507001 arrives at Derby for the Greatest Gathering
Posted on 4th February 2025 at 9:35 pm
After two false starts, 507001 finally departed Birkenhead North EMU Depot on the morning of 23rd January to begin its new life in preservation.
001, still wearing the blue and grey “heritage” livery applied in November 2023 to commemorate its long service, was hauled with its classmate, 507029, to Newport Docks by class 37 locomotive 37884. This marked the final departure of 507s from the Merseyrail network after 46 years of service.
Rail enthusiasts were out in force along the route to capture the final journey of these stalwart units.
Passing through Pontypool & New Inn.
— Class 507 Preservation (@class507.org.uk) January 23, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Upon arrival at Unimetals Newport, 507001 was uncoupled from 507029 and the two units were shunted onto adjacent sidings to await very different fates. For 029, sadly, this was the end of its life, as it was expected to be scrapped within days of arrival.
507001, on the other hand, was met by members of the Class 507 Preservation Society to prepare it for the next phase of its journey: road haulage to Derby Litchurch Lane. Team 507 worked on Thursday afternoon to uncouple the unit ready to be loaded onto road vehicles the next day.
Due to photography restrictions on-site at Unimetals, we have no photos or videos of the loading process that we can share.
The Allelys team arrived on Friday morning and the loading of the three vehicles of 507001 was completed skilfully and efficiently, with the lorries departing at approximately 12.30pm. Members of Team 507 followed the unit on its journey, witnessing the unusual sight of a Merseyrail train, far from its traditional home, on a motorway.
Not every day you overtake a Merseyrail train on the M4 😄
— Class 507 Preservation (@class507.org.uk) January 24, 2025 at 1:41 PM
After staying over the weekend at the Allelys depot near Redditch, 001's journey continued on the morning of Monday 27th January. The unit arrived at Derby just after lunchtime and was unloaded safely onto the tracks at Litchurch Lane works.
Centre trailer of 507001 on the outskirts of Derby, 27th January 2025
The unit will stay at Litchurch Lane and, from 1st-3rd August, will be one of many trains featured at the Greatest Gathering, the largest temporary collection of trains and rail-related exhibits in a generation.
A launch day for the event took place on Thursday 30th January, where 507001 was on view alongside visiting locomotives Sir Nigel Gresley, British India Line and members of classes 37, 50, 57 and 69. Much attention was focused on a visiting Pendolino 390200 (named Railway 200 on the day) but 507001, now recoupled together, also attracted much interest. We welcomed members of the railway press, fellow preservationists, Alstom employees and some railway industry representatives on board.
507001 in Litchurch Lane works on the morning of 30th January 2025
Between now and August, Alstom will provide safe and secure storage for 507001 at its Litchurch Lane works.
The Greatest Gathering will take place from 1st to 3rd August 2025. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit alstom.com/greatest-gathering.
