Target reached!
With an additional £5,000 we can buy a generator to power up the train's auxiliary s...
Preserve a Class 507 EMU
Oswestry, Shropshire, United Kingdom
Aim
Raise funds to move a Merseyrail Class 507 train by road to a new home in North West Shropshire, where it can be preserved for the future.
Since its introduction in 1978, the Merseyrail class 507 fleet has conveyed generations of Merseysiders — to work, to school, to days out at the seaside, to nights out on the town.
The introduction of the new class 777 units means that the venerable fleet — built by British Rail Engineering Limited at Holgate Road Works, York — will soon disappear. Several units have already been scrapped, and the rest will be gone within the next twelve months.
The Class 507 Preservation Society has been formed to preserve an example of the class to ensure that the class's contribution to the region's railway history is not forgotten.
The unit we have selected, 507001, has a special place in railway history. Not only is it the first of its class and thus the oldest still in service, but it also served as a Royal Train. On 25th October 1978, it carried Queen Elizabeth II on a special journey from Liverpool Moorfields to Kirkby. It has recently been restored to British Rail blue and grey livery to commemorate its long service, becoming something of a celebrity among rail enthusiasts.
Why we are fundraising
We have found a home at the Tanat Valley Railway in North West Shropshire. The current owners of 507001, Angel Trains, have agreed to transfer the unit to our ownership when it is withdrawn later this year. However, we must pay the costs of moving the unit by road to its new home. We have been quoted in the region of £10,000 for the road movement of three vehicles to the Tanat Valley Railway.
Once the unit is safely at Nant Mawr, we will keep it in good condition as a static exhibit. Although there is no third rail at Tanat, we wish to use the unit as hauled stock if possible. In the meantime, we will use a generator to power up the auxiliary systems from time to time, and a compressor to keep the air systems operational.
However, none of that will be possible if we don't raise the funds to move the train. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Important: Rules on Names
For the rewards which involve displaying people's names on the unit or online, the following rules apply:
- You can use your own real name
- You can also use someone else's name but they must give permission for their name to be used
- You can also dedicate to the memory of a deceased person, but that person's next of kin must give permission
- Nicknames may be acceptable provided they are not offensive.
- One person only. If you want to commemorate additional person(s), you will need to claim a second reward!
- No advertising messages
Final decision on acceptable names will rest with the C507PS committee.
Image of pin badge (for £20 reward):-
This project successfully funded on 29th June 2024