M T T Liverpool running day 10th September 2023 with Merseyrail guest stars

As the video title suggests, there's bits of everything in this one! The main "event" was to attend the Merseyside Transport Trust running day but I decided to combine it with some important Merseyrail research work*/find a good excuse to go off on Merseyrail too* (delete as appropriate) then put everything together in one handy video.

Despite some thunderstorms forecast the weather stayed fair for most of the day and there were no noticeable hiccups either on the buses or trains. Certainly nice to reacquaint myself with some Leyland Atlanteans after a good while. Plus I caught 508 112 making the most ludicrously loud "creepy" brake noise I've ever heard and got a ride on "mother-of-them-all" 507 001 out to Meols, which happily has been cleared of its graffiti attack, so thumbs up all round.

VEHICLES AND UNITS RECORDED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION! - Yep, I've broken the word limit again!

And so, to the timestamps!

0:00:01 - 777 001 starts off our day with a quick explore and nip from Kirkby to Fazakerley

0:01:49 - At Black Bull we see preserved Ribble Leyland TIger B900 WRN (900) passing by on its long run in from Preston to the bus event based at Aigburth. Also calling by is the Stagecoach Merseyside Poppy liveried bus

0:02:49 - Venerable Liverpool Corporation Leyland Atlantean 501 KD (L501) subsequently picks us up whilst operating feeder service 20E to the event.

0:06:54 - On our way into town I happen to spot another Stagecoach Merseyside vehicle in a special livery heading the other way - this time commemorating the Coronation of King Charles II. As we approach James Street you can also just see recently restored Locomotors Quest 80-B C844 OBG (0087) heading off down the Strand

0:11:58 - After dropping us at James Street, L501 skirts around the one way system and heads onwards to Aigburth Vale.

0:12:31 - Time to delve Underground now with a run round the loop from James Street

0:14:04 - My train arrives on the Wirral bound platform just in time to see 507 004 head through platform 2 onto the stock interchange line with a New Brighton-Kirkdale ECS move

0:15:08 - The next Wirral bound arrival is none other than 507 001 on a West Kirby train so we take the opportunity to head out to Meols making the most of its still functioning dynamic brake (disabled on a lot of units now)

0:17:15 - Futile hopes that I may have spotted 508 111 being stripped of parts ready for its scrap move the following day, however it was well buried in Birkenhead North Depot. Some other units (including a 777) were hanging around outside though

0:25:17 - 508 130 arrives to take us back to Hamilton Square

0:27:37 - Jump onto 507 011 (complete with slightly unnerving clunking sound, it’s not a 331 in disguise is it?) for a quick hop to Rock Ferry where 508 103 was in bay platform 3. Some activity is observed here before 507 029 escorts us back to the city

0:35:44 - Onto the Northern Line at Moorfields now. 777 007 departs then we board 508s 124/120 up to Sandhills. We then pick back up at Central as 508 139/507 023 head to Hunts X. 777 018 departs too then 507 002/ 508 136 take us back along to Sandhills

0:43:38 - An Atlas A400 Transporter joins in proceedings for fun as Eurovision liveried 777 013 (my 2nd sighting in two days having never seen it at close quarters before now!) heads into town from Ormskirk. We then board 508 112 (with possibly the loudest "creepy" brake noise ever!)/507 032 for Brunswick to catch up with some buses.

0:48:23 - 508 112 is DEFINITELY leaving Brunswick!

0:50:03 - Merseyside PTE Atlantean DKC 365L (1365) arrives in tandem with the Quest from Aigburth. 0087 heads off into the city whilst we stay with 1365 for a journey back to Aigburth via "Prinny" Park Gates (and a very well driven run, just like being on a normal service bus!)

0:58:45 - A quick chop and change onto fellow PTE Atlantean BKC 236K (1236) to head back up to Brunswick along Riverside/Otterspool Prom. He unexpectedly dropped me off on the main road! We nip back onto the station for a bit more Merseyrail, plus a private prop buzzes overheard for good measure

1:05:48 - From buzzing back to bussing. Previously seen Ribble 900 arrives for a run back to Aigburth. I don't think I ever appreciated these Tigers enough when they were in everyday use but this was very good fun! Bet it had been great all the way from Preston!

1:12:50 - Back at Aigburth Vale we see Leyland Panther FKF933G (1054) being prepared for our 99 journey back to Kirkby. The little Quest leaves for the city on its last run then we board 1054 for a lovely loud , bumpy run back to Kirkby Station!

1:32:36 - 1054 heads back to base having dropped us off at Kirkby after a very fruitful Transport Compilation day!

Many thanks to all the vehicle owners and MTT personnel who helped make the running day happen, it’s very much appreciated by us all.