Southport Selection
Back in early January 2019, I joined NIGHTSHIFTWORKER on a very enjoyable impromptu tour of the Northwest one evening. The aim was to capture some night shots of some of the multiple units that have unfalteringly served the region - and British public - for many years but are now facing the end of the line. The tour took in Preston and Southport with Class 142 "Pacers" and the Merseyrail Class 507/508s being the main targets. Class 319s also put in a guest appearance.
Northern Class 142, 142 042, waits to depart Southport with the 2J71 21:08 Southport to Manchester Victoria service, working in multi with an unidentified Class 150.
Alongside is Merseyrail Class 507, 507 032, which had arrived with the 2S57 19:51 Hunts Cross to Southport service and after a brief pause would form the 2U63 21:13 Southport to Hunts Cross working.
The Class 142 Pacers were built at BREL's Derby Litchurch Lane works between 1985 and 1987 - with 96 units built. Infamously a combination of a Leyland Bus body on a freight wagon chassis, the railbuses have been much maligned over the years. However, they have provided an invaluable "stop-gap" solution for regional commuter services for almost three decades. The Pacers do not meet new PRM laws coming in from 2020, so are now nearing the end of their service.
The Class 507 EMUs were built in York between 1978 and 1980. They were the second variety of British Rail's standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs derived from PEP (Prototype Electro-Phneumatic) stock and were the first variant to be DC Third Rail only. They have worked on the Merseyrail network since their introduction, but are to be replaced by the new Class 777 due to enter service in 2020-21. At 40+ years old, the 507s are some of the oldest units left in service.
Southport Selection
Back in early January 2019, I joined NIGHTSHIFTWORKER on a very enjoyable impromptu tour of the Northwest one evening. The aim was to capture some night shots of some of the multiple units that have unfalteringly served the region - and British public - for many years but are now facing the end of the line. The tour took in Preston and Southport with Class 142 "Pacers" and the Merseyrail Class 507/508s being the main targets. Class 319s also put in a guest appearance.
Northern Class 142, 142 042, waits to depart Southport with the 2J71 21:08 Southport to Manchester Victoria service, working in multi with an unidentified Class 150.
Alongside is Merseyrail Class 507, 507 032, which had arrived with the 2S57 19:51 Hunts Cross to Southport service and after a brief pause would form the 2U63 21:13 Southport to Hunts Cross working.
The Class 142 Pacers were built at BREL's Derby Litchurch Lane works between 1985 and 1987 - with 96 units built. Infamously a combination of a Leyland Bus body on a freight wagon chassis, the railbuses have been much maligned over the years. However, they have provided an invaluable "stop-gap" solution for regional commuter services for almost three decades. The Pacers do not meet new PRM laws coming in from 2020, so are now nearing the end of their service.
The Class 507 EMUs were built in York between 1978 and 1980. They were the second variety of British Rail's standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs derived from PEP (Prototype Electro-Phneumatic) stock and were the first variant to be DC Third Rail only. They have worked on the Merseyrail network since their introduction, but are to be replaced by the new Class 777 due to enter service in 2020-21. At 40+ years old, the 507s are some of the oldest units left in service.