507021 meets Tech!
Before starting this report properly, I managed to get winner 507023 "Operations Inspector Stuart Mason" on one-off a trip over to New Brighton last week, with the unit on the outbound journey being a dud. So before the start of this day out, I needed sixteen Class 507s and ten Class 508s.
After arranging to meet up with Tech for his mission to get 507029 for haulage, I couldn't wait for the day to arrive where I'd finally get to meet another member of the forum. When it finally arrived, I was quickly out of bed and after a quick wash and a cup of tea, I was on my way to our agreed meeting point at Liverpool Lime Street. After a quick detour to get some food and buy my SaveAway, we met up as planned and grabbed a Costa (large hot chocolate for me!) before setting off for the day.
A dilemma immediately came up when 319378 (needed by Tech) appeared and 142057 (needed by myself) were both sat ready for their respective departures. A compromise was quickly reached, so we boarded the earlier departing 319378 (departed at 09:47 for Warrington Bank Quay) and rode that to Edge Hill, before alighting and boarding winner (for me) 142057 (coupled to dud for both 142012) a few minutes later. After we sat down on 142057, Lord Tech pointed out that it was my fiftieth Class 142 for haulage (confirmed after checking my records at home), not bad considering how long I've been recording! After leaving 142057 at South Parkway, we decide to head to Hunts Cross in the hope that we will catch the elusive (well, not for me anyway!) 507029. A six car set led by winner 507006 takes us to Hunts Cross, where after alighting I realise that the unit coupled to 507006 would be another winner for me, so we opt to board 508104 and head to Liverpool Central on the 10:33 from Hunts Cross.
After 507029 proved to remain elusive for Tech, we decide to head back down to Hunts Cross again, producing winner (for me) 508112, followed by another winner in the form of 507002 to Sandhills on the 12:06. After deciding what to do next, we decide to go to get Rainford for Tech to clear, so we board yet another winner for me 507016 "Merseyrail - celebrating the first ten years 2002-2013" (the longest name I've ever seen on a train that's for sure) to Rice Lane, where Tech gets some lunch from the McDonalds and I ate the pork pie that I bought in the morning. After that we headed up to Kirkby on winner for me 507013 (which made it seven winners in a row for me), where after a short wait we joined dud for me 142013 to Rainford on the 13:44 to Blackburn. After another short wait in Rainford we boarded winner for me 156464, which was by a country mile our favourite unit of the day, and definitely my favourite Northern (getting the hang of it already!) diesel multiple unit so far without any shadow of a doubt. It performed absolutely faultlessly, and the journey went far too quickly for our liking, especially as dud 507016 was waiting to take us to Sandhills to decide our next move. 156464 was that good, I decided to take a leaf out of Tech's book with his "Tech's Seal of Approval" and give it my own "021's Thumbs Up", the first unit to get one.
After letting a few units go, 508139 took us to Kirkdale. At the time, I thought it was a winner but after getting home and checking my other records it turns out I forgot to cross it off my list, so it was a dud after all. Never mind though, as winner for me 508123 produced to take us to Moorfields, after deciding to head back to Lime Street again, we board dud (for both!) 508131.
After deciding to see what was on the 15:27 Manchester Oxford Road stopper (before that however, we enjoyed a free sample of Crabbies which was really nice) I saw 142047 and 156483 which were both units I needed, however the decision was made for us as after going up to the platform Lord Tech spotted that they weren't coupled up (I was quite relieved, as I genuinely couldn't decide!), so we boarded winner (for me) 156483 and alighted at South Parkway (again!). We then decided to return to Lime Street and go to a Wetherspoons for a beer, and winner for me 185137 produces. One thing of note of this journey is that after using the toilet and washing my hands, I discovered that the hand dryer wasn't working. Not to worry, as we’re soon back at Lime Street and we headed to the Richard John Blackler. Lord Tech got himself a half pint of a beer I can't remember the name of, and I got myself a very refreshing half pint of Coors, which was much needed!
After discovering 507029 was definitely going to produce, and we still had time to make it before Lord Tech had to head home, we walked to Liverpool Central after finishing our half pints and patiently wait for 507029’s arrival. After a short wait, it produced as part of a six car formation (with 507006 at the front) on the slightly delayed 16:42 to Hunts Cross. Tech couldn't contain his excitement, but I think he'll agree it was definitely worth waiting for it and even though it was a dud for me, it was worth another ride in this case. It was our last train of the day, however it was certainly one to remember.
After parting company at Liverpool South Parkway (back here again!) I decided to go back to Lime Street and go on the Wirral Line to try and get a couple more winners before heading home. To take me there, 158806 and 158858 arrive from Norwich. I couldn't remember whether I needed any of these, so I took a gamble and board 158806 (it was the most unfamiliar out of the two), which proved to be the right choice as it was a winner, whereas 158858 was a dud. I decide to head to Chester again, seeing as last time I went it produced a winner on the way there. This again proved to be the case, with winner 507028 obliging on the 17:43. Upon getting there, I had a look around to see what was around. An unusual sight got my attention straight away, as I saw Coach A (just Coach A!) of 175003 coupled to 175004 (both of which are duds for me), which is certainly something I've never seen before.
Soon after, I watched Colas Rail's 60095 pass through the station hauling logs, and just a few minutes later 508115 arrived from Liverpool. Great, I get another winner, or not as it unfortunately turned out. After the passengers disembarked, 508115 left Chester empty. A shame, as the next train (the 19:00) was dud 508131 (again). Deciding to try and get another winner or two, I opted to alight at Hamilton Square and wait for something else to take me back to Liverpool. Dud 507010 arrived after I let another dud go, however I wasn't giving up there! I alighted 507010 at Moorfields and waited in the hope I’d get one last winner, and sure enough at 20:01 winner 507033 "Councillor Jack Spriggs" arrives from West Kirby as the reward for my patience, and it took me back around to James Street where I decided to head home, proving to be another good decision as I didn't have to wait for long for the bus!
One thing I'd like to add before I conclude this report is a big thanks to Tech for his excellent and much appreciated company, it was a thoroughly enjoyable day and I hope that we can meet again next time you’re on Merseyside!
Winner 507s: 6 (10 now required)
Winner 508s: 3 (7 now required)
Other winners: 5 (1x 142, 2x 156, 1x 158 and 1x 185)
Mileage: 114 miles, 2 chains.
Once again, thanks for reading. I'm away for my birthday this weekend, but hopefully I'll be back out trying to get some more Merseyrail (and possibly Northern) units in the not too distant future.