A photo of me (with dufflebag) and my mate Alan Beckley at Aintree station when the blue Western Pullman arrived. Grand National day 1964. This photo was published in the Railway Mag. I do not own the copyright on this image but will gladly give credit to the owner (P Gerald) as I would very much like to purchase an original. The 3rd rails can be seen on the two platform tracks and was left over from when Liverpool Overhead Railway trains ran their own specials direct from Pier Head. The normal electric trains ran on the tracks behind where Im standing. I cannot adequately describe what i felt when this vivid blue apparition appeared from under the bridge. In an era when everything was dirty and black or at least occasionaly green this train was simply awesome. I think Alan and I just gawped at it in wonder. We were very lucky to have been on the platform really. We'd gone to Aintree to see the specials arrive and there were several Brits which were always good to see. However the police were guarding access to the platform as the crowds of spotters were 3 deep on the bridge. Having arrived from Maghull I said to Alan 'Come on we've got tickets to Maghull so they can't stop us'. Sure enough we got on the platform and hid in the waiting room whenever a train to Maghull arrived so that we could sit on the platform in comfort and watch. Pure nostalgia....

A class 40 departs Aintree in the early 1980's with stock from Grand National special. It is crossing the disused CLC (Cheshire Lines Committee) railway from Aintree Central. The route all these specials took was incredible! From Edge Hill they reversed and then headed north on the normal freight only line towards Bootle docks passing Newsham Park and close to Anfield passing through deep cuttings under Kirkdale. After emerging near to the old Bank Hall sheds they followed the Liverpool to Southport route until turning inland at Marsh lane Junction towards Aintree. No wonder the specials now all go to Lime Street and then passengers must take luxury coaches to Aintree from Liverpool city centre.

A class 40 pulls the ecs from a Grand National day special away from Aintree Sefton Arms station

A class 507 service train heads over the disused CLC trackbed that led to Warbreck and Walton on the Hill sheds.

The preserved Wirral & Mersey 3 car unit at Aintree M28690M on the front

The preserved Wirral & Mersey 3 car unit departs from Aintree heading towards Old Roan with trailer unit M29289M at the back

Class 40 no. 40008 hauls ecs away from Aintree Sefton Arms past the site of the old Aintree MPD

Grand National special arrives at Aintree hauled by 40018

40018 pulls into the platform at Aintree. This platform was always a cinder temporary surface as it was only ever used for 1 day a year!

40018 pulls into the platform at Aintree

Having run around 40018 is ready to pull the ecs away for servicing

40018 runs around at Aintree

40018 runs around

40027 travelling light past Aintree MPD

40027 hauls ecs away from Aintree past the MPD

40027 travelling light past Aintree MPD

47197 arrives with a Grand National special

47197 runs light engine past the Aintree MPD

47521 stands in the platform at Aintree

47521 at Aintree with the disused signals now destroyed.

47571 hauls the ecs from the VSOE (Venice Simplon Orient Express)

47571 hauls the VSOE away from Aintree

47571 and the VSOE stock pass Aintree MPD

47571 stands in Aintree having brought the VSOE. I started my accountancy career working for Metal Box Ltd at the factory in Heysham Road just above the loco (blue building)

507006 at Aintree when the canopy was complete on the station roof. Train looks almost new.

56084 pulls away from the Orrel lane Container base built on the site of FORD station sidings.

56084 at Orrel Lane Container base

56084 passes beneath Captains lane bridge having pulled out from the Orrel Lane Container base

A Class 40 with a Grand National day special stands in Aintree Sefton Arms staion with the 1938 LMS stock emu on a regular trip from Ormskirk to Liverpool Exchange

The Mersey Punter arrives at Aintree 5th April 1986

Class 47 on the ecs from the Mersey Punter railtour 5th April 1986

Class 47 hauls the VSOE into Aintree

The VSOE arrives behind a class 47 - 5th April 1986

5th April 1986 with VSOE at Aintree

Pullman car Cygnus and class 47 running around the VSOE. This carriage is still in excellent shape - see http://clive-hanley.fotopic.net/p14735828.html

The VSOE tailboard at Aintree

Pullman car Audrey

a Class 47 hauls the VSOE over the disused CLC track as it pulls away from Aintree. For more details of Aintree Central checkout - http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/a/aintree_central/index.shtml

The VSOE heads away from Aintree

Class 47 departs Aintree with the VSOE

Class 47 with the VSOE - Grand national Day

The VSOE passes Sefton Junction heading towards Seaforth and Marsh Lane Junction. The track in the foreground was originally double track and was a route to Fazakerley. In the 60's and 70's I recall seeing carriages from the many Grand National Specials in the background on TV when the race was going down the back straight. They must have been taken up this incline and over the Aintree to Liverpool Exchange railway towards Fazakerley. On the left of the photo can be seen the Orrel lane Container Terminal.

The VSOE ecs passes Aintree MPD. Pullman car Zena is still in excellent condition. I saw it on 7th May 2005 on a VSOE trip to Oxford. A staff member is having a crafty smoke and can be seen in the doorway. Remember the doors on Pullmans open inwards.

Class 47 running around the Mersey Punter stock - 5th April 1986

Pullman car George Stubbs at the head of the ecs from the Mersey Punter 5th April 1986

The Mersey Punter stock with a service train heading towards Liverpool. Notice that half the roof canopy on the main platform has been dismantled. Compare it with the shot of 507006 earlier.

A DMU special arrives at Aintree

The two-car DMU special sits in the platform with a Grand National special. The far coach had a huge buffet spread out on a central table. The train sat in the platform all afternoon and was clearly the first special to get away. No doubt looking after the Railway Officials and their wives. Not PC but hey this was the 80's.

The buffet table on display in the DMU at Aintree with a Grand National special