Steel Wheels

685 stands in the rain at New Brighton awaiting its peak hour service job.

Drivers not to pass beyond this point unless signal off, 1981, New Brighton

My guard’s satchel, hanging from the brake handle as the railway refused to provide a hook for it.

A steel-tipped LMS wooden scraper paddle from a 503. It was used for clearing impacted ice and snow from the top of the live rail by the guard, who walked in front of his train with it following at 3mph.

25058 at Birkenhead North in 1979 thrills the local trainspotters.

Departmental wagons behind 25058 containing ballast make for an unusual sight at Birkenhead North in 1979.

25058 was cut up at the end of 1988.

Liverpool train leaving Birkenhead North from the loop platform - a Wrexham DMU is in the usual Liverpool platform.

Ornate Wirral Railway gate at West Kirby station, long since removed and presumed lost.

The cushioned seat is missing from the guard’s perch in this unit. The short-circuiting bar and wooden applicator are to hand.

Advertising boards at Hoylake station in poor condition. Prime place goes to “Zone Tickets” (’zonies’) - now known as “Saveaways”.

Scorched heater in the guards van of 392.

Meols station as 685 sets down passengers on its way to West Kirby.

Original booking office, built by the Wirral Railway, at West Kirby.

Wirral Railway crest and clock at Wallasey Grove Road.

2-car Metro Cammell DMU at Birkenhead North on the Birkenhead North to Wrexham service (now Bidston-Wrexham).

The station benches are not of type usually seen on the system and appear to have been sourced from outside of the railway.