Merseyside Trip Question

[46026]

My next trip is to Liverpool, wont have too long so was planning 2 hours at Sandhills for the Northern Lines but which is the best station for the Wirral Lines please. Will be looking at spending 2 hours there.
How are the staff with spotters? Will I need to let them know why I am there?
Many thanks in advance

 

[Djgr]

My next trip is to Liverpool, wont have too long so was planning 2 hours at Sandhills for the Northern Lines but which is the best station for the Wirral Lines please. Will be looking at spending 2 hours there.
How are the staff with spotters? Will I need to let them know why I am there?
Many thanks in advance

Unless you want to spend two hours underground then you have a choice of spending it on the New Brighton/West Kirby branch (I would choose Birkenhead North as it has a uncovered bridge over the platforms) or the Chester/Ellesmere Port branch-probably go for Birkenhead Central.

Alternatively you could go one stop further on to Bidston and also spot the TfW from Wrexham. This will also take you past Birkenhead North depot.

 

[46026]

Thank you, I completely forgot about Birkenhead Depot, last time I passed there was mid 1980s!

 

[TheSel]

You're very unlikely to have any hassle from staff, providing you're not doing anything you shouldn't. If anyone does query why you've been on the station for a while, just explain politely and you'll be fine.

Just one point to note about Sandhills, though - there will be a lot of 'Orange Jackets' around, and you might be seen as a bit of a nuisance if you're there when there's an event at the Hill Dickinson stadium. Space is at a premium - organised queueing outside the station etc. Probably best avoided at such times. Just check for dates of upcoming events here.

 

[46026]

Thanks for the info, I cant see anything for the 27th of this month so hopefully wont be too busy. Is 2hrs enough or not enough to see most of whats running on the Northern Lines?

 

[TheSel]

Thanks for the info, I cant see anything for the 27th of this month so hopefully wont be too busy. Is 2hrs enough or not enough to see most of whats running on the Northern Lines?

Yes - barring "incidents"!

4 battery sets (7771xx) on the Liverpool Central - Headbolt Lane service. Every 15 mins, so sequence repeats after an hour.

8 diagrams (generally single 7770xx, but you might find a battery set being used on one or two) on the Ormskirk - Hunts Cross service. Every 15 mins, so sequence repeats after two hours.

8 diagrams (mix of single and double 7770xx - very occasionally a 7771xx) on the Liverpool Central - Southport service. Every 15 mins, so again, sequence repeats after two hours.

... and of course, as you're part way along the route, you'd actually see each unit twice in that one or two hour sequence - once inbound, once outbound.


... oh, and an afterthought - if you jump on an Ormskirk or Headbolt Lane service out of Sandhills, you'll pass Kirkdale depot on your left, where there's usually a handful of spare (or demic!) sets hanging around.

 

[46026]

Yes - barring "incidents"!

4 battery sets (7771xx) on the Liverpool Central - Headbolt Lane service. Every 15 mins, so sequence repeats after an hour.

8 diagrams (generally single 7770xx, but you might find a battery set being used on one or two) on the Ormskirk - Hunts Cross service. Every 15 mins, so sequence repeats after two hours.

8 diagrams (mix of single and double 7770xx - very occasionally a 7771xx) on the Liverpool Central - Southport service. Every 15 mins, so again, sequence repeats after two hours.

... and of course, as you're part way along the route, you'd actually see each unit twice in that one or two hour sequence - once inbound, once outbound.


... oh, and an afterthought - if you jump on an Ormskirk or Headbolt Lane service out of Sandhills, you'll pass Kirkdale depot on your left, where there's usually a handful of spare (or demic!) sets hanging around.

Thank you so much for this, it will help a lot in my planning.

 

[Bevan Price]

Yes - barring "incidents"!

4 battery sets (7771xx) on the Liverpool Central - Headbolt Lane service. Every 15 mins, so sequence repeats after an hour.

8 diagrams (generally single 7770xx, but you might find a battery set being used on one or two) on the Ormskirk - Hunts Cross service. Every 15 mins, so sequence repeats after two hours.

8 diagrams (mix of single and double 7770xx - very occasionally a 7771xx) on the Liverpool Central - Southport service. Every 15 mins, so again, sequence repeats after two hours.

... and of course, as you're part way along the route, you'd actually see each unit twice in that one or two hour sequence - once inbound, once outbound.


... oh, and an afterthought - if you jump on an Ormskirk or Headbolt Lane service out of Sandhills, you'll pass Kirkdale depot on your left, where there's usually a handful of spare (or demic!) sets hanging around.

You may need binoculars or telephoto lens if you want to identify unit numbers on Kirkdale depot. Occasionally, there may also be a unit parked at New Brighton or West Kirby station, and other units parked at Southport. Getting a Merseytravel Saveaway, or a Merseyrail day ticket might be useful - and less boring than sitting at just one or two stations. Providing you behave sensibly, you should have no problems with staff - so keep away from platform edges, and do not use tripods in busy areas. And no "flash" on cameras. .

 

[1D54]

I've spent a good few hours at Sandhills, there are seats in a good position at the Liverpool end of the station and nobody bothers you. Locals and staff alike are well used to enthusiasts. I purposely did a couple of hours once when there was an event at the nearby stadium and more units were in operation with no problems at all... Enjoy.

 

[46026]

Thank you both for the info, we have already been told about the excellent value Saveaway ticket and plan to purchase this, the info on Kirkdale depot is handy to know.
Will come back at the end of the month and let you know how the trip went.