Liverpool: Man buys 1970s train for £1 to save it from scrap

liverpool:-man-buys-1970s-train-for-1-to-save-it-from-scrap
Liverpool: Man buys 1970s train for £1 to save it from scrap

A train aficionado has purchased a 1970s Merseyrail Class 507 train for just £1 with a view to preserving it for future generations. Robert Hampton, 41, plans to raise £10,000 to have the train relocated to a museum. This was in a bid to “save piece of Merseyside’s history,” according to Hampton, who fondly remembers trips he used to take on the old Merseyrail trains.

The Class 507 trains, which were initially introduced in 1978, are currently being replaced by the new Class 777 fleet. Meanwhile, “The Class 507 trains are our trains,” Mr. Hampton said. “Lots of trains work all across the country but the 507… has only ever worked on the Merseyrail network.” He explained that the fleet had become something of a celebrity among train enthusiasts, due to its vibrant character which, he added, was typical of 1970s technology and is a clear representative of its time.

Hampton’s train is the first in the 507 fleet, the 507001, which has a special place in railway history. Not only is it the oldest still in service but it has also served as a Royal Train, allowing Queen Elizabeth II herself to experience the unique Merseyrail ride, on 25 October 1978, where she unveiled a plaque at Moorfields station to open the Merseyrail network before travelling on 507 001 to Kirkby. The vehicle has recently been restored to British Rail blue and grey livery to commemorate its long service.

Before he could buy the train, Mr Hampton established The Class 507 Preservation Society and brokered a deal with Angel trains who agreed to his offer of £1 to take ownership of the vehicle. However, his £10,000 target is to transport the machine along the road to its new home at the Tanat Valley Railway located in north-west Shropshire. He has launched a crowdfunding campaign., and during that, he hoped the train could become an educational exhibit. Meanwhile, Mark Hignett, from the Nant Mawr visitor centre, expressed delight that a train that once carried Elizabeth II is coming to Nant Mawr. “We look forward to hosting this very special train,” he said

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