About
1978 was a landmark year for Merseyside’s rail network. The Merseyrail underground, joining the regions disparate railway lines into a unified rapid transit system, was completed. As part of the upgrade, new rolling stock was procured to replace the life-expired 1940s-built trains on the Southport, Ormskirk and Kirkby lines.
The Class 507 was a further iteration of British Rail’s new standard design for electric multiple units, derived from the 1972 “PEP” prototype. The design eventually encompassed 5 classes of train, including the Class 313, 314, 315 and 508.
The first 507s were delivered to Merseyside in summer 1978. The first official duty for the new trains came on 25th Octboer 1978, when they carried Queen Elizabeth II from Moorfields to Kirkby on an official visit. The first passenger workings followed on 1st November 1978, with 507001 working on the Southport line and sister unit 507002 on the Ormskirk line.
A total of 33 class 507s were built. Along with their sister class 508 units, they provided sterling service on the Merseyrail network for over forty years. A refurbishment programme between 2003 and 2005 upgraded the trains to modern standards, providing high-backed seating and electronic customer information systems.
The introduction of the new class 777 units in 2023 spelled the beginning of the end for the venerable fleet. The first unit built, 507001, was restored to British Rail blue and grey livery, similar to that carried in 1978, to commemorate its long service. The remaining units were withdrawn by the end of November 2024, with two farewell tours running to commemorate the end of service.
Preservation
The Class 507 Preservation Society was founded in November 2023 by a group of rail enthusiasts who were keen to see an example of this class preserved for posterity. Our committee includes people from both inside and outside the railway industry, with a wealth of experience.
We identified blue and grey “celebrity” unit 507001 as the best candidate for preservation. This reflected the unit’s historic status as the first in service and the train that carried the Queen during her royal visit. From a practical point of view, 507001 was expected to be among the final units withdrawn in summer 2024 and therefore available to us at the right time.
The costs of transporting 507001 by road to its new home were expected to be considerable. So, in the summer of 2024, we launched our Crowdfunder, which was an unprecedented success, reaching its £10,000 target in less than four weeks.
On 23rd January 2025, 507001 left Birkenhead North depot for the first time. However, it did not go immediately to the TVLR, but rather to Derby Litchurch Lane works, at the invitation of the facility’s owner, Alstom.
In August 2025, 507001 was one of the many exhibits at “The Greatest Gathering”, a unique special event to be held at Litchurch Lane to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway.
In the long-term, we are exploring options for the unit to carry passengers in the absence of third rail power. This may include modifications to allow the unit to be hauled by a locomotive, or the fitting of traction batteries to allow the unit to move independently.
Whatever happens, 507001’s future is assured. We have an example of a train which served Merseyside with distinction for 46 years, conveying generations of Merseysiders to work, to school, to days out at the seaside, to nights out on the town.
Do you want to help out and preserve this Scouse railway icon? Join the Class 507 Preservation Society today!
Picture of 507001 at Ainsdale © Martyn Hilbert
