I had a day trip down to Southport and Ormskirk on 28th June to sample some of the class 507's and 508's before they are withdrawn.   With the expected entry into service for the 777's being soon (the 777's have just begun test runs / driver training), the days are numbered for the 41/42 year old PEP units.   With test running of the 777s having begun and having found out about 2 trailers from a pair of 508/2s being visible at Birkenhead, I decided to return and travel across to Birkenhead and then back over towards Southport via Kirkdale to catch more 507s and 508s as well as some 777s both on depot and 777010 out on a test / training run.

The Class 507 / 508

The Class 507 and Class 508 units are part of the PEP family of units which were built in the late 1970's and run off the third rail at 750v DC only as opposed to the Class 313 which is/was dual voltage and Class 314 and 315 which was/are powered from the overhead line.   The units are very similar to the much missed class 314s that we were so used to seeing on the Cathcart Circle as you'll no doubt have guessed!

The exterior of both the 507/508 is broadly similar to the rest of the PEP family, the main differences in comparison to some of the other classes are:

• The cab ends have newer style of lighting clusters, which also includes LED lighting
• The bogies on the DMSO vehicles have collector shoes for 3rd rail operation
• The central Trailer vehicle has a different window layout from the 314 and 315, which have an additional small window below the pantograph well.
• The 507 has a different type of compressor, possibly an older style from the class 508

The interior has been completely modernised with high backed seating, new ceilings and lighting, public information displays, CCTV and modernised entrance vestibules.

Built in 1978-80, the class 507 units have spent their entire lives on the Merseyrail network and mostly remain intact, with 32 units out of the original 33 built still in existance and 31 of the fleet remain in service today.  

507022 was withdrawn following a collision with 507004 in 1991, with vehicle 64388 from 022 replacing one of the Driving motor vehicles in 507004 and vehicle 64426 being converted from DC to AC operation and assuming the identity of 64588 and replacing the same vehicle in set 314203, which was destroyed in the Newton train crash in 1991.

More recently in March 2021, 507006 was written off after it overran the buffers and derailed at Kirkby. As the units are fast nearing the end of their operational lives, repairs won't be forthcoming and the unit will most likely be heading for scrap soon.

The 508 was built between 1979-80 and of the original 43 built, 25 are still in use with Merseyrail.   The 508 is identical to the 507, and initially worked in the Southern region before heading to Merseyside. The 508 was 4 car variation of the class 507, however before moving to Merseyside one of the TSO vehicles from each set (numbers 71526-71568) were removed and reused to increase the newly delivered class 455 up to 4 car sets, making the class 508 identical to the 507. To make it easier to identify the two classes, 508001-508043 were renumbered to 508101-508143.  

Following a reduction in capacity, on services during the 1990's, 12 class 508's were sent southwards to work on some Connex South Eastern services out of Gillingham Depot. 508101, 105, 106, 107, 109, 113, 116, 119, 121, 129, 132 and 133 became 508201-212 and remained in service until 2006. Of this batch, vehicles 64664 and 64707 from 508207 have found further use as barrier vehicles for Arlington Fleet Services, vehicles 64649 from 508201 and 64712 from 508209 as training vehicles for Emergency Services Training Centre in Birkenhead and 508212 is used at Fire Services Training College at Moreton-in-Marsh, the remainder of the sets were scrapped around 2013. 508118 was scrapped after an arson attack at Birkenhead depot during the 2000's.

A further 3 class 508s would transfer to Silverlink and find work on the Watford DC lines, assisting the Class 313s.  508102, 508135 and 508142 became 508301-303 and were scrapped in 2013.

This left 27 units with Merseyrail, however the decision was taken to withdraw and scrap 508110 and 508134 in 2020 rather than overhaul them, this left 25 units are still in service with Merseyrail.

Livery

The current livery carried by the 507 and 508 fleet is the 'Good Communications' livery, which is a half yellow background and half brushed metal background, with 6 different designs applied with each set having one yellow side and one brushed metal side.The passenger doors are white on the yellow sides and yellow on the brushed metal sides. There is Merseyrail 'M' branding on each of the passenger doors, as well as on the cab fronts. The livery is applied as a vinyl skin.

The exception to these liveries are 507002 which carries all over adverts for Liverpool John Moore University, with a white base for the advert and 508111, which carries 'The Beatles Story' all over advert with a blue base.

Routes

The 507 and 508 can be found on the following routes:

• Southport - Hunts Cross
• Ormskirk - Liverpool Central
• Kirkby - Liverpool Central
• Liverpool Lime Street - New Brighton
• Liverpool Lime Street - West Kirby
• Liverpool Lime Street - Ellesmere Port
• Liverpool Lime Street - Chester

Depots are found at Kirkdale and Birkenhead.

Fleet List

Class 507

Class 508

Photo Locations

Before heading to Merseyside and Southport, I read and looked at the photographs in Martyn Hilbert's excellent book 'Merseyrail Electrics' I decided to try out a few of the locations and stations seen in the book.

Southport Area

Southport	507002+508127 at SouthportWearing an advertising livery for Liverpool Hope University, 507002 is waiting to lead 508127 out of Southport with 2U24 13.27 service to Hunts Cross 28.6.21	Wearing an advertising livery for Liverpool Hope University, 507002 is waiting to lead 508127 out of Southport with 2U24 13.27 service to Hunts Cross 28.6.21
Birkdale	507024+508111 at BirkdaleMerseyrail liveried 507024+'The Beatles Story' advert liveried 508111 departs Birkdale with 2S19 12.16 Hunts Cross - Southport service 28.6.21	Merseyrail liveried 507024+'The Beatles Story' advert liveried 508111 departs Birkdale with 2S19 12.16 Hunts Cross - Southport service 28.6.21
Hillside Station Bridge	507023+508122 at HillsideMerseyrail liveried 507023+508122 depart Hillside with 2S17 11.36 Hunts Cross - Southport service 28.6.21	Merseyrail liveried 507023+508122 depart Hillside with 2S17 11.36 Hunts Cross - Southport service 28.6.21
Hillside	507012+507008 at Hillside507012+507008 depart Hillside with 2U21 12.27 Southport - Hunts Cross service 28.6.21	507012+507008 depart Hillside with 2U21 12.27 Southport - Hunts Cross service 28.6.21
Ainsdale	508114+507019 at AinsdaleMerseyrail liveried 508114+507019 depart Ainsdale with 2S16 11.16 Hunts Cross - Southport service 28.6.21	Merseyrail liveried 508114+507019 depart Ainsdale with 2S16 11.16 Hunts Cross - Southport service 28.6.21
Ainsdale Station Footbridge	507027+507001 at Ainsdale507027+507001 approach Ainsdale with 2U20 12.07 Southport - Hunts Cross service 28.6.21	507027+507001 approach Ainsdale with 2U20 12.07 Southport - Hunts Cross service 28.6.21
Ainsdale Station Footbridge	507002+508128 and 777010 at AinsdaleOld v New at Ainsdale as 507002 depart with 508128 heading north with 2S29 15.36 Hunts Cross - Southport service, while 777010 approaches with 5U06 16.22 Southport - Sandhills training run 19.7.21	Old v New at Ainsdale as 507002 depart with 508128 heading north with 2S29 15.36 Hunts Cross - Southport service, while 777010 approaches with 5U06 16.22 Southport - Sandhills training run 19.7.21
Ainsdale Station Level Crossing	507027+507001 at Ainsdale507027+507001 pause at Ainsdale with 2U20 12.07 Southport - Hunts Cross service 28.6.21	507027+507001 pause at Ainsdale with 2U20 12.07 Southport - Hunts Cross service 28.6.21

Ormskirk

Ormskirk is about 8 miles and a 20 minute drive from Southport. Ormskirk looks like quite a nice market town and has a one platformed station split in 2, with the northern portion being for the hourly DMU to Preston and the southern portion being the 3rd rail Merseyrail platform. The platform is ample for a 3 car unit but is very tight for a 6 car, making photoing impossible from the southern end of the platform or the road bridge when a 6 car unit is in the platform.  

Station Platform	508103 at OrmskirkMerseyrail liveried 508103 awaits departure from Ormskirk with 2G45 14.08 service to Liverpool Central 28.6.21	Merseyrail liveried 508103 awaits departure from Ormskirk with 2G45 14.08 service to Liverpool Central 28.6.21
Station Platform	508124 at OrmskirkMerseyrail liveried 508124 awaits departure from Ormskirk with 2G46 14.28 service to Liverpool Central 28.6.21	Merseyrail liveried 508124 awaits departure from Ormskirk with 2G46 14.28 service to Liverpool Central 28.6.21
Road Bridge	508103 at OrmskirkMerseyrail liveried 508103 awaits departure from Ormskirk with 2G45 14.08 service to Liverpool Central 28.6.21	Merseyrail liveried 508103 awaits departure from Ormskirk with 2G45 14.08 service to Liverpool Central 28.6.21

Kirkdale and Kirkdale TMD

From Bridge	507006 at Kirkdale TMDAccident damaged 507006 is seen at Kirkdale TMD awaiting scrapping. 19.7.21	Accident damaged 507006 is seen at Kirkdale TMD awaiting scrapping. 19.7.21
Station	508103 and 508130 at Kirkdale508103 arrives with 2O21 13.00 Liverpool Central - Ormskirk while 508130 pauses at Kirkdale with 2G82 12.58 Kirkby - Liverpool Central service 19.7.21	508103 arrives with 2O21 13.00 Liverpool Central - Ormskirk while 508130 pauses at Kirkdale with 2G82 12.58 Kirkby - Liverpool Central service 19.7.21
View to North of Station	508103 at Kirkdale508103 departs Kirkdale with 2O21 13.00 Liverpool Central - Ormskirk 19.7.21	508103 departs Kirkdale with 2O21 13.00 Liverpool Central - Ormskirk 19.7.21
View of TMD	777s at Kirkdale Depot4 unidentified 777s are seen stabled at Kirkdale TMD 19.7.21	777001,002, 012, 004 and 006 are seen stabled at Kirkdale TMD 19.7.21

Birkenhead North and TMD

Roadbridge to North of Station	230008 at Birkenhead North TMDTfW liveried 230008 is seen stabled in the yard at Birkenhead North TMD 19.7.21	TfW liveried 230008 is seen stabled in the yard at Birkenhead North TMD 19.7.21
Platform 3	507020 and 507014 at Birkenhead North507020 pauses at Birkenhead North with 2N18 11.36 New Brighton - New Brighton via Central Liverpool service while 507014 awaits departure with 2W18 11.59 West Kirby - West Kirby via Central Liverpool 19.7.21	507020 pauses at Birkenhead North with 2N18 11.36 New Brighton - New Brighton via Central Liverpool service while 507014 awaits departure with 2W18 11.59 West Kirby - West Kirby via Central Liverpool 19.7.21
From Footbridge looking north	507029 at Birkenhead North507029 prepares to depart Birkenhead North with 2W17 11.38 West Kirby - West Kirby via Central Liverpool 21.7.21	507029 prepares to depart Birkenhead North with 2W17 11.38 West Kirby - West Kirby via Central Liverpool 21.7.21
From footbridge looking south	508139 at Birkenhead North508139 pauses at Birkenhead North with 2W19 12.19 West Kirby - West Kirby via Central Liverpool service 19.7.21	508139 pauses at Birkenhead North with 2W19 12.19 West Kirby - West Kirby via Central Liverpool service 19.7.21

Emergency Services Training Centre

From Public  Road

508201 and 508209 at BirkenheadHeavily vandalised All over yellow with white doors liveried vehicle 64649 from 508201 and 64712 from 508209 are seen at the Emergency Services Training Centre in Birkenhead 19.7.21 (Photo taken from a public road)

Heavily vandalised All over yellow with white doors liveried vehicle 64649 from 508201 and 64712 from 508209 are seen at the Emergency Services Training Centre in Birkenhead 19.7.21 (Photo taken from a public road)