Work starts to restore £1 train ridden by royalty

Work has started to restore a train bought by enthusiasts for just £1.

The Class 507 Electric Multiple Unit, which spent its life on the Merseyrail network, carrying passengers from Liverpool to destinations including Southport, Chester and Ellesmere Port, was one of the oldest trains on the UK network when it was withdrawn from passenger service in November 2024.

Back in 1978 it carried Queen Elizabeth II when she officially opened the Merseyrail network.

The three-carriage train is now being restored by apprentices at Alstom in Derby ahead of its transfer to the Tanat Valley Light Railway in Shropshire.

The train was designed in Derby in the 1970s and built by British Rail at its workshop in York.

During its life it covered more than three million miles and in May it was purchased by a group of rail enthusiasts, led by Robert Hampton, chairman of the Class 507 Preservation Society.

Mr Hampton said he had travelled on the train and its classmates thousands of times and they were a key part of his childhood.

"It's really gratifying to see it here in Derby," he said.

"There were moments during the process when I feared that we wouldn't be able to get it done and get it preserved.

"It's wonderful to see it here, being looked after by the team at Alstom."

Tom Camps, from Alstom, will show apprentices how the train works and how it differs from the more modern trains they are accustomed to.

"I hope to give them a broader range of experience," he said.

"This is a dirty vehicle which has seen a lot of wear whereas at the moment the apprentices are working on brand-new vehicles which are pristine."

The apprentices will be joined by students at The University of Birmingham who will use the train for their research projects.

Prof Stuart Hillmansen believes it can provide a vital insight.

"Seeing an old train up first-hand gives them the chance to see how things work," he said.

"People had limited resources back when this was designed and when you have limited resources you have to be really innovative about how you design technology."

The Class 507 will remain in Derby until later in the summer and go on show as part of The Greatest Gathering exhibition in August.

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.