Rail Blue - Classic Diesel Traction Around Liverpool 

Thanks Bob, frightening how the years pass so quickly. 37431 became something of an old friend as everytime I filmed the 'Cardiffs' she was the rostered loco. Where I used to live you could hear them growling up from Edge Hill, fantastic sound.

You're so right it doesn't seem that long ago. You've got some great memories there anyway, I regret not catching the 45's on film when they were regulars in Lime Street

I loved the BR blue era and there was plenty of variety of locos still around back then too

Footage like this almost justifies RU-vid's existence on its own. It reminds me of catching the train to Lime Street to visit my grandfather. Remembered very fondly- as is Grandpa. I often think it a great pity that I didn't have a camcorder when I lived in Durham overlooking the ECML. I'd have had hours of footage like this with Deltics, Peaks, 40s and other classes slogging up the hill away from the station. Probably no O-levels though so it might be just as well.

Just seen this video for the 1st time. I used to commute from work on the 17.12 Liverpool - Blackpool in the early 90's which was usually a 31. Prior to that the 16.58 Liverpool - Newcastle which was a 47. Thanks for bringing back some fabulous memories.

@acw71000 Just sad its all gone... the rail blue era was good.... nice trip down mem lane and i just sad i never got a vid camera back then... good job you did... cheers

Brilliant Vintage and in Widescreen, ....this brought back some memories Austin, I remember seeing 37431 being named 'Sir Powys/County of Powys' at Llandrindod Wells on the 17th June 1987..5* Bob

Just came across this one Austin. Another of your classics. My Br blue era is on super 8 sound in the attic. Nice to see. All the best...Tim.

I remember seeing 37s and 47s back during the early to late 90s, this really does go back along. Excellent archive material here.

Thanks, yes you are so right about loco and coaches, felt like a proper train, glad you enjoyed the memories

Yes indeed, I find the modern trains are pretty uncomfortable too compared with old coaches. There wasn't much to beat climbing out of Lime Street in a DMU sat in the front seats just behind the driver!

This is an excellent video.lovely engines & coaching stock especially the peak at the end brilliant thanks a lot for sharing .

Great footage of a special time , British Rail Blue Rules. Thank you

You're so right, much better to travel behind a loco than in a sardine can. Thanks for your comments

Excellent film. If only I'd spent more of my time at university watching the trains and less time working! Just before my time, but the locations bring back memories.

These were the days!! Didn't like much about the 80's but loved the BR Corperate blue era! *****

Fab footage! Reminds me of when my Mum and Dad got the late train to Leeds fromLLS. Dad asked the guard where he aas heading "Leeds" he said so they got on and settled in for the journey. They got to Leeds at 0600 instead of 12midnight as they'd got on the "Newspaper stopping all Stations" !

I used to love the springy seats in the 304's and the engines whining away, glad to have brought back a few memories for you.

Excellent video Austin, it's a pity we don't have this variety of loco's today, thanks for sharing, it's a like, and faved, cheers...Bill

long live the days of loco hauled trains!!! who needs emu/dmu's thanks for this brings back memories of a wasted(not by me!!) youth

Excellent archive footage,brings back great memories

Thank you, its rather nice I think when a video can trigger such good memories of your grandfather. On balance, I would agree that your O-levels were far more important than capturing footage of trains. No doubt the memories of them are still clear in your mind.

Really enjoyed that Austin, many thanks.

I totally agree with you not a pendolino or voyager in sight proper trains the way they should be these are the sort of scenes that can now be only seen on a model railway or you tube

Thanks, I remember that 37431 always seemed to be on duty whenever I was filming!

Great selection of shots,well.done.

Thanks, only seems like yesterday doesn't it? Thanks also for jogging the memory about the class 304's

I got married soon after that era, so those scenes are very familiar to this Cheshire traveller. Good to see a 304 too ya know, I remember them as 4 car with compo's !

Excellent compilation - thank you for sharing 5*

Thanks Tim, I think you need to get up into that attic and get them transferred onto video. I copied all my old super 8 stuff, one cold winters day a few years ago. Trouble was, the projector developed a liking for chewing up the film!

Awesome footage there!10/10 liked and subscribed

Thanks, glad it brought back a few memories for you

Cheers, glad you enjoyed it

Thanks, I go back longer than I thought!!

Seems like yesterday! Great memories! I recall eating chips from the dong chippie outside Lime street on that seat on the platform in the mid 80's watching 45002 running round before jumping back on to manchester or beyond!

Cheers, doesn't seem all that long ago since these scenes were commonplace

Thanks very much, they were good times.

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it

Thanks, it was a good era. I just wish the cameras around at the time had the quality you can get today

class 31s were the under powered brute of a locomotive from my school days , but I did love seeing them on the kidsgrove branch line , not even Hornby could make a convincing model of on back then

Thanks very much Bill, glad you enjoyed the video. There was a great variety of locos then, my big regret is not filming more of them than I did.

Some nice shots there and memories long gone too. Seen the 45 a a few times and the 37's over at doncaster. Railcars may be more reliable but give me a loco+MK2 coaches anyday, more comfy, tables and more stable at high speed....

Thanks, I bet your parents never forgot that journey! Still, I suppose the stock would have been a bit more comfortable than one of todays units

Thanks for your kind comments, much appreciated

Thanks very much, I must admit I find it hard to get too enthusiastic about modern loco's.

1989.the year that i commenced me railway careeer aged 16. it's a different industry now.

Thanks for your comments, much appreciated

Hmmm.. very nice indeed!!! I was here, my camera was'nt! thanks for the video

Happy memories there Dave

Thanks Keith, as you say no variety now and I bet you can't wander about freely either these days!

Thanks, as I've said before, I really wish I had filmed more of these at the time, too late now

Lovely classic footage there,though where was the Peak going per chance? seems remote.....

Not sure where the tour originated from but I filmed her on the lines around Birkenhead Docks

very happy thanks mate .

Indeed, and on a decent sized train too.

Yes and there must be so much unseen footage from people who don't upload to RU-vid

mossley hill too Lime street on class 304 or class 117 was my route

Thanks, my regret is that I didn't get out to film as many of these trains as I should have done

I've completely forgotten what class these became, I knew them as the Crewe electrics, they ran the local service between Liverpool and Crewe

It was a nice livery I always think

The Mersey Docker... was on that!

I certainly think so but probably look at it through rose tinted specs. I'm sure modern day enthusiasts enjoy the current scene

does anybody have footage of the wcml through runcorn in the 80's? i grew up watching hst's, 304's, the APT and peaks roaring past.

Very true, the rail industry is probably unrecognisable from those days

what is that beauty at 5:48?

these were the day's when you could actually get a seat!

Happy days indeed instead of those ghastly doodle bugs that infest Lime street today. At least you could tell you were sat on a train in those days and not sat ready for take off at the airport like the interiors of the modern traction today.

That's a shame, there seemed a bit more variety back then.

Thanks, agree how boring multiple units are, suppose thats 'progress' for you!!

Quite agree, terrible times but great livery.

Around 1996

bring back british rail!

bl&&dy great and thanx

Wow don't those IC-liveried Mk3s look smart?

304s :)

@acw71000 yeah. it's certainly more fragmented & costs the taxpayer nearly 4 times more!

I wouldn't bring back British Rail, but I would bring back the British Rail Bacon buttie.. mmmm

The railway used to be a much more interesting place....

Thanks for your kind comments, much appreciated