Another cringy video title, apologies - this was from the week before the Grand National 2024. Unusual to have two visIts so close together, but this week Southport trains were terminating at Hillside as 777 platform lengthening work continued so some rare crossover action was available.
I'm also always terrified every time they announce engineering work on the Southport line that it may result in the loss of jointed track loveliness southbound between Formby and Hall Road which so far thankfully hasn't happened. They are replacing the River Alt bridge sometime over Summer which is in the area, but I really hope it'll stay unaffected and remain in situ!
Additionally this trip resulted in my (as at July 2024) last ride on a 507 on the Chester line, 015 as well which was withdrawn the following month. Interestingly my last ride on one on the Ellesmere Port line was on 507 021 in February another unit set to be withdrawn soon so I'm aware i've been quite lucky with some of my trips.
A very unexpected sight was of 777 148 passing Birkenhead Park as we called there, only realized as it was half way though! No idea why it was on the Wirral, i presume for driver training or route learning, but was certainly a nice surprise
UNITS SEEN ON 4TH APRIL 2024
CHESTER SERVICES:- 507 015 / 777 002, 005, 014, 025
ELLESMERE PORT SERVICES: - 777 019, 032
NEW BRIGHTON SERVICES:- 507 007, 017, 028, 029
WEST KIRBY SERVICES:- 777 007, 008, 009, 018, 031
SOUTHPORT/HUNTS X SERVICES:- 507 001 and 003, 021, 033 / 777 006, 012, 022, 030, 034
KIRKBY SERVICES:- 777 140, 142, 146
ORMSKIRK SERVICES:- 777 001, 011 and 017, 023
MISCELLANEOUS SIGHTINGS:-
EDGE HILL:- 69 003
BIRKENHEAD NORTH DEPOT:- 507 010, 016, 023
WEST KIRBY SIDINGS:- 507 018
BIRKENHEAD PARK:- 777 148 (ECS to Kirkdale)
Come in timestamps, it's time to shine!
0:00:01 - We have a quick under-the-water to Hamilton Square on 507 028 for some comings and goings
0:06:24 - Joyfully, the next Chester service produces 507 015 so obviously take full advantage!
0:27:23 - Prise myselt back off 015 at Hamilton Square on the return and head over to platform 3 for the lovely sounding "flying arrow" 507 017 out to New Brighton
0:32:57 - Very unexpected catch of 777 148 on an ECS crossing us at Birkenhead Park. What's that doing on the WIrral?!? We also cross 507 028 at North and 010, 016, and 023 are on the shed there too. A nice double platform 507 occupation at New Brighton comes courtesy of 507 007 and 017, a very rare scene looking back now in Mid 2024
0:39:53 - Back at North and 507 017 heads to town. We timewarp to West Kirby to see 507 018 in the sidings then hot foot back to Birkenhead North and drop onto the flying arrow again heading for Liverpool Central
0:45:54 - Up on the Northern Line 507 021 heads to Hillside. We hang back and board the next train formed of 001 and 003 and a pleasingly uncrowded run follows. Terminating at Hillside we note the nice crossover action, and take in a random bus to boot
0:59:10 - One thing 777s do have in their favour is the deep windows enabling the aforementioned rare crossover action to actually be videoed succesfully. Oh, and you can charge the phone up too. Winner. We then pick up 507 021 at Bootle New Strand and are deposited this time at Ainsdale .
1:01:44 - Some footbridge action at Ainsdale and another random bus before jumping onto 507 033 back to Sandhills for many 777s
1:08:23 - 777 011and 017 roll in on an Ormskirk line 8 car service - the first I'll have travelled on - so we head into town.
1:13:50 - Some Wirral line boomeranging to finish the day - i think so I could catch 507 007 as well. 015 leaves, still on its Chester diagram and we board the following 029 out to Birkenhead Park. 007 then takes us back one stop to Conway Park, 028 bats us back to Park and lastly "flying arrow" 017 ends all this madness and returns us sensibly to Lime Street to end the day.