's due; at just over £10 for both of us, this ranger ticket represents terrific value for money.
Keywords: Merseyrail Day Saver ticket

Images 1-23 of 23 displayed.