Stabled at Southport
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.
A row of Merseyrail Class 507/508s wait in Platform 1 of Southport station for their next duties.
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.
The Class 508 EMUs were also built in York at a similar time - between 1979 and 1980. They are very similar in design and were also intended to work on the Merseyrail network from new. However, stock shortages in the Southern Region meant they were diverted down South to work out of Wimbledon depot and did not move to Merseyside until 1982-1984. They were originally built as four-car units, but the sets moved to the Northwest were reduced to three-car, as the Merseyrail network is designed to deal with six-car trains as a maximum.
At 40+ years old, the 507s and 508s are some of the oldest units left in service. They are to be replaced by the new Class 777 due to enter service in 2020-21.
Stabled at Southport
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.
A row of Merseyrail Class 507/508s wait in Platform 1 of Southport station for their next duties.
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.
The Class 508 EMUs were also built in York at a similar time - between 1979 and 1980. They are very similar in design and were also intended to work on the Merseyrail network from new. However, stock shortages in the Southern Region meant they were diverted down South to work out of Wimbledon depot and did not move to Merseyside until 1982-1984. They were originally built as four-car units, but the sets moved to the Northwest were reduced to three-car, as the Merseyrail network is designed to deal with six-car trains as a maximum.
At 40+ years old, the 507s and 508s are some of the oldest units left in service. They are to be replaced by the new Class 777 due to enter service in 2020-21.