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Class 507 preservation society.

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WirralLine

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Bertie the bus said:
As Litchurch Lane is an operational industrial site presumably the majority of the preservation society will not be allowed access so let me get my crystal ball out... The people funding it will soon start questioning why they are paying so a small, select group group can have a play thing and it will soon get shipped out to some God forsaken site in the wilderness. Exactly the same as 313201.
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The group has regular "work parties" were members can volunteer to go and help out with cleaning or whatever they can within their skill range. I went down a few months ago thinking I would be a spare part not allowed to do anything useful having no experience working in train maintenance whatsoever. I got asked a little bit about background, experience etc, had to sit an induction with Alstom and pass a small test to be authorised in the workshop (due to overhead lines, moving trains etc) and ended up getting involved with all sorts of jobs I never expected to be doing.

Properly got my hands dirty and it was thoroughly enjoyable!
 
Sun Chariot

Sun Chariot

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WirralLine said:
The group has regular "work parties" were members can volunteer to go and help out with cleaning or whatever they can within their skill range. I went down a few months ago thinking I would be a spare part not allowed to do anything useful having no experience working in train maintenance whatsoever. I got asked a little bit about background, experience etc, had to sit an induction with Alstom and pass a small test to be authorised in the workshop (due to overhead lines, moving trains etc) and ended up getting involved with all sorts of jobs I never expected to be doing.

Properly got my hands dirty and it was thoroughly enjoyable!
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What.fabulous insight - thanks for sharing - and an excellent collaborative approach by Alstom et al.
 
Class777

Class777

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The Society had a great member only event today. It was a very nice event and a honour to see 001 again after seeing its final service on the railtour.
 

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8J

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An open day for members, pretty much exactly what Bertie The Bus said would not happen.

Well done to the 507PS for organising and Alstom for facilitating this.
 
Grumpy Git

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Not sure if I'm allowed to post this here, but I took this photograph completely by chance on Christmas Eve 2023 whilst having a quick stroll 'round the block'.

A resplendant 507 001 at Cressington en-route to Southport @ 15.41.

20231224_154146.jpg
 
M28361M

M28361M

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Hope it's OK to reanimate this old thread, but the preservation society has today shared footage of 507001 working without a third rail, powered entirely by batteries.


And an announcement on the society's website with some more information: https://www.class507.org.uk/2026/09/batteries-included-507001-overpowers-its-third-rail-limitation/
507001 successfully ran under its own power, without a third rail, in tests at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane works in Derby, paving the way for future operation on a heritage railway. This feat has been made possible thanks to the fitment of batteries inside the train’s driving cars. These batteries can power the train’s traction motors and compressor (which supplies air to the brakes), removing the need for a third rail power supply. This modification means the train can run under its own power on unelectrified railways, including the many heritage lines across the country.

On the afternoon of 1st September, the three-car train completed several test runs on the works’ internal railway lines. Over the course of three hours, it travelled a distance of 2.8 miles at speeds of up to 8 mph, all on a single charge.

These low-speed test runs are just the beginning of the battery journey. The next stage will involve designing structural modifications to 507001 to permit higher-capacity batteries to be fitted to the underframe, keeping all three cars available for passenger use. Initial modelling suggests that speeds of up to 25 mph will be possible, suitable for operation on most heritage railways.
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From the pictures on the website, it looks like the batteries are mounted inside the coaches in the vestibules. Obviously not suitable for passenger use, but it has proved that it is technically possible.
 
8

8J

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M28361M said:
Hope it's OK to reanimate this old thread, but the preservation society has today shared footage of 507001 working without a third rail, powered entirely by batteries.


And an announcement on the society's website with some more information: https://www.class507.org.uk/2026/09/batteries-included-507001-overpowers-its-third-rail-limitation/

From the pictures on the website, it looks like the batteries are mounted inside the coaches in the vestibules. Obviously not suitable for passenger use, but it has proved that it is technically possible.
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This is a really interesting project - credit to all at the 507 Preservation Society - they have proven many people wrong. I believe the plan is to obtain more powerful (but expensive) batteries and mount them underneath the centre trailer vehicle, thus enabling passengers to use the saloon as normal. Obviously they'd have to strengthen the vehicle to accommodate this, but the principle of running an preserved EMU is actually interesting.

This unit has a number of advantages over other trains that run on heritage railways. No requirement for locos to run around, safer air operated doors, comfortable 2-2 seating, wheelchair and bicycle areas at each end of the train and it has the historical, royal connection. There is also potentially massive cost savings with the ever increasing cost of coal and diesel. I really hope that this unit finds a good home on an operational railway soon. I'd happily travel to see and ride onboard it.
 
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50002Superb

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There’s been a decent of commentary stating that there’s little to no point preserving EMUs but I think this takes a huge leap forward in proving that wrong.

A fantastic achievement, colour me impressed.
 
tumbles

tumbles

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50002Superb said:
There’s been a decent of commentary stating that there’s little to no point preserving EMUs but I think this takes a huge leap forward in proving that wrong.

A fantastic achievement, colour me impressed.
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Agreed this could potentially make it much more attractive to preserved lines to take on EMUs. Would love to see this tech implemented into something like the 4DD or 2BIL (not sure the NRM would allow such modifications..)
 
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