Merseyrail electric multiple unit (EMU) 507 001 broke new ground on Tuesday, 18th November, when, for the first time since being preserved, an energised 3rd rail supplied the power.

No. 507 001 had the honour of carrying Queen Elizabeth II when she opened the Merseyrail network, and last January, ownership of the unit was passed to the Class 507 Preservation Society.

Since then, volunteers have been working to prepare it for its next preservation milestone, a return to 3rd rail operation.

The test drive using 3rd rail power took place at Alstom’s test track in Derby, where 6,000 visitors had boarded the unit during August’s Greatest Gathering, where they could take a tour underneath the unit and sit in the driver’s seat.

Once the society became the owner of the unit, they didn’t want it to remain as a static exhibit. Since The Greatest Gathering, where 507 001 was only on static display, volunteers have been testing the on-board systems to prove the train is safe to operate.

The historic moment came at 1.30 pm when the brakes were released, and for the first time since being preserved, the power controller was set to draw power, and the train travelled at 5 mph along the whole length of the test track.

This was followed by further tests of the traction and braking systems, with speed being gradually increased to 20mph, which gave 507 001 the accolade of being Britain’s fastest preserved EMU.

The drive to preserve a Class 507 unit came in September 2023. Eight weeks later, a group of determined individuals decided to form the Class 507 Preservation Society. An inaugural meeting was held in November 2024, and just two months later, Angel Trains donated 507 001 to Class 507 Preservation Ltd for a token sum of £1.

Robert Hampton, Chairman of the Class 507 Preservation Society, commented that the test track run proves our determination that 507 001 will not be ‘stuffed and mounted’ but preserved as a living, working train.

“We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have operated 507 001 under its own power on the test track at Derby. The support afforded to us by Alstom’s operations team and all the staff at Litchurch Lane has been fantastic. Whilst on the test track, the test team drivers reported that the train performed well, although they were slightly bemused by our old train, which features both a power and a brake handle – in stark contrast to the state-of-the-art traction that they drive on a day-to-day basis. Our own team of engineering and operations specialists worked collaboratively with Alstom for this to happen, and I would like to thank everyone for their efforts.”

Jake D’Arcy, Head of Operations