The Electric Railways of Merseyside

Presenter: Charles Roberts

Meeting Held via Zoom

Charles’s ability to talk almost non-stop whilst holding the interest of an audience is admirable – worthy of a place on BBC’s Just a Minute perhaps, where one has to avoid deviation, hesitation or repetition. He brought his great knowledge to bear on the rather large subject, whilst acknowledging the work of his many colleagues and associates in his organisation and wider networks. The many excellent images were supplied by the Online Transport Archive (OTA), which Charles runs, among his many other related activities.

The first part of the talk covered the Liverpool Overhead Railway, which ran from 1893-1956, and now few remnants remain of this iconic piece of transport infrastructure. Next he covered the electric suburban systems that ran to Southport and Ormskirk north of the river and the Wirral lines on the other side, with the 502 and 503 units that held sway for quite a time post-war. Liverpool and the surrounding conurbation was ahead of many other UK cities in this kind of provision. Much has changed and Rock Ferry for instance no longer boasts six platforms; however the system has been considerably improved and extended.

Following this fairly comprehensive coverage of the DC lines, Charles moved on to the AC electrics and the many incarnations of rolling-stock, branded by the various service providers in the years since sectorisation, privatisation and so on, in a Multicolured Swapshop of sometimes garish and bizarre liveries Paint manufactures must have done well!

Over 90 members and guests joined our show from all over the UK and abroad, one from New Zealand and another from the USA. One remarked that is was the best show he had seen.