Our tour began with a short run to Nantwich P2, for a pick up, quick photo and reversal, before heading back to Crewe over the little used Crewe end trailing crossover. Hopefully nobody missed the train with the 2¾ min early departure! [We knew who was joining - Ed.] Back at Crewe within half an hour of setting off, the Up & Down Loop between P11 and P12 was taken to Crewe Coal Yard to await an Avanti West Coast service, this being the first day of the new operator on the WCML. Crossing Down Slow to Fast (158m 73ch) it was off north towards Warrington.

There was more platform avoiding at Warrington, using the Down Slow line on the west side of Bank Quay station, and onwards to Earlestown. Good running had the tour arriving somewhat early, so the booked pick up also turned into another photo-stop. One issue though was that, with six vehicles, the tour was off the end of the platform at both ends! Also the rear was still blocking Earlestown South Jn, so a short shuffle forward was needed to clear this while we waited for time - some on Earlestown P3 missing out on some Class 47 haulage in the process... [Tut tut - all offenders deduct 2ch penalty!]

Departing right-time, it was west towards Liverpool, through the revised Huyton and Roby (Fast Line) layout then Olive Mount Chord onto the Bootle branch, through the Liverpool suburbs and Bootle Jn where the tour joined the Merseyrail electric network. Alongside is the former Aintree single track 'North Mersey Branch' line which is well out of use. The section lifted on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal underbridge for the 18-22 Feb 2019 redecking has not been replaced. It runs parallel for a while and diverges away as we came to a stand, beyond and clear of Marsh Lane Crossover (3m 52ch).

After a unit to Hunts Cross had passed, our tour reversed and followed the unit to Sandhills into the centre Reversing Siding south of the platforms. Using it as described, it was off to Ormskirk, with a quick glance at Kirkdale Depot on the way past - a closer look shortly. Given that we'd caught up with the previous Ormskirk train, a decision was made for a short stop at Maghull North (OP 18 Jun 2018) -more photos in the winter sun, before finally arriving at Ormskirk. More photos here, but given the number of passengers and interested locals on the narrow platform, competition winners are unlikely!

Retracing our tracks south to Walton Jn, the Bootle Brush then headed onto Kirkdale Depot, slowly reaching the end of Road 22. It was done on a previous Society Merseyrail trip, but the view is now somewhat different - the carriage shed covering Roads 22 to 25 has gone as part of works to prepare the depot for the arrival of the new Stadler Class 777 EMUs which will replace the Class 507s and 508s.

Back north again to Walton Jn, this time to Kirkby then, with a quick turnaround, it was back past the depot and our second visit of the day to Sandhills Reversing Siding. This was originally temporary for DMUs from the Wigan Wallgate line to reverse in ECS as they were not allowed in the new tunnels, so were to terminate at Sandhills when Liverpool Exchange terminus closed from Sat 30 Apr 1977 with the opening of Moorfields from Mon 2 May 1977. However the DMU service actually terminated at Kirkby from that date with third rail electrification onward. (The third rail was once planned to reach Wigan Wallgate.) From Sandhills Reversing Siding our train had a straightforward run along the coast to Southport P3, for the Wigan line connection, and a break. The MtoGo ticket office and shop 'Costa' machine was doing free hot drinks all day so a queue of tour participants formed as word spread...

After a chance for a leg stretch, food and station facilities, it was back on board for a run back towards Liverpool, but this time via Wigan. A short crewing stop at Wallgate then up the hill to Wigan Station Jn and the occasionally used link to the West Coast Main Line, the tour taking the Up Goods here.

Further south we passed another depot being altered for new trains, Springs Branch, where new sidings and facilities have been provided for servicing of the new Northern Class 195 DMUs and Class 331 EMUs, of which a few were visible as we passed. Next Bamfurlong Goods lines, taken to their namesake junction before the Up Slow line to Golborne Jn and the Parkside West Curve round to Newton-le-Willows. A touch of déjà vu (again) from here as, after passing Earlestown P2, we went left onto the Up & Down Earlestown West line - effectively a loop - which the Down & Up Liverpool Curve through Earlestown P3 connects into. So, the tour followed our morning's routing to Olive Mount Jn but we then continued west as our previous route veered away to the north, passing Edge Hill and into the cuttings and tunnels on the approach to Lime Street, the signallers managing to route us across almost the whole layout from the Down Slow into P10.

More convoluted was the Lime Street departure. First across to the Up Slow from P10, then back to the Up Fast at Crown Street Jn. Next the Slow line at Wavertree Jn, Fast at Allerton Jn, Slow at Speke Jn and into Ford's Sidings No1 at Halewood. Well done to the planners for finding the necessary gaps in the schedules to run the tour like this, and the signallers on the day for implementing it. Even on a Sunday, the timetable can be busy, so to have an odd route like that is excellent. Interestingly, now dark, many participants were scratching their heads at this point - what did we do exactly?

Running early from Halewood, we passed the Alstom Widnes Traincare Centre before crossing the Mersey and to Runcorn. From here it was a short run to Halton Jn and onto the now bi-directional Frodsham Single. As we were still early at Frodsham Jn, a short wait was required here to let a TfW service for Chester run in front, before we followed it and headed to our last highlight of the day, the Chester Parcels Bay (BLN 1341.4101). Regularly used for stabling, fortunately it was empty! Another reversal and it was back to Crewe, arriving in the more normal railtour P12, and slightly early as well.



Thanks to all involved in the planning and operation of the tour, including West Coast, NR, Stadler, Merseyrail, Gravy Train Catering, all the stewarding team etc and last, but never least, our Fixtures Secretary, Kev Adlam. From the 180 participants £2,500 was raised for Alder Hey Children's Hospital. http://bit.ly/2HihfJ1 is a link with 29 excellent lineside photos of the tour taken by Clive Hanley.

http://bit.ly/2P5wqK1 is a link to 38 pictures taken during our Bootle Brush railtour by the Society Photographer, Geoff Plumb, some follow. All photos are taken by authorised personnel only from a place of safety. There are also detailed informative captions. (Abbreviated BLN captions are by the Editor.) Geoff's website is full of interesting historical and modern pictures - well worth exploring. Editor's note: Most photos selected are ones that members would not be able to take themselves, please bear in mind that many are take through the windscreen of a Class 47.