A history of Waterloo Station Merseyside. Recalling the tragic accident & changes at the station over the years. From its opening until the Merseyrail era
Only just subscribed to your channel. They all bring back so many, long gone, memories, especially this line as I used to live in Norway Street right opposite the signal box at ST. Johns road. The old 5 bar swing gates where great to swing on backwards and forwards as they opened and closed. As a child me and my friends used to meet up on the old bridge, long since replaced, as a group just to hang around and I can remember we always used to run through the steam as the engines passed underneath. I can almost smell it now!! I can also remember the old sidings in Brighton road where tons and tons of coal was stored and loaded and shunted in to the various sidings for the steam engines to link up for the journey to their destinations. We occasionally where able to pick up loose coal that fell of the trucks as they where shunted backwards and forwards in to the different lines ready for link up. The sidings received a hit from a couple of bombs during the Liverpool blitz of 1940. Thanks for the memories. Keep 'em coming!! Bazoc.
Just watched this and although I knew of the basic information about the Waterloo derailment I cannot fail to be impressed at the depth of your research. Binge-watching your channel at the mo! I am amazed that the Exchange to Southport line was listed for closure in the Beeching report. It is such a vital part of the Merseyrail network today for so many people and I plan to become a resident using one of its stations in the summer.
Fantastic video. Waterloo looked amazing with the old canopies and small shops on the platform. Looked almost like a main terminating station. I would love to see you do a history look back of Kirkby station. It’s old double line going through to Wigan. Learned quite a bit!
@@Merseywail I can’t wait! But on the bright side, with the current issues travelling, there is no rush! This type of content never gets old! Looking forward to the next episode!
I nearly witnessed a tragedy once at waterloo station when I went there in february 89, there was a little lad only about two year old sat on the platform edge and I thought he was going to jump down onto the track, and I nearly had a fit knowing what could've happened if he'd touched the live track. Needless to say I quickly made sure he never got anywhere near it and his mum had no idea the track was live. And I had to stop and rest for a bit afterwards as it seriously shook me up just knowing what could've happened, I'm sure my heart must've briefly stopped that day. And it still haunts me even now.
The consequences if he had touched the 3rd rail would have been awful. Sadly there has been a number of fatalities with people & the 3rd rail. Many mistakenly believe that the power is only switched on for an approaching or passing train. It's actually on 24/7 & only off for maintenance or an emergency
@@Merseywail Yes I know, it's something the stupid graffiti artists should remember before sneaking into the sidings at night to spray the trains. And I've even seen some chaps working on the live tracks at night with it live, rather them than me, I hope they're well paid for the risks involved.
@@majorpygge-phartt2643 the danger of working near or trespassing near 3rd rail is one of the reasons why there's little chance of any more 3rd rail extensions being authorised. The extension to Headbolt lane will be by battery powered 777 units
@@Merseywail Another thing that used to worry me when I used to travel around the merseyrail network was the sheer number of back gardens which back on to the live lines without adequate fencing, and it's obvious that there's little kids living at a good many of the homes there. That's something that network rail ought to be dealing with, good strong palisade fencing should be the norm along the live lines as far as is practical and should be compulsory, especially as so many little lads are so attracted to railways.
@@majorpygge-phartt2643 to my knowledge there hasn't been any incident of any children hurt on the line by accessing from their gardens. It has happened when kids have got onto the line via vandelised fencing near parks or Stations. Though even the toughest types of fencing is susceptible to the action of idiots. Although 3rd rail extensions are now unlikely due to health & safety, the 25Kv overhead lines can & sadly are equally as deadly at times. Trespassers have been killed by coming into close proximity of the lines
@@Merseywail For many years there were some bricks visible on the car park side but they have probably been removed. Any left would no doubt be covered by vegetation. The modern lift is installed in the shaft of the original that was used for parcels traffic. I suspect that it was taken out of use by the early 1970s but can remember my Mum using it to get the family pram to the platform. Operated by a member of staff of course.
I remember the "Five Lamps" entrance being open at least into the late 60s although by then in rush hour use only. It would have been a useful connection with those bus routes not turning into South Rd if still available today.
Ace. The next crossing north after St Johns Rd was Brooke Rd, which was maned/manually operated. I knew the guy in charge of it George and we used to hang out there in the box and help him out. Great video.
@@Merseywail Rewatching this ace video of yours MW I am reminded me of the introduction of the interchange, and I was working just down the road. It was a brilliant addition to what was an already very good public transport system, but for the first time it integrated it in that the buses would wait until everyone got off the trains. Anyway my boss Harry Kinney, (who was an old man then used) to call it the "intercourse," much to the amusement of all the younger staff. On the opposite side of the railway bridge to the station used to a few small shops, then it was all coal depots before the interchange. There was a particularly rough pub a block down from the Alexandra bottom of Hyde Rd, which always had gallons of blood on the pavement outside Saturday/Sunday morning.
Did he say "a GLASS waiting room"? That's all too typical, they'll spend goodness knows how much on lifts for the wheelchair crowd, but at the same time also spend countless amounts on EXcluding folk like me who suffer extreme HEAT intolerance, who will most likely be EXcluded from the waiting room in the summer sun because of the insane brutal greenhouse effect and the appalling heat it causes. That's what happened with the stupid glass shelters in Halifax bus station so they had to put boards on the roofs to block the sun as the heat inside them in the summer was absolutely INSANE!
It's unfortunately today's architects go to solution for modern buildings. Keeping the original waiting rooms would have been far better. They usually blame the costs of maintaining the old buildings as a excuse for their replacement
@@Merseywail It'll serve them right if it gets smashed which it most likely will, that's what has happened elsewhere like in Sheffield and they'll have to replace the glass with thick polycarbonate which will most likely get all scratched and melted etc. and badly disfigured, I've seen that happen with plenty of bus shelters.
The sad thing is that I can remember when the current trains were the "new trains", and a bit of a thing in the pub ofba Friday night to have been onnone.
The idea of the interchange was fantastic in principle, but once deregulation came in, the companies were not willing to pay the extra coat of fuel and driver time just to go down South Road, rather than straight along Crosby Road.
The competition brought about by deregulation undid the integration recommended by the planers of the 60s and 70s. In the end, the confusing ever changing bus routes, &, fare rises, led to more people using the rail network
I hate this penny pinching bus shelter provision by Merseyrail. I feel the ambiance screams "this is the minimum in comfort we can provide" The Waterloo situation is bus shelter is madness with none of the sheds, including the bike cage, even in the same style. By far the best stations are those retaining platform canopies.
Why not do a video of the new Merseyrail Class 777 Metro trains that are coming into service from this year. And are to replace the Class 507 and Class 508. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_777
That's something I hope to do. Though the current restrictions are causing considerable delays to their introduction. I will no doubt be on the farewell tour of the 507/8s. As myself and the friends of the 502 Group have been asked to take part
Only just subscribed to your channel. They all bring back so many, long gone, memories, especially this line as I used to live in Norway Street right opposite the signal box at ST. Johns road. The old 5 bar swing gates where great to swing on backwards and forwards as they opened and closed. As a child me and my friends used to meet up on the old bridge, long since replaced, as a group just to hang around and I can remember we always used to run through the steam as the engines passed underneath. I can almost smell it now!! I can also remember the old sidings in Brighton road where tons and tons of coal was stored and loaded and shunted in to the various sidings for the steam engines to link up for the journey to their destinations. We occasionally where able to pick up loose coal that fell of the trucks as they where shunted backwards and forwards in to the different lines ready for link up. The sidings received a hit from a couple of bombs during the Liverpool blitz of 1940. Thanks for the memories. Keep 'em coming!! Bazoc.
Thank Barry glad it's brought back memories for you. The railways have changed so much over the years
Just watched this and although I knew of the basic information about the Waterloo derailment I cannot fail to be impressed at the depth of your research. Binge-watching your channel at the mo! I am amazed that the Exchange to Southport line was listed for closure in the Beeching report. It is such a vital part of the Merseyrail network today for so many people and I plan to become a resident using one of its stations in the summer.
Cheers Bob, I try to cover subjects in depth
Fantastic video. Waterloo looked amazing with the old canopies and small shops on the platform. Looked almost like a main terminating station. I would love to see you do a history look back of Kirkby station. It’s old double line going through to Wigan. Learned quite a bit!
Thanks, Kirkby is on the list. Obviously a slight issue about travelling around at the moment. Picked the wrong time to start youtube
@@Merseywail I can’t wait! But on the bright side, with the current issues travelling, there is no rush! This type of content never gets old! Looking forward to the next episode!
Nice one. I spent many an occasion travelling to and from Waterloo in the late 70's and early 80's. This video brought back a lot of nostalgia for me.
Thank you, glad to bring back memories for you
I nearly witnessed a tragedy once at waterloo station when I went there in february 89, there was a little lad only about two year old sat on the platform edge and I thought he was going to jump down onto the track, and I nearly had a fit knowing what could've happened if he'd touched the live track. Needless to say I quickly made sure he never got anywhere near it and his mum had no idea the track was live. And I had to stop and rest for a bit afterwards as it seriously shook me up just knowing what could've happened, I'm sure my heart must've briefly stopped that day. And it still haunts me even now.
The consequences if he had touched the 3rd rail would have been awful. Sadly there has been a number of fatalities with people & the 3rd rail. Many mistakenly believe that the power is only switched on for an approaching or passing train. It's actually on 24/7 & only off for maintenance or an emergency
@@Merseywail Yes I know, it's something the stupid graffiti artists should remember before sneaking into the sidings at night to spray the trains. And I've even seen some chaps working on the live tracks at night with it live, rather them than me, I hope they're well paid for the risks involved.
@@majorpygge-phartt2643 the danger of working near or trespassing near 3rd rail is one of the reasons why there's little chance of any more 3rd rail extensions being authorised. The extension to Headbolt lane will be by battery powered 777 units
@@Merseywail Another thing that used to worry me when I used to travel around the merseyrail network was the sheer number of back gardens which back on to the live lines without adequate fencing, and it's obvious that there's little kids living at a good many of the homes there. That's something that network rail ought to be dealing with, good strong palisade fencing should be the norm along the live lines as far as is practical and should be compulsory, especially as so many little lads are so attracted to railways.
@@majorpygge-phartt2643 to my knowledge there hasn't been any incident of any children hurt on the line by accessing from their gardens. It has happened when kids have got onto the line via vandelised fencing near parks or Stations. Though even the toughest types of fencing is susceptible to the action of idiots. Although 3rd rail extensions are now unlikely due to health & safety, the 25Kv overhead lines can & sadly are equally as deadly at times. Trespassers have been killed by coming into close proximity of the lines
An interesting summary. The other exit at the Liverpool end of the platform is rarely shown on photos.
I tried to see if there was anything left of it but couldn't find any traces
@@Merseywail For many years there were some bricks visible on the car park side but they have probably been removed. Any left would no doubt be covered by vegetation. The modern lift is installed in the shaft of the original that was used for parcels traffic. I suspect that it was taken out of use by the early 1970s but can remember my Mum using it to get the family pram to the platform. Operated by a member of staff of course.
I remember the "Five Lamps" entrance being open at least into the late 60s although by then in rush hour use only. It would have been a useful connection with those bus routes not turning into South Rd if still available today.
Ace. The next crossing north after St Johns Rd was Brooke Rd, which was maned/manually operated. I knew the guy in charge of it George and we used to hang out there in the box and help him out. Great video.
All boxes gone now. All Done from Sandhills
@@Merseywail Rewatching this ace video of yours MW I am reminded me of the introduction of the interchange, and I was working just down the road. It was a brilliant addition to what was an already very good public transport system, but for the first time it integrated it in that the buses would wait until everyone got off the trains. Anyway my boss Harry Kinney, (who was an old man then used) to call it the "intercourse," much to the amusement of all the younger staff. On the opposite side of the railway bridge to the station used to a few small shops, then it was all coal depots before the interchange. There was a particularly rough pub a block down from the Alexandra bottom of Hyde Rd, which always had gallons of blood on the pavement outside Saturday/Sunday morning.
@@dufushead lol I love the way some mix up names and words. I have been in that pub once lol
Did he say "a GLASS waiting room"? That's all too typical, they'll spend goodness knows how much on lifts for the wheelchair crowd, but at the same time also spend countless amounts on EXcluding folk like me who suffer extreme HEAT intolerance, who will most likely be EXcluded from the waiting room in the summer sun because of the insane brutal greenhouse effect and the appalling heat it causes. That's what happened with the stupid glass shelters in Halifax bus station so they had to put boards on the roofs to block the sun as the heat inside them in the summer was absolutely INSANE!
It's unfortunately today's architects go to solution for modern buildings. Keeping the original waiting rooms would have been far better. They usually blame the costs of maintaining the old buildings as a excuse for their replacement
@@Merseywail It'll serve them right if it gets smashed which it most likely will, that's what has happened elsewhere like in Sheffield and they'll have to replace the glass with thick polycarbonate which will most likely get all scratched and melted etc. and badly disfigured, I've seen that happen with plenty of bus shelters.
@@majorpygge-phartt2643 unfortunately it's our tax that goes into the repairs
The sad thing is that I can remember when the current trains were the "new trains", and a bit of a thing in the pub ofba Friday night to have been onnone.
I remember them coming into service, soon to be repeated with the new ones
The idea of the interchange was fantastic in principle, but once deregulation came in, the companies were not willing to pay the extra coat of fuel and driver time just to go down South Road, rather than straight along Crosby Road.
The competition brought about by deregulation undid the integration recommended by the planers of the 60s and 70s. In the end, the confusing ever changing bus routes, &, fare rises, led to more people using the rail network
I hate this penny pinching bus shelter provision by Merseyrail. I feel the ambiance screams "this is the minimum in comfort we can provide" The Waterloo situation is bus shelter is madness with none of the sheds, including the bike cage, even in the same style. By far the best stations are those retaining platform canopies.
They would put it down to the cost of maintenance for the old buildings. Sadly penny pinching is now the order of the day
Why not do a video of the new Merseyrail Class 777 Metro trains that are coming into service from this year. And are to replace the Class 507 and Class 508.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_777
That's something I hope to do. Though the current restrictions are causing considerable delays to their introduction. I will no doubt be on the farewell tour of the 507/8s. As myself and the friends of the 502 Group have been asked to take part
@@Merseywail Ok