On 3rd January Merseyrail's 508108 and 508114 were withdrawn from service.   The withdrawal of this pair of class 508s left 508104 as the final class 508 remaining in service.    Seen at Southport, 508104 came in working as 2S37 from Hunts Cross and departed as 2U44 to Hunts Cross.   104 was withdrawn a week later along with 507004.   Both units were hauled from Birkenhead North to Crewe South Junction awaiting further movement to Newport for scrapping on 5th February.

508104 at SouthportThe last class 508 standing, 508104, arrives into Southport with 2S37 15.06 service from Hunts Cross 4.1.24	508104 at SouthportThe last class 508 standing, 508104, is seen having arrived into Southport with 2S37 15.06 service from Hunts Cross 4.1.24
508104 at SouthportThe last class 508 standing, 508104, is seen having arrived into Southport with 2S37 15.06 service from Hunts Cross 4.1.24	508104 at BirkdaleThe last class 508 standing, 508104, is seen having arrived at Birkdale with 2U44 16.27 service from Souhport to Hunts Cross 4.1.24

The Bo'ness Diesel Gala took place on 29th December, with Colas Class 70s 70807 and 70813 the visiting locos and home fleet locos 37403 and 27001 operating the services.   47643 was on display in the Bay Platform and 37025 was used as a shunter. Here are a few photos from the Gala.

47643 at Bo'nessScotrail Intercity liveried 47643 is seen on display in the bay platform at Bo'ness 29.12.23	70807 at Bo'ness70807 is seen displayed on the bay platform at Bo'ness 29.12.23
37403 at Bo'nessBR Large Logo liveried 37403 is seen shunting from the yard to the platform at Bo'ness 29.12.23	614209, 27001 & 37403 at Bo'ness27001 heads down the run round line between 614209 and 37403 at Bo'ness 29.12.23
26038 and 20020 at Bo'nessBR blue liveried 26038 and 20020 are seen undergoing maintenance in Bo'ness TMD 29.12.23	614209 at Bo'nessA unit with an uncertain future, the driving motor 64599 from former hydrogen train 614209 is seen stabled in the yard at Bo'ness 29.12.23
70813 at Bo'nessColas liveried 70813 is seen departing the yard at Bo'ness 29.12.23	37403 at Bo'nessBR Blue liveried 37403 is seen at Bo'ness 29.12.23

Glasgow Subway's new 3rd Generation Stadler Subway units 306 and 302 are seen at Cessnock, Ibrox, Govan, Partick and Kelvinhall on 27th December.

Both units were in service until around 12.40pm with 306 on the front diagram and 302 behind. Both work on consecutive diagrams on the Outer circle at the moment in case of failure that the other unit can rescue the failed one.

The procedure for returning to depot appears to be that the first unit terminates at Govan, then returns wrong line back to the ramps to Broomloan Depot, whilst the 2nd unit terminates at Ibrox and heads straight to the ramps back to depot.

First impressions are that they are so much quieter than the Metro Cammell / Barclay stock, have smoother, faster accelleration and that the interior seems much brighter and more spacious!

306 at GovanOne of Glasgow Subway's brand new third Generation trains: Stadtler unit no 306, is seen at Govan with an Outer Circle service 27.12.23	306 interiorThe interior of Glasgow Subway's Stadtler unit 306 27.12.23
306 at PartickOne of Glasgow Subway's brand new third Generation trains: Stadtler unit no 306, is seen departing Partick with an Outer Circle service 27.12.23	306 at CessnockOne of Glasgow Subway's brand new third Generation trains: Stadtler unit no 306, is seen at Cessnock with an Outer Circle service 27.12.23
306 at IbroxOne of Glasgow Subway's brand new third Generation trains: Stadtler unit no 306, is seen departing Ibrox with an Outer Circle service 27.12.23	302 at IbroxOne of Glasgow Subway's brand new third Generation trains: Stadtler unit no 302, is seen at Ibrox with an Outer Circle service. 302 will terminate here and return to depot 27.12.23

I headed over to Edinburgh after work on 21st December to catch a couple of interesting workings at Edinburgh Waverley.  

First up was British Railways Green liveried 40013 'Andania' which departed heading southbound with 1Z36 16.53 Edinburgh - Leicester return leg of the 'The Edinburgh Christmas Statesman Railtour'

40013 at Edinburgh WaverleyBritish Railways Green liveried 40013 'Andania' awaits departure from Edinburgh with 1Z36 16.53 Edinburgh - Leicester return leg of the 'The Edinburgh Christmas Statesman Railtour' 21.12.23

Later on and West Coast Railways 47813 & 47848 top and tail a set of BR Blue / Grey Mark 2s as they prepare to depart with 1Z31 'Edinburgh Polar Express' working to Portobello Junction

47813 tnt 47848 at Edinburgh WaverleyWest Coast Railways 47813 & 47848 top and tail a set of BR Blue / Grey Mark 2s as they prepare to depart with 1Z31 'Edinburgh Polar Express' working to Portobello Junction 21.12.23

Up on Princes Street the trams are seen passing the Big Wheel and the Star Flyer at the Christmas Village

Before heading home, I saw Scotrail Inter7city HST power car 43028 awaits its next duty at Edinburgh Waverley with the Big Wheel, Star Flyer and Scott Monument on Princes Street lit up in the background

43028 at Edinburgh Waverleywith the Big Wheel, Star Flyer and Scott Monument on Princes Street lit up in the background, Scotrail Inter7city HST power car 43028 awaits its next duty at Edinburgh Waverley 21.12.23

Varamis Rail's newest addition to it's fleet, 321419, which has been converted to carry parcels instead of passengers, passes through Holytown with 1Z07 Mossend - Birmingham International parcels working 8.12.23

321419 at HolytownVaramis Rail's newest addition to it's fleet, 321419, which has been converted to carry parcels instead of passengers, passes through Holytown with 1Z07 Mossend - Birmingham International parcels working 8.12.23

507001 at Birkenhead NorthLooking absolutely stunning in BR Blue/Grey livery, Merseyrail's 507001 departs Birkenhead North with 2W28 West Kirby - West Kirby via Liverpool service 2.12.23 In late November 2023, Merseyrail unveiled 507001 in a modified version of the original BR Blue/Grey livery carried by the fleet when they first entered service in 1978. The livery has been modified with all Grey doors to meet PRM regulations.   The livery is also to commemorate the future withdrawal of the fleet during mid 2024.

On to the trip and on hearing the news of 001's relivery, I decided to drive down to Liverpool to get some photos while the unit was still clean!   On the day in question, 001 was in service on the West Kirby branch so it meant a drive through Liverpool and over to Birkenhead North for some photos!   Heavy traffic in Liverpool meant that the journey took longer than expected and that I didn't reach Birkenhead North station till 1pm (about an hour later than expected). 

Luckily I caught 507001 a few times passing through and 001 looked fantastic!   As well as 001, there was also the opportunity to photograph some of the class 508s, which were facing imminent withdrawal at the time and indeed at the time of writing have all been withdrawn and scrapped with 508136, one of the units photographed on the day, being withdrawn just a few days later.   

On 2nd December the units passing through Birkenhead North were:

• New Brighton line: 508131, 507030, 508120, 507004
• West Kirkby: 507018, 507001, 777018, 508104, 508136

Thanks to the failure of a class 777 operating on a Chester service on the Mersey Loop, there was chaos in Central Liverpool, with delays and early turn backs on some services to get back to time.  Unfortunately I received a notification on my phone whilst in Birkenhead that there was an amber weather warning for snow in Cumbria declared so I took the decision to call it a day around 3.30 after final photo of 507001 and head back up the road alot earlier than planned.   It was lucky I did as heavy snow around the M6 between Tebay and Shap almost led to me being stranded, lucky I had left when I did as 30 minutes later and I'd have never made it home to Lanarkshire!   Luckily I did though!

507001 at Birkenhead NorthLooking absolutely stunning in BR Blue/Grey livery, Merseyrail's 507001 pauses at Birkenhead North with 2W28 West Kirby - West Kirby via Liverpool service 2.12.23	777018 & 507001 at Birkenhead NorthNew and Old together at Birkenhead north as Merseyrail liveried 777018 pauses with 2W26 12.51 West Kirby - West Kirby service as BR Blue/Grey liveried 507001 pauses with 2W28 West Kirby - West Kirby service 2.12.23
507001 at Birkenhead NorthFreshly reliveried into a modern variation of BR Blue Grey livery, pioneering class 507: 507001 departs Birkenhead North with 2W23 12.06 West Kirkby - West Kirby via Liverpool loop service 2.12.23	50718 &507001 at Birkenhead NorthMerseyrail 'Good Communications' liveried 507018 & freshly reliveried back into a modern variation of BR Blue Grey livery: 507001 depart Birkenhead North with 2W25 & 2W23 12.36 & 12.06 West Kirkby - West Kirby via Liverpool loop services 2.12.23
508131 at Birkenhead NorthLiving on borrowed time with withdrawal of the remaining class 508s expected in the coming weeks, 508131, which still has the addition of facemasks to it's Merseyrail Good Communications livery, arrives at Birkenhead with 2N26 12.38 New Brighton - New Brighton via the Liverpool Loop service 2.12.23	508120 at Birkenhead NorthRetaining facemask vynals and living on borrowed time with withdrawal imminent in the coming weeks, Merseyrail 'Good Communications' liveried 508120 departs Birkenhead North with 2N27 12.53 New Brighton - New Brighton via Liverpool Loop service 2.12.23
508136 at Birkenhead NorthWith withdrawal only a matter of weeks away, Merseyrail Good Communications liveried 508136 pauses at Birkenhead North with 2W27 13.06 West Kirby - West Kirby via the Liverpool loop service 2.12.23	508104 at Birkenhead NorthWith only a short time left in service, soon to be withdrawn Merseyrail 'Good Communications' liveried 508104 departs Birkenhead North with 2W24 12.21 West Kirby - West Kirby service 2.12.23

43035 tnt 43147 at Bannockburn Station RoadScotrail Inter7city liveried HST power cars 43035 and 43147 top and tail a set of matching mark 3s past Bannockburn Station Road with 1H17 13.33 Edinburgh Waverley - Inverness service 25.11.23	40013 at Bannockburn Station RoadBritish Railways Green liveried D213 (40013) 'Andania', a late replacement for a poorly 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' passes Bannockburn Station Road with 1Z51 12.57 Dunfermilne City - Edinburgh Waverley Steam Dreams Forth Bridge Lunchtime Tour 25.11.23
385023+385038 at Bannockburn Station RoadScotrail Saltire liveried 385023+385038 pass Bannockburn Station Road with 2N43 13.49 Glasgow Queen Street - Alloa service 25.11.23	43285 tnt 43257 at Bannockburn Station RoadFormer Cross Country HST Power car 43285 and Former LNER Power Car 43257 top and tail the Network Rail PLPR Test Train northwards past Bannockburn Station Road with 1Q77 13.35 Mossend - Inverness Millburn working 25.11.23

• Scotrail Inter7city liveried HST power cars 43035 and 43147 top and tail a set of matching mark 3s past Bannockburn Station Road with 1H17 13.33 Edinburgh Waverley - Inverness service
• British Railways Green liveried D213 (40013) 'Andania', a late replacement for a poorly 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' passes Bannockburn Station Road with 1Z51 12.57 Dunfermilne City - Edinburgh Waverley Steam Dreams Forth Bridge Lunchtime
• Scotrail Saltire liveried 385023+385038 pass Bannockburn Station Road with 2N43 13.49 Glasgow Queen Street - Alloa service
• Former Cross Country HST Power car 43285 and Former LNER Power Car 43257 top and tail the Network Rail PLPR Test Train northwards past Bannockburn Station Road with 1Q77 13.35 Mossend - Inverness Millburn working

40013 at CulrossViewed from Culross Pier, British Railways Green liveried D213 (40013) 'Andania', a late replacement for a poorly 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' heads along the shoreline of the River Forth with 1Z51 12.57 Dunfermilne City - Edinburgh Waverley Steam Dreams Forth Bridge Lunchtime Tour 25.11.23

Viewed from Culross Pier, British Railways Green liveried D213 (40013) 'Andania', a late replacement for a poorly 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' heads along the shoreline of the River Forth with 1Z51 12.57 Dunfermilne City - Edinburgh Waverley Steam Dreams Forth Bridge Lunchtime Tour 25.11.23