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The Class 507 Preservation Society<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nA rail enthusiast has bought a 1970s train for \u00a31 in a bid to save it from the scrapheap.<\/p>\n Robert Hampton, 41, now hopes to raise \u00a310,000 to move the Merseyrail Class 507 train to a museum.<\/p>\n The IT consultant said he had fond memories of day trips on the old trains and wanted to “save piece of Merseyside’s history”.<\/p>\n The Class 507 trains, first introduced in 1978, are being replaced by the Class 777 fleet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n “The Class 507 trains are our trains,” he said.<\/p>\n “Lots of trains work all across the country but the 507… has only ever worked on the Merseyrail network.”<\/p>\n Mr Hampton said he had a “sentimental attachment” to the fleet and had always associated them with summer holiday days out.<\/p>\n “It was always a treat to go on these trains,” he said.<\/p>\n “They have a great a great deal of character. They are representative of 1970s technology.”<\/p>\n The train Mr Hampton has bought is the first of the fleet, the 507001, which he says “has a special place in railway history”.<\/p>\n “Not only is it the first of its class and thus the oldest still in service, but it also served as a Royal Train,” he said.<\/p>\n “On 25 October 1978, Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a plaque at Moorfields station to open the Merseyrail network, before travelling on 507 001 to Kirkby,” he said.<\/p>\n The 507001 was recently restored to British Rail blue and grey livery to commemorate its long service, which Mr Hampton said has made it “something of a celebrity among rail enthusiasts”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Class 507s were built by British Rail Engineering Limited at Holgate Road Works, York.<\/p>\n A number of them have already been scrapped, with the rest to be scrapped within the next twelve months.<\/p>\n After setting up The Class 507 Preservation Society, Mr Hampton approached Angel trains with his idea and secured a deal for a nominal \u00a31.<\/p>\n He will take ownership of the train in summer when it is retired.<\/p>\n Mr Hampton has found a home for the unit at the Tanat Valley Railway in north-west Shropshire.<\/p>\n But the unit must be moved by road, which will cost in the region of \u00a310,000.<\/p>\n Mr Hampton has launched a crowdfunding campaign.<\/p>\n He said he hoped the train could become an educational exhibit in its new home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark Hignett, from the Nant Mawr visitor centre, said: “I am thrilled that a train that carried Elizabeth II is coming to Nant Mawr. <\/p>\n “The area has many historic connections with Liverpool \u2013 lots of the city\u2019s water comes from Lake Vyrnwy which is just 20miles away from us. <\/p>\n “We look forward to hosting this very special train.\u201d<\/p>\n An Angel Trains spokesman said: “Angel Trains is proud to support the Class 507 Preservation Society and has donated Class 507001 to them.<\/p>\n “We look forward to seeing Class 507’s contribution to the Liverpool City Region’s railway history, celebrated for generations to come.”<\/p>\n A Liverpool City Region Combined Authority spokesman said the authority wished the group well with its campaign.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
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Robert Hampton<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/1f9f\/live\/a26a2c20-1906-11ef-876b-c77a1c45f857.jpg.webp\")
The Class 507 Preservation Society<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n‘Very special train’<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n