Ticket to Merseyside, 13th July 2023 (for unit list, see comments)

There were 5 objectives for todays trip, as you'll find out when you read the endlessly long description. The chief one was to try to grab 507 005 and 508 127 for haulage as these are the next units earmarked for withdrawal in late July. (507 009/508 138 are due to follow in early August and 507 026/508 126 in late August according to reports).
Timestamps, as always, to relieve fatigue!
0:00:01 - Yep, we've already had an ad hoc change as on my train in to Liverpool I'd seen large logo liveried 56 098 in sidings at Edge Hill, so double back to Wavertree to catch it properly! 802 216 passes through before unique-ish 319 372 (which has lost most of its internal uniqueness, however still check out the Thameslink era blue doors!) arrives to take us into town for a second try
0:01:02 - Onto the Underground with one of our objectives up on the board - a train to Hoylake where West Kirby line trains were terminating until July 25th due to the Open Golf tournament. 507 031 departs then get onboard still masked up 508 131. Several units outside Birkenhead North include Beatles liveried 508 111.
0:08:56 - Open alterations well on display at Hoylake. Thats why trains terminate here! See a couple of Happy Als ex Metroline Enviros on rail replacement duties then 508 131 returns to Liverpool (rare crossover action noted!) 117 then arrives for the next train that we catch to Hamilton Square
0:18:57 - Happily the very next arrival was soon-to-go 507 005 so we travel to James Street, watch it leave then join 507 032 onwards to Moorfields
0:21:51 - Up to the Northern Line and 777 007 leaves for Central. We board the following 508 136 to get ready for our next objective - the short one unit diagram operating truncated Liverpool-Fazakerley services (with a really easy to remember 45 minute frequency) whilst Headbolt Lane works reach their culmination. Happily 508 128 turns up for this service so we have a trip all the way out, passing battery 777 146 on test at Sandhills, the new order for Kirkby line trains. Returning to Kirkdale can just glimpse Eurovison liveried 777 013 in the sidings.
0:33:17 - The new units making their presence felt at Kirkdale. 777 009 heads to Ormskirk whilst we join 014 down to Sandhills. We decamp for 508 138 to continue into town and see some Northern Line departures (plus someone who can't quite find the exit!) before heading down to the Wirral again and eventually ending up at Rock Ferry.
0:42:06 - An interlude at Rock Ferry before heading back to James Street and actually calling at Green Lane! (More are doing this now, but still not all). Some Wirral bound arrivals are seen
0:48:40 The little used platform 2 signal turning to yellow indicates another objective about to be realised with 507 015 and 023 forming the afternoon Birkenhead North-Kirkdale ECS journey using the connecting chord up to Central
0:50:36 - Completely by fluke as I get on the northbound platform at Moorfields, the next train through is the same ECS working having reversed at Central sidings! I then head up to Southport on 507 010 . Only 507 018 of the old order is in the sidings which is awaiting works attention. A few 777s are around though
0:53:51- Wandered down to see what we'd coupled to to find its only class doyen 507 001 helping to form the last 6 car southbound of the afternoon! So we jump back on to enjoy the jointed track loveliness between Formby and Hall Road
0:55:57 - Massively flukey that as I'm recording out the window as we come to the country bit there are 3 Chinooks over the fields in the middle of an exercise! They must have known I'd missed RIAT! The zooming experiment doesn't quite work but it was a very nice sight!
1:01:05 - Decided to alight at Hall Road as I'd worked out the next northbound should be the other imminent withdrawal candidate and sure enough a very busy 508 127 turns up that we head back to Formby on. We decamp again for jointed track loveliness part 2 (and to see if the Chinooks were about which they sadly weren't!) on 508 108 down to Hightown where I have a nice peaceful interlude and decide this may tie with Green Lane for being my favourite station - lovely shots to be had from the bridge in particular. We watch a 6 car head up to Southport then 508 125 arrives to take us down to South Parkway and the final objective
1:12:49 On the city line platforms 2 passing Pendolinos introduce the arrival of our last objective - the only loco hauled Trans Pennine trip into Liverpool, and soon to be withdrawn too at the end of July. 68022 Is the cat in question today with some nice memories of the journeys I've enjoyed behind this most rateable class in the past
1:13:56 - a proper Brucie Bonus! As we're stood admiring 68 022 at Lime Street, the NMT turns up with 43 290 and 277 providing the power! We have a wander along it
1:16:19 Back at Newton, 802 203 departs before that distant rumbling heralds 68 022 propelling the tpe set back to Longsight ECS.
All objectives acheived!!!

[@TheSugarDaddy1]

Met you today at Hooton

[@cjbirkett]

Cheers for subscribing mate, hope you have a good day out best wishes 👍

[@cjbirkett]

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/preserve-a-class-507-emu
please consider donating to hopefully secure a home for 507 001 after retirement from service

[@cjbirkett]

UNITS SEEN LIST FOR 13TH JULY
CHESTER SERVICES - 507 005, 009, 013, 020, 030 / 508 103
ELLESMERE PORT SERVICES - 507 014, 016, 031
NEW BRIGHTON SERVICES - 507 021, 028, 032
HOYLAKE SERVICES - 507 033 / 508 117, 131, 139, 141
SOUTHPORT/HUNTS X SERVICES - 507 001, 002, 007, 010, 011 / 508 104, 108, 114, 120, 124, 125, 127, 136, 137, 138
FAZAKERLEY SERVICE(!) - 508 128
ORMSKIRK SERVICES 777 001, 007, 009, 014
BIRKENHEAD NORTH - 230 010 / 507 015, 017, 023 / 508 111
KIRKDALE - 507 029 / 508 126 / 777 013
SANDHILLS - 777 146
SOUTHPORT SIDINGS - 507 018
OTHERS SEEN - 43 290, 277 / 56 098 / 68022
HAPPY ALS ENVIROS - SN12 EHS, SN62 AAV