Liverpool Overhead Railway

[shytalk]

I remember the last day it ran. I worked for Blakes the Ford dealer in Hardman St. The boss there a Mr. Stanley Blake Reece was a train enthusiast and he hired buses to transport the whole company, all branches and closed up shop to take us on the last ride.
We went the full length and back. Can't imagine todays businessmen doing a thing like that.

[john]

I am too young for the overhead, :rolleyes: but I do remember Blakes in Hardman street

[FKoE]

I remember the stumps :(

[Waterways]

I am too young for the overhead, :rolleyes: but I do remember Blakes in Hardman street

I remember both and Blakes were a cowboy company - I bougt a new car of them once and the big ends went after 2,000 miles...in France. They didn't want to know. I hate the *******s. It took 18 months of legal action to get anywhere. I'm glad they went belly up - they deserved to.

Now, the overhead I just about remember. You could see the trains through the sleepers underneath. It was a dirty brown colour. I remember the cranes taking it down too.

[FKoE]

How old are you again Watership ?

[A.D.Williams]

My Dad used to travel on it from the Dingle to the north end docks for quite a few years.

:)

[lindylou]

I remember the stumps :(

What are the stumps FKoE ?? :shock: :D

[lindylou]

I remember Blakes very well.

Not the 'Overhead' tho' .. (thank God there's at least something I'm not old enough to remember !!) Ha! :D

[bobbymac]

Oh tep, I remember the overhead, I remember Blakes in hardman St. and also Bold St. and me dad did his aprentiship (?) in Blakes, Safety Lane. So there! Lol. Nowt wrong with Blakes there watership down.:Colorz_Grey_PDT_24: Wouldn't be ya heavy foot and lack of oil that caused ya meltdown would it?

[bobbymac]

Shy, when did you work for Blakes?:celb (23):

[shytalk]

bobbymac,
1954-1959, I was at Hardman St. didn't know many people from Safety Lane. I think whoever ran that place had a screw loose though, Safety Lane were distributers for "Cyclemaster" it was a little engine built into a wheel to put on a push bike. Why would a car company this big sell a piece of c r a p like that :)
I did know the manager who was there at one time because he came to Hardman St. Percy Gooding was his name.

[bobbymac]

Omg Shy, I remember the 'Cyclemaster' all those old guys who couldn't pedal any more had them. :Colorz_Grey_PDT_16: Used to see lots of them at Newsham Pk. gate and Tuebrook when the Automatic knocked off.:celb (23):
My girl friend worked in the office of Blakes in Bold St. starting around 58.'till sometime in the mid 60's.

[shytalk]

What was her name I might know her.

[Waterways]

Oh tep, I remember the overhead, I remember Blakes in hardman St. and also Bold St. and me dad did his aprentiship (?) in Blakes, Safety Lane. So there! Lol. Nowt wrong with Blakes there watership down.:Colorz_Grey_PDT_24: Wouldn't be ya heavy foot and lack of oil that caused ya meltdown would it?

Blakes a good company? Read what I wrote. They were cowboys. No idea of customer service and once they had your money they couln't give a hoot. They epitomised everything that was wrong with British service and industry. Cowboys, Sharks. Your Dad din't deal with them from my angle. People will tell themselves lies when it comes to their weekly pack packet.

What is with this Watershipdown? Have you become more senile :)

[FKoE]

:retard: Did you ever think Watership, that only you recieved bad customer service, because you maybe were an obnoxious customer :rolleyes: ?

[FKoE]

What are the stumps FKoE ?? :shock: :D

:D .. the stumps were what was left of the supports years after the Overhead was demolished. :unibrow:

[shytalk]

I'm not getting into a slanging match about a company I worked for almost 50 years ago. Just to say that if it was a new car as you say, the manufacturer is responsible for accepting warranty claims. If it broke down in France why would you go back to Blakes with it, must have been hundreds of dealerships nearer?.

[lindylou]

:D .. the stumps were what was left of the supports years after the Overhead was demolished. :unibrow:

.. oh right, I get what you mean now. :D

[FKoE]

Muwah!! :)

[bobbymac]

Shy, her name was Pauline, prettiest blonde you ever saw. Lived on Chester Rd.

[bobbymac]

Watership, I agree, I must be the epitomy of senility, in that I find those posts of yours which are close to your heart are very interesting.But I still think that if you had so much trouble with your warranty, there must have been more than you're letting on. Not that it matters.:Colorz_Grey_PDT_16:

[Waterways]

I'm not getting into a slanging match about a company I worked for almost 50 years ago. Just to say that if it was a new car as you say, the manufacturer is responsible for accepting warranty claims. If it broke down in France why would you go back to Blakes with it, must have been hundreds of dealerships nearer?.

The dealer is responsible, not the maker. Any problems you deal with who sold you the product - any product.

The big ends went at 2,000 miles. The French Ford dealer could not repair the engine and sent it back with the engine in peices in the boot. The AA took it back and dropped it off at Blakes with the front smashed in.

Blakes said they would repair the engine and I would have to claim off my insurance to fix the grill. I said you can **** off. I would have been OK with new engine and grill at the time. I went to lawyers who said they could get my money back. I said go for it. Blakes said they would charge parking fees. Ford did nothing as it was not their problem. I was in contact and they just wanted to know what was going on. I asked for the report from Ford of Europe. They never sent it after many requests. I again asked and the man I was dealing with was on hols. His replacement sent it. The engine was used (in a new car) and the crank was down to maximim turning. The French could not fix the engine at all as the crank was scrap..

I gave my lawyers the report. They said we have them by the goolies now. The case date was set and then Blakes settled out of court with the cost of the car and more on top and my lawyers fees. They took me to the courts doorstep, knowing the big man could do that and the small man may not be able to afford it - how many did they screw and got away with it?. I stuck out.

They were amateur arseholes who once they had your money coudn't give a hoot. I'm glad they went under. COWBOYS. Everything that was wrong with British service and industry they were it.

One company I was with were going to get 12 fleet cars. Ford and GM were the choices. I convinced them to go GM. One other guy I knew was in the process of signing a fleet deal, Ford were in the lead - just, I convinced him not to - 200 cars.

What goes around comes around.

[bobbymac]

I think that says it all.:PDT_Xtremez_12:

[Kev]

http://static.flickr.com/79/263173944_b95683852e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/263173944/)

http://static.flickr.com/102/263173839_90468eb5a1.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/263173839/)

http://static.flickr.com/107/263173716_e5179a51ed.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/263173716/)

http://static.flickr.com/102/263173608_970c37fa6b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/263173608/)

http://static.flickr.com/92/263173478_c2a98d6956.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/263173478/)

http://static.flickr.com/95/263173309_78fef01bf0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/263173309/)

[Bunnyman]

Couldn't the tight *******os reinstate the bridge as well? Half-arsed despots.

[scouserdave]

http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/lor3.jpg

http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/lor2.jpg

http://www.liverpoolpictorial.co.uk/lor.jpg

[snappel]

Crazy! My poor eyesight had never managed to spot those names on the tunnel! What a fantastic piece of masonry!! What happened to the garage on the station site? Looks closed down and disused now - I know some guys from Sub-brit got shown round the station site and it was being used as a workshop (photos somewhere online) but that was a while back...

[Scousemouse]

Is this the one?...

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/l/liverpool_overhead_railway/index1.shtml

[snappel]

Yes, that's it. :)

[Blabber]

You could see the trains through the sleepers underneath. .

Funny. I thought the LOR

was unique because the underneath of the tracks (the bridge?) was sealed- making it a Docker's Umbrella, and preventing litter falling down to street level

like in Chicago. So you wouldn't have been able to look up and see the underneath of the train.

[Kev]

Some railway sketches:

[theninesisters]

worked for Blakes the Ford dealer in Hardman St. The boss there a Mr. Stanley Blake Reece was a train enthusiast and he hired buses to transport the whole company, all branches and closed up shop to take us on the last ride.
We went the full length and back. Can't imagine todays businessmen doing a thing like that.

Now I'm too young to remember Blakes :) BUT....was this on the corner more or less opposite the Bombed out Church and is now a Chicken/Fast Food place?
If so...blimy. This used to be a classic car showroom! One of my good friends owns the property still and he used to run the car showroom. He must have leased the building out to Fords when it was going and still owns it now even though it's a fast food place. I've never been in it but underground is supposed to be massive! I think a phone call is due to see if he's got any old pictures or documentation!!

[Kev]

The fast food restraunt was bordered up lats time I went passed

[Waterways]

Funny. I thought the LOR was unique because the underneath of the tracks (the bridge?) was sealed- making it a Docker's Umbrella, and preventing litter falling down to street level like in Chicago. So you wouldn't have been able to look up and see the underneath of the train.

At the south end the trains could be seen. Probably didn't maintain it after WW2.

[Waterways]

Now I'm too young to remember Blakes :)

Arsehole of a company. I bought a new car of them once and they were just sharks.

[shytalk]

Now I'm too young to remember Blakes :) BUT....was this on the corner more or less opposite the Bombed out Church and is now a Chicken/Fast Food place?
If so...blimy. This used to be a classic car showroom! One of my good friends owns the property still and he used to run the car showroom. He must have leased the building out to Fords when it was going and still owns it now even though it's a fast food place. I've never been in it but underground is supposed to be massive! I think a phone call is due to see if he's got any old pictures or documentation!!
Ho Jon, It was on the block where the Philharmonic pub is. The Ford showroom was on Hunter St. at the other end of the block. Blakes used about 50% of the building including the huge basement which was under about 75% of the block.
The service reception was at the Hope St. entrance. The mechanical shop on the first floor and the paint/body shop on the top floor. It is a hollow building with a full height atrium with a fire escape down one corner. It has a glass roof on the atrium.
Someone told me that what was the showroom is now a pub.
They also had a showroom in Bold St. #110/112 where they had Wolseley/Riley/Morgan/Aston Martin main Dealerships.
I Havn't been in either building for at least 40 years so I don't know what changes have been made.

[Kev]

I took these today:

http://static.flickr.com/106/308696578_59863f4997.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/308696578/)

http://static.flickr.com/107/308696492_f74ae189a4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/308696492/)

http://static.flickr.com/120/308696416_019aa03984.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/308696416/)

http://static.flickr.com/118/308701110_0b937f3cb9.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/308701110/)

[snappel]

Mental! Excellent photos Kev.

Plus that yellow Escort looks ripe for a good thrashing!!

[ChrisGeorge]

Great pics, Kev and Dave, in this thread!

Chris

[PhilipG]

Very nice pics, Kev.
I've just put a set on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44435674@N00/sets/72157594395847062/

[Kev]

Very nice pics, Kev.
I've just put a set on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44435674@N00/sets/72157594395847062/

Brilliant :celb (23)::PDT_Piratz_26:

[ayjaykay]

Blakes - I'm glad they went belly up - they deserved to.


They were taken over by People's weren't they?

[w141]

http://www.photobydjnorton.com/LOR.html

[PhilipG]

http://www.photobydjnorton.com/LOR.html

Those photos are great, but the ones of the Dingle and Park Road are really special to me, as that's where I live.
I've never seen them before.

[lindylou]

http://www.photobydjnorton.com/LOR.html

Fantastic photos. Thanks for posting the link. :)

[marky]

There are still a few reminders around...the Tunnel and Herculaneum Dock entrance, some track supports along the route (built into the grey wall at Wapping), the supports show up at other places along the route if you walk along the 'dock rd'. The museum are also hiding one of the train carriages.
This plaque is near one of the old stations.
Large pic:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=298449142&size=l
http://static.flickr.com/99/298449142_28b125ad71.jpg

[MissInformed]

My boyfriend was talking to someone last night that said there is a massive warehouse in Bootle that contains carriage(s) of the Overhead Railway,

is this storage for the museum?

[Kev]

Wouldn't it be great if the overhead 'format' was revived in future transport plans, using the same tried and rested route to the Liver Building area and beyond! They could have a station exit just opposite the PSD!

[marky]

The location of the museums large vehicle store is supposed to be a secret!
Someone told me it was a warehouse somewhere along the 'dock rd', but I haven't bothered checking for myself. A while ago there was a trip organised to take people to the secret storage location (this was mentioned in the Liverpool Echo a couple of years ago).

[snappel]

Yes, there is a vehicle store in Bootle. Someone was telling me about it but I forget who it was now...

[marky]

Original plans for the new museum X-building were to suspend the Overhead Railway carriage up high.
BTW that plaque I posted is near the overhead walkway (Strand), near the site of the old Pier Head station.

[MissInformed]

The location of the museums large vehicle store is supposed to be a secret!
Someone told me it was a warehouse somewhere along the 'dock rd', but I haven't bothered checking for myself. A while ago there was a trip organised to take people to the secret storage location (this was mentioned in the Liverpool Echo a couple of years ago).

did the tour ever take place do you know marky?
would be great to get some pics

[w141]

Another Photo, I found it on The Scouse house, it is a sad picture depicting the despair of Liverpool in decline.
Maybe there is a message here for those who can decide the fate of The Royal Iris" WHEN IT'S GONE...IT'S GONE

[marky]

I wish I'd gone on the museum tour, but i'm too lazy sometimes. It was one of those open day things that happen every now and again...but I haven't noticed that one being repeated since.
Ask someone at the museum where the large vehicles are kept and see if they tell you where it is...ha, ha.
Here's a link to the museum site, which states coach No. 3 is 'currently in store'
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/collections/transport/overheadrailway.asp
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/collections/transport/graphics/overhead_railway_coach.jpg
pic. copyright National Museums Liverpool

[ChrisGeorge]

Go to

http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?image=10289077&wwwflag=2&imagepos=4

[w141]

Or http://www.timbosliverpool.co.uk/lor/index.htm

Or http://urbanrail.net/eu/liv/liverpool_lor.html

Or http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/l/liverpool_overhead_railway/

Or http://dewi.ca/trains/l_o_r/index.html

[Scouseinmanc]

The LOR actually closed 50 years ago last night! For the first time in a while, the trains were packed to capacity with enthusiasts & wellwishers.
The day after (50 years ago today of course), the local bus coorporation then started running the Dingle - Seaforth route instead, which was nowhere near as fas as its predecessor.
What a travesty..
I have no memories of this fine institution, only images I have seen & what I have read about it. It would be so wonderful if even only part of it were to be resurrected. I can't believe that it's not happened already. I think it would be a great tourist magnet, not to mention a great way to travel through the city centre!!

[Kev]

I'm looking through these links and reading the facts about the OHR and still asking how the hell we lost it so quickly (shakes head) :PDT_Xtremez_12:.

A world first? a popular tourist attraction? GONE :disgust:.

[w141]

"The time will come when Merseysiders must rue the day when they permitted the City Fathers to throttle the
lifeblood of this unique undertaking and in addition to scrap the last vestige of their remarkably
efficient tramway system."
H. Maxwell Roston (General Manager, Liverpool Overhead Railway)

Text taken from Timbo's Liverpool

KEV
Why has it taken Half a century and at least 2 generations for Merseysiders to discover what they have lost

[PhilipG]

KEV
Why has it taken Half a century and at least 2 generations for Merseysiders to discover what they have lost[/QUOTE]

Actually, it was missed by the general public very soon after it closed.
I came to Liverpool from Southport in 1968, and remember even then people talking about the Overhead, and saying: "What a shame", etc.

Going back even further, My mum used to take me on it (early 1950s), and we'd go to the Tatler in Church Street to watch the cartoons.

50 years later, I actually live above Dingle Station! :)

[gregred]

Hi i found out today that apperently my great grandfather was the first ford dealer in liverpool on the site the blakes took over.WEBBS OF LIVERPOOL,funny thing is i have loved cars and motorsport all my life and not even known about this.I only found out because i (through my passion for cars) am starting my own valeting buisness and while using my uncles hot washer he told me about my relatives owning this garage and after going bust opening the hale village garden centre (wich i did know about)sadly this is also know closed.Being a bit flumuxed i have'nt asked him much but will be asking my mum as soon as she gets back from thailand. I hope i can get hold of some pictures and maybe post them on here.Many thanks to you i sort of found some info but it seems with blakes being more sucsesfull webbs ford has been forgotten.Thanks for a informative read.

[shytalk]

Gregred,
In the 50's I worked for Blakes. At the time there were three Ford Main dealers in Liverpool. J.Blake & Co. Ltd. A.W.Webb Ltd. and J.C. Whitney in Scotland Road. Webbs was in Pilgrim St. and last time I was around there the building was still there but being used for something else. If you go up Pilgrim St. from Berry St. it is a 2 story building with a ramp up the side to drive onto the roof.
I don't remember when they went out of business. Blakes used to advertise that they were the oldest Ford dealer in the country, established in 1912.

[gregred]

Thanks for the reply,my uncle was telling me today that it was a three storey building with a car park on the roof.Ben webb was my greatgrandfathers name and arthur was his fathers name.I know from looking at photos when i was young he owned a daimler.It may not of been an official ford dealer but they only bought cars from ford.Maybe dealerships were just starting and that owned garages were getting squeezed out?I do know that my grandad lesley cook (husband of nancy webb ben's daughter)worked their.People allways tell me it's like looking at a ghost when they see me as i look so much alike him.Another spookey thing is when i was looking at the photos of the cars in the dingle tunnel from the links in this thread,the white or cream car has the numbers 913 in.My birthday is 13/9 spooky,.I am in widnes so i am going to do some investigating.My mum had told me that their was a garage buisness at one time in her family but she failed to mention it was a dealership possibly or even that they sold cars.

I feel very proud though knowing that somebody other than family remembers my great grandfathers buisness and as would he i would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for replying.You have made my day i just wish they still had the buisness then i could of had my dream car a ford escort cosworth he he.Still hopefully in a couple of thousand valets i might be a little closer to being able to afford one.Thing that gets me though is why my mum never really mentioned it to me knowing how mad about cars i was.Still at least i know were i get it from.I will try my best to get some photos,i am going to be pestering my mum and aunts and uncles for pics as i would be really interested to contest blakes claims.:snf (41):

My sincere thanks to you for replying i had noticed the thread was a couple of months old and was wondering if i would get one. You really have made my day .

[gregred]

Just found out that my great grandfather was not only the first ford dealer in liverpool he also sold the first ford from a liverpool garage.My auntie who worked in fords halewood say's there was a huge picture in fords of my great grandfather with the car sold.She thinks it was a ford anglia.I have also contacted an ex employee and i am hoping he will be able to shed some light on the situation.How i would love to re open that garage and put a sign up saying we were the first official ford dealership and put that photo in the showroom to prove it.If indeed it is the case webbs were the first,I know it 's probobly not of huge importance to anyone but i know if my great grandfather was the first it would be a nice thing for me to prove he was.

[Kev]

Was there any future for the much-lamented Liverpool Overhead Railway?, asks Peter Elson on the 50th anniversary of its closure.

Read on (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=our-lost-umbrella%26method=full%26objectid=18430304%26sitei d=50061-name_page.html).....

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/jan2007/5/9/076B0478-9705-53C5-202246D55901C4C5.jpg

[shytalk]

gregred,
It could not have been a Ford Anglia that was the first Ford sold in the city. Blakes owned a 1914 Model T amongst their collection of antiques. The story was that it was the first Model T sold in Liverpool by them.
The name anglia was first used I believe in 1947, Ford previously used model numbers, the car they called the Anglia had previously been known as the Ford 7Y. 8hp. Halewood opened in the early 60's and the first car they produced used to be in Liverpool museum and was only brought out for dealer promotions. It was the 105E Anglia identifiable by the backwards sloping back window.
If you need any more information on the car trade in that era please feel free to message me, I don't want to keep getting off the theme of this thread.

[w141]

exellent link Kev

[PhilipG]

Was there any future for the much-lamented Liverpool Overhead Railway?, asks Peter Elson on the 50th anniversary of its closure.[B]


Poor maintenance is very often the reason for demolition.
From New Brighton Tower to Municipal Housing.

The Palm House almost went the same way.
The list is endless.

[marky]

LOR supports, Wapping.

[Kev]

LOR supports, Wapping.

:handclap: Cheers Mary

[Gnomie]

http://h1.ripway.com/andalucia/liverpoollife88.jpg

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi Gnomie

Lovely poster, Gnomie! Thanks for sharing it with us.

As for whether there was a future for the Overhead Railway, it would appear self-evident that if the powers that be had thought it was worth preserving, it would still be with us today. But no doubt the feeling was that the Overhead Railway had served its usefulness and that buses rather than local rail or tramways were the wave of the future. This was the trend not only in the UK but also here in the United States, where streetcars (trams) were done away with in favor of buses. Only recently have trams or light rail transportation made a comeback.

Chris

[ChrisGeorge]

LOR supports, Wapping.

Great pics, Marky! The picture of the Wapping wall brings a smile to my face because this is where I worked on the docks as a clerk in the summer of 1966, my first job when I was still a student at Quarry Bank. :celb (23):

Chris

[PhilipG]

Great pics, Marky! The picture of the Wapping wall brings a smile to my face because this is where I worked on the docks as a clerk in the summer of 1966, my first job when I was still a student at Quarry Bank. :celb (23):

Chris

Good grief, Chris.
You're younger than me. :)

[Kev]

A NEW film is set to re-create Liverpool’s famous Overhead Railway, fondly remembered around the world as the “Dockers Umbrella”.

Now, using computer-generated wizardry, the railway – and the long-gone trams that passed under it – have been brilliantly brought back to life by North Star, the Liverpool production company behind gangster movie Going Off Big Time.

Old footage of the railway was used as the basis for images which brought gasps of delight and astonishment from an audience of VIPs who were given a sneak preview at the city’s Radisson Hotel. more (http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpooldailypost/news/regionalnews/tm_headline=technology-sends-the-overhead-railway-rattling-along-again%26method=full%26objectid=18938067%26siteid=5 0061-name_page.html)

[taffy]

LOR supports, Wapping.

Nice photos. Frances Morton and Co Ltd was of course based in Garston and was a major steel fabrication company. A particular speciality was prefabricated buildings, churches etc which they exported world wide. The business had its roots in Cable St Liverpool in 1766. Unfortunately like most of the original dockside industry in Garston, it is no more.

[Wato]

Errm I've only done 3 posts so far so please excuse me if this has been linked to but a mate on you tube has this of the overhead railway....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr6cKHaHv4s

Hope it's of interest :PDT11

Some great stuff there of the tunnels if anyones interested too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoCmNTqTBf4

I still get mad at the lack of interest in this site....Its WORLD heritage!! If this was London we'd have a museum over it. :disgust: Sorry Rant over.

Peace and Happiness.....Gaz

[Cadfael]

Fantastic footage there! I've got a load of scans from when they turned the Edge Hill cutting from a enclosed tunnel to what is now the 14 tunnels to Lime Street - I'll have to start editing em for here as they're 7mb each!

[drone_pilot]

Excellent stuff there Wato.

[Gerrysea]

Errm I've only done 3 posts so far so please excuse me if this has been linked to but a mate on you tube has this of the overhead railway....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr6cKHaHv4s

Hope it's of interest :PDT11

Peace and Happiness.....Gaz

Interest? Quite often on a Sunday, in my younger years, my Dad used to take me on a trip along the full length of the Overhead whenever there was a ship of interest in the docks. I particularly remenber us doing the trip when the Empress of Canada caught fire and capsized in Gladstone Dock(1953). We'd get the No 60 to the Dingle and then Overhead to Seaforth and back. Thanks to your post I've just done it again!!

[phredd]

What a fantastic ride back in time.
What a jurney.
Thanks Wato.

Phredd

[Wato]

Interest? Quite often on a Sunday, in my younger years, my Dad used to take me on a trip along the full length of the Overhead whenever there was a ship of interest in the docks. I particularly remenber us doing the trip when the Empress of Canada caught fire and capsized in Gladstone Dock(1953). We'd get the No 60 to the Dingle and then Overhead to Seaforth and back. Thanks to your post I've just done it again!!

Aww mate, glad to have helped with the memories, I'll keep trying to find stuff of interest and post it. :PDT11
Hope you and yours are all well...
Peace and Happiness......Gaz

[Wato]

What a fantastic ride back in time.
What a jurney.
Thanks Wato.

Phredd

Most welcome mate, speak soon :)

Peace and Happiness...Gaz

[eddie french]

Two years ago we visited friends in Chicago Il.
We went under, over and on the MTS which includes a carbon copy of the Dockers Umbrella. The yanks have really looked after their Overhead railway.
If theirs is still fully functional and providing a much needed service then it surely was folly to demolish ours.
I have some pics somewhere, I will dig them out and you will see that the steelwork is identical on both structures when compared with library shots of the Liverpool one.
Such a pity :PDT_Xtremez_42:

[ChrisGeorge]

Two years ago we visited friends in Chicago Il.
We went under, over and on the MTS which includes a carbon copy of the Dockers Umbrella. The yanks have really looked after their Overhead railway.
If theirs is still fully functional and providing a much needed service then it surely was folly to demolish ours.
I have some pics somewhere, I will dig them out and you will see that the steelwork is identical on both structures when compared with library shots of the Liverpool one.
Such a pity :PDT_Xtremez_42:

Hi Eddie

A number of American cities had or still have overhead or elevated railways (the "El" as it is known here). See this Google search (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=overhead+or+elevated+railways+%28the+%22El%22+).

Chris

[Kev]

Errm I've only done 3 posts so far so please excuse me if this has been linked to but a mate on you tube has this of the overhead railway....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr6cKHaHv4s

Hope it's of interest :PDT11

Some great stuff there of the tunnels if anyones interested too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoCmNTqTBf4

I still get mad at the lack of interest in this site....Its WORLD heritage!! If this was London we'd have a museum over it. :disgust: Sorry Rant over.

Peace and Happiness.....Gaz

Gaz, thanks for these. The OH is excellent, really enjoyed the ride. The Moorish Arch is great too, we have a Moorish Arch thread: Here
(http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3888&highlight=moorish+arch)

[PhilipG]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1222/665530446_f8aefa2d8c_o.jpg

[Kev]

Phil, what a superb pic :handclap:. I'm amazed that you can also see the Tower Block (Heysmoor Heights (http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showpost.php?p=41246&postcount=11)) at the bottom of Lodge Lane!

[PhilipG]

Phil, what a superb pic :handclap:. I'm amazed that you can also see the Tower Block (Heysmoor Heights (http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showpost.php?p=41246&postcount=11)) at the bottom of Lodge Lane!

Thank you, Kev.
I don't know how to crop photos, so I took about a dozen of this view before I was happy, and I had to keep deleting pics because the memory card was full.

[taffy]

Interesting web site, worth a look

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/features/index.shtml

[quincyg]

took these August Bank holiday last year
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/quincyg/blogging%20pix/Picture1193-1.jpg

not sure if these are remains of a station
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/quincyg/blogging%20pix/Picture1200-1.jpg

I'm too young to have known the LOR but my dad always loved it. I've got books and a video about it. And as I result always had a soft sopt for it's history. Ironic then that 8 years ago when we moved I found out that the LOR ran along a little beyond the bottom of our garden before sweeping into Seaforth & Litherland Station.

[Chris48]

I used to work with a guy that wrote a book called "The Dockers Umbrella" His name was Paul Bolger.

[Ged]

Hello Chris. Yes, he also wrote the 3 Edwardian Liverpool books with old A-Z pages in them. The blue, red and Green ones for each part of the city, very informative.

[Chris48]

Blakes Hardman Street Circa 1950

[shytalk]

Good pic Chris48, I worked there from 1954 'till 1958. :handclap:
Do you have any more of Blakes?

[Saintess]

I remember going to Liverpool on a school trip when I was about 10, one of the highlights was a trip on the overhead railway this was just before it closed down, but I still remember the excitement, having a father who loved trains helped me realise the importance and to really enjoy the experience,

[skgogosfan]

"The time will come when Merseysiders must rue the day when they permitted the City Fathers to throttle the
lifeblood of this unique undertaking and in addition to scrap the last vestige of their remarkably
efficient tramway system."
H. Maxwell Roston (General Manager, Liverpool Overhead Railway


How right he was. I wonder if Peel's fancy monorail for Liverpool Waters will grab the same affection? If it ever gets built.


took these August Bank holiday last year
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/quincyg/blogging%20pix/Picture1193-1.jpg

not sure if these are remains of a station
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e28/quincyg/blogging%20pix/Picture1200-1.jpg

I'm too young to have known the LOR but my dad always loved it. I've got books and a video about it. And as I result always had a soft sopt for it's history. Ironic then that 8 years ago when we moved I found out that the LOR ran along a little beyond the bottom of our garden before sweeping into Seaforth & Litherland Station.

Hmm not too sure it IS a LOR station. It looks like a viaduct for something heading into the docks. Where was it taken? It *may* be for the now-demolished goods line from Sandhills but I'd need the location to double check.

Dave.

[quincyg]

"The time will come when Merseysiders must rue the day when they permitted the City Fathers to throttle the
lifeblood of this unique undertaking and in addition to scrap the last vestige of their remarkably
efficient tramway system."
H. Maxwell Roston (General Manager, Liverpool Overhead Railway


How right he was. I wonder if Peel's fancy monorail for Liverpool Waters will grab the same affection? If it ever gets built.



Hmm not too sure it IS a LOR station. It looks like a viaduct for something heading into the docks. Where was it taken? It *may* be for the now-demolished goods line from Sandhills but I'd need the location to double check.

Dave.

cheers Dave, next time I'm over that way I'll get a more specific location for you.

there was a piece on NW Tonight tonight about the reconstruction they are doing for the new museum.

[ChrisO]

Quincyg

Your second photo is the remaining bridge abutment for the high level coal line into Bramley-Moore Dock. The LOR went underneath this line in between Nelson Dock station & Sandon Dock station.
Look on the Subbrit. Disused Stations site, there's an entire section devoted to the LOR and you can see a map on either the Nelson station or the Sandon station bit, showing the coal railway crossing the dock road.

[quincyg]

Quincyg

Your second photo is the remaining bridge abutment for the high level coal line into Bramley-Moore Dock. The LOR went underneath this line in between Nelson Dock station & Sandon Dock station.
Look on the Subbrit. Disused Stations site, there's an entire section devoted to the LOR and you can see a map on either the Nelson station or the Sandon station bit, showing the coal railway crossing the dock road.

thanks for that Chris much appreciated. :PDT_Piratz_26:
been away with a family emergency so only just catching up with posts.

[skgogosfan]

Quincyg

Your second photo is the remaining bridge abutment for the high level coal line into Bramley-Moore Dock. The LOR went underneath this line in between Nelson Dock station & Sandon Dock station.
Look on the Subbrit. Disused Stations site, there's an entire section devoted to the LOR and you can see a map on either the Nelson station or the Sandon station bit, showing the coal railway crossing the dock road.

Thanks-now I know what it was too. ;)

Dave.

[Kev]

A JOURNEY on Liverpool?s famous historic overhead railway ? or ?dockers? umbrella? ? is to be reconstructed in a large-scale projection at the Pier Head from tonight. Read (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/10/28/film-show-recreates-journey-on-docker-s-umbrella-64375-22130514/)

[Paddy]

I think it is a very interesting subject. You would be suprised how much interest there is in the Ovehead it was for its time a very advanced mode of transport they should have never pulled it down. It has been studied by city authorities all over the world.

[Waterways]

I think it is a very interesting subject. You would be suprised how much interest there is in the Ovehead it was for its time a very advanced mode of transport they should have never pulled it down. It has been studied by city authorities all over the world.

Chicago and New York predated it. But it was the first electric railway. Hamburg and Paris also had/have parts of their metro systems overhead like Liverpool's

Modern Monorails easily beat it and that is what Liverpool needs in the centre not trundling, outdated, old technology trams stuck in traffic.

Just what Liverpool needs. Fantastic!!!!

http://www.monorails.org/webpix%202/Sydney04.jpg

http://www.monorails.org/webpix%202/Sydney05.jpg

http://www.monorails.org/webpix%202/Sydney07.jpg

[quincyg]

A JOURNEY on Liverpool?s famous historic overhead railway ? or ?dockers? umbrella? ? is to be reconstructed in a large-scale projection at the Pier Head from tonight. Read (http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/10/28/film-show-recreates-journey-on-docker-s-umbrella-64375-22130514/)

BBC NEWS | England | Film of docks shown on tunnel (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7695616.stm)

will try and get into town one evening to see it.

[quincyg]

did anyone manage to see this?

I'm stuck in sick so I've missed it. shame it was only on a week. :sad:

[gregs dad]

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee283/exactavarex/P1050343.jpg
Part of the Liverpool`s old overhead railway, took this as I was walking from Brunswick Station yesterday.