British Rail Class 503
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British Rail Class 503 passenger trains were 65 mph (105 km/h) electric multiple units. They were introduced in two batches: the first were in 1938, by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), with a further batch in 1956 by the then nationalised British Railways (BR). When introduced by the LMS, they were known officially as Class AM3. They were designed for, and operated on, the Wirral & Mersey lines from Liverpool to West Kirby, New Brighton and Rock Ferry. There were few places on their network of closely-spaced stations to attain their maximum speed, except for the open section between Moreton and Meols. All but one set were withdrawn and scrapped by 1985. The final set was used on special Merseyrail services until 1988; it was preserved and kept at the Electric Railway Museum near Coventry, until it moved on to the Locomotive Storage Ltd warehouse at Margate.
A British Rail Class 503 train in the Liverpool Loop tunnel. This train was one of the original batch built by the LMS in 1938.
The interior of DMBS car 28690 at the Electric Railway Museum, Coventry.
A 1938 unit stands at the platform, next to two later 1956 units in the sidings, at West Kirby, in 1982.
A six-car set at Rock Ferry, in 1983.
Wirral line
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The Wirral line is one of two commuter rail routes operated by Merseyrail and centred on Merseyside, England, the other being the Northern line.
A Class 508 EMU on a Wirral line service at Liverpool Central prior to redevelopment.
Original Mersey Railway painted signage on Birkenhead Central station where the company had its head office.
An Illustrated London News illustration of the official opening of the Mersey Railway by the Prince of Wales on 20 January 1886.
A Mersey Railway electric multiple unit (EMU) having just departed from Birkenhead Park for Liverpool.