British Rail Class 502

Infobox EMU
name = British Rail Class 502


imagesize = 240px
caption =
background = #012545
Manufacturer = LMS Derby Works
Operator = LMS and British Railways
Formation =
Built =
InService = 1940-1980
Weight = 41 tons
CarLength = 66 ft 6 in
CarWidth = 9 ft 5 in
CarHeight =
Capacity =
MaxSpeed = convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on
Power = 4 x 235 hp traction motors
total 940 hp (701 kW)
Gauge = standard gauge
Voltage = 630 volt dc 3rd rail

The British Rail Class 502 was a type of electric multiple unit originally built by the London Midland and Scottish Railway at their Derby Works. Introduced in 1940 and withdrawn by 1980, they spent the whole of their working lives on the electrified railway lines of north Liverpool.

The trains were designed to replace older electric trains built by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway on the lines from Liverpool Exchange station to Southport and Ormskirk. These lines were electrified with a Direct Current (DC) third rail.

History

The Class 502s entered service between 1940 and 1943. They were DC-only and operated as both 3-car and 2-car sets, which could be coupled together to form 5-car sets for use on the busier services. A very modern design for the time, they were equipped with air-operated sliding doors. They were similar to (but slightly larger than) the Class 503s operating on the Wirral. Virtually all electric suburban passenger trains in Great Britain now follow the basic layout pioneered by the Class 502s, with two sets of double-leaf air operated sliding doors on each side of each carriage.

Liverpool Exchange station closed in 1977, being replaced by new underground stations at Moorfields and Liverpool Central as part of the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network. The electrification was also extended to Kirkby and Garston, using class 502s. The units struggled to cope with the challenging gradients in the new underground sections, which are as steep as 1 in 30 in places, and their reliability suffered. [Maund, T.B. (2001). "Merseyrail Electrics: The Inside Story". NBC Books. ISBN 0-953-18961-3]

Numbering

British Railways numbers were:
* Motor Open Brake Second, M28311M-M28369M
* Trailer Open Second, M29545M-M29594M
* Trailer Open Second (built as composite), M29812M-M29820M
* Driving Trailer Open Composite, M29866M-M29899M

Withdrawal and preservation

From 1978, new Class 507 units began to arrive on the network and the 502s, which by now were considered life-expired, were gradually withdrawn. The last set was taken out of service by the end of 1980.

All were scrapped, except for a 2-car set (driving motor 28361 and driving trailer 29896) which was claimed for preservation by the National Railway Museum. For many years the unit was kept at the Steamport centre in Southport, where it was restored to original LMS condition, complete with maroon livery. It operated occasional special services on the Merseyrail electric network for several years in the 1980s. However, when Steamport closed, the NRM were unable to find an alternative location to display it, and relocated the unit to remote storage at MoD Kineton.

In early 2007, it was suggested that the NRM are considering disposing of this unit as it no longer features as part of its long term plans [ [http://www.hamptonweb.myby.co.uk/class502/ Friends of the 502 Group ] ] .

External links

* [http://www.class502.org.uk/ Class 502 web page]
* [http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Pages%20EMU/Recognition%20EMU/IllusEMU_502.html The Railway Centre]

References