On a stormy morning, just wet really as the worst of Storm Babet missed the area, 15 well wrapped up members gathered in the booking hall at Bank Hall for a 09.20 start. There is just one island platform here now but it used to be a busy station with a third track and platform on the Down side (to Southport), when there was much employment in the area. There once were sidings behind this platform and a line down to Nelson Dock (Liverpool & Manchester Railway Atlas page 116). Reporting to John Hampson, we were introduced to our member Adam Turner who was also our NR organiser and guide this day. It was to be a train and walking tour of railway historical and architectural interest in Liverpool and Birkenhead.

Venturing out down Bankhall St, our first target was the little 4-wheel diesel shunter which sits at the junction with Derby Road. It's an ex-War Department machine of 1945 with no known link to the docks but has been here for many years. There is just different coloured paving for the 'track' so no gricing! As with all his Society fixtures, Adam had done his homework and showed us numerous historical photos and maps of Canada Dock Goods (CG 3 Sep 1982), due west of the present Kirkdale South Jn. From where we were stood, we could make out the layout of the once extensive dock rail network.

Back at Bank Hall station, 507015 took us to Moorfields, an extensive station with a complex internal layout. We left via the Moorfields exit above street level. Built as part of the 1970s redevelopment, a city in the sky was proposed but, as with most of the optimistic 1970s plans, no progress was made (pie in the sky) and all that remains is this unusual entrance. Moorfields was constructed to replace the once mighty Lancashire & Yorkshire terminal station of Liverpool Exchange closed from 30 Apr 1977. It had 10 platforms in its heyday; as a local I can just about remember it before closure - very run down but still very atmospheric. Thankfully, the four story frontage was preserved and incorporated into an office building development for us to appreciate after just a short walk out from Moorfields.



Quickly heading back to Moorfields, a soon to depart 508139 took us the one stop on the Wirral line to the recently designated Platform 'A' at Lime Street. Our next target was the now opulent Radisson Red Hotel at the station front. Opened as the North Western Hotel in 1871 by the London & North Western Railway and having had many uses, it once again is a hotel. Adam had arranged access for our group and we went to the third floor to admire the building and for an unusual view over Lime Street station.









After a brief lunch stop on Lime Street concourse, it was back to Platform 'A', by lift this time, to be met again by 508139 and it took our group to Liverpool Central. Sally from Merseyrail met us and took us through the Merseyrail staff and admin block behind the station then onto the NR maintenance complex at the rear. After a safety briefing, and with us all wearing high visibility jackets, Adam escorted us around the site on the footprint of the Cheshire Lines Committee's Liverpool Central high level station. It closed to passenger from 17 Apr 1972 with the end of the hourly Gateacre DMUs, its final service. 'High level' was never actually part of the station name. Of course, the Gateacre line reopened from Liverpool Central low level to Garston on 3 Jan 1978 then on to Hunts Cross from 20 Feb 1979.



Looking at the historic photos Adam had found, we could see exactly how the high level six platform station used to be. Of particular interest, a unique view of the low level track was available from the southeastern corner which overlooks the reversing siding and the line from Hunts Cross. A Class 777 and an older EMU appeared while we watched. We then entered a little building which is known as the 'Wendy House' and passed down a flight of stairs which led to the Northern Line platforms. I'd often wondered what lay behind that gate at the Hunts Cross end of the low level platform. Now we know.



Our tour then went to the next level ... the deep level loop line platform where 507033 took us to James Street to be met by 'Mike', the Area Station Manager. Arriving on P3 we looked across to P2, the original Mersey Railway platform for Liverpool Central low level, although little used now. Members admired the Dream Passage artwork, then paid rather more attention to a NR Multipurpose Vehicle which obligingly arrived from the Wirral, then reversed to return. Mike then took us to P2, opening the gate so we could descend a flight of steps. Under supervision, our members were allowed to explore the atmospheric platform; it seemed odd to watch trains come and go from the opposite platform.









We then went up the steep, seemingly never ending Water Street exit passage, which, due to increased office workers, is now open 07.00 until 19.00 Monday to Friday, rather than just peak hours as it was. [Very handy to transfer to/from the IOM Ferry etc.] It is best walked 'down' though! A lonely, isolated booking office is at the entrance (with no ticket gates!). This area of James Street station has recently been tastefully restored to a high standard; we were told that it has been used as a filming location.

507023 took us one stop to Hamilton Square, arriving in the platform opened 9 May 1977; part of the scheme to grade separate the New Brighton and West Kirby line beneath the Rock Ferry line. Mike explained the station is largely a mirror image of James Street. There is plenty of interest here. We left the station to admire the 120ft high station tower which, apart from drawing attention to the station, originally had tanks with 10,000 gallons of water to work three hydraulic lifts to the platforms 103ft below street level. Taking much care, our group went up in the world, first stopping off at the balcony over the ticket gate area to take a closer look at the top lit composite timber and iron queen post roof.






We then ascended further up the tower block to the very atmospheric second floor. The rooms are now empty, perhaps going back to when, as with all stations, many more worked here. Grade II listed, it looked as no one had stepped in it for years! Due to the wooden stairs, that was the limit of ascent.






After travelling up from platform level by lift, we took the little-used 162 stairs back down to the lower concourse. Mike then opened a door to Shore Road subway. I wasn't really aware of this and it was my highlight of the day. It was like the Water Street passage at James Street but seemed much longer and steeper. Closed to passengers many years ago when dock work reduced, it's only used for maintenance access and emergency escape now. Unlocking the doors, Mike led us out into daylight on Shore Road.






We admired the Cheshire Lines Committee's 1889 Shore Road Goods building on its eponymous road, now offices, and the Mersey Railway Tunnel 1886 Shore Road Pumping Station still in use. The track of the Wirral Transport Museum & Heritage Tramway (currently closed) also passes here. Mike let us back into the subway and we made the easier journey down to platform level where 507023 again - no Class 777s for us today - took us back to the unidirectional loop line (the bane of our bidirectionalists' lives) James Street P1. Our tour ended by walking past Mann Island pumping station to the Museum of Liverpool. With free entry, there's much of transport interest with Liverpool & Manchester engine 'Lion' and, appropriately at a higher level, Liverpool Overhead Railway (CA 30 Dec 1956) Motorcoach No3.






Despite the weather, it was a really interesting day that kept getting better still as the day went on. There is a wealth of detail about the area in Joe Brown's Liverpool & Manchester Railway Atlas. Thanks to the helpful and friendly people at Merseyrail, NR, Radisson Red and particularly our member Adam Turner for his enthusiasm and detail. He organised, planned, designed and researched the whole day. Participants put forward future requests for similar visits across the country which, hopefully, might be fulfilled. Hints were dropped during the day that there's plenty more to be found on Merseyrail alone.

Pleasingly, the day raised a £500 donation from participants for Merseyrail's four charities of the year.