Meccano Magazine, November 1956 : Liverpool Overhead Railway
The colourful front cover of the monthly issue of the popular Meccano Magazine, issued by the famous toy manufacturers who owned this product and the associated Hornby Trains and Dinky Toys - the Liverpool based Meccano Ltd. It shows a scene from their home city that even the article admits "soon the line may cease to run, and may even be demolished, for their is a crisis in its affairs".
There was indeed a crisis in that years of under-investment in repairs had led to the structural steelwork in this very American style "elevated" railway being in very poor condition and sadly closure came a month after this article and demolition of the line did occur the following year, the same year that the city's famous tram system also finally closed. It is often considered that the closure was a great loss to what is now a major tourist destination although the docks and harbour it ran alongside and served have to all intents and purpose also gone - although regeneration of much of banks of the River Mersey has and is, in places contentiously, occurring. As the article concludes "it will be a sorry day if the thrilling run along the Overhead with its unique views of shipping in the Docks or out on the Mersey, can no longer be enjoyed".
The cover, based on a photo by W S Garth of Tyldesley, Lancashire, depicts a train along with a signal head seen against the backdrop of three of the great buildings adjacent to Pier Head, the Mersey Tunnel ventilation shaft, part of the Cunard Building and the Liver Building.
Meccano Magazine, November 1956 : Liverpool Overhead Railway
The colourful front cover of the monthly issue of the popular Meccano Magazine, issued by the famous toy manufacturers who owned this product and the associated Hornby Trains and Dinky Toys - the Liverpool based Meccano Ltd. It shows a scene from their home city that even the article admits "soon the line may cease to run, and may even be demolished, for their is a crisis in its affairs".
There was indeed a crisis in that years of under-investment in repairs had led to the structural steelwork in this very American style "elevated" railway being in very poor condition and sadly closure came a month after this article and demolition of the line did occur the following year, the same year that the city's famous tram system also finally closed. It is often considered that the closure was a great loss to what is now a major tourist destination although the docks and harbour it ran alongside and served have to all intents and purpose also gone - although regeneration of much of banks of the River Mersey has and is, in places contentiously, occurring. As the article concludes "it will be a sorry day if the thrilling run along the Overhead with its unique views of shipping in the Docks or out on the Mersey, can no longer be enjoyed".
The cover, based on a photo by W S Garth of Tyldesley, Lancashire, depicts a train along with a signal head seen against the backdrop of three of the great buildings adjacent to Pier Head, the Mersey Tunnel ventilation shaft, part of the Cunard Building and the Liver Building.