I was about 4 years old, and every week we would visit my Grandma and Grandads for the evening. My Mum and i would get a bus from Crosby to Bootle, and then a 60 or 81 to Queens Drive/ Utting ave, then a short walk to Woodland Road off Cherry Lane.
One evening the buses weren't running very well so my Grandad took us to Liverpool Exchange to get a train home. As soon as i toddled into Exchange Station, i was awestruck by the size and atmosphere of the station. it was a cold winters night and the dimly lit station seemed lovely to me. We boarded a waiting class 502, and made the journey to Blundellsands. I don't remember much about the journey, but i wanted to travel by train everywhere from then on.
As i grew older i was fascinated by all the maps and systems of the railways in the Liverpool area, and Mum would take me into Town as often as she could by Train.
Before i reached the age of 10, i made a couple of memorable rail journeys, one being to Chester Zoo with my Auntie.This involved my first trip under the river from Liverpool central (now the Northern line, then the Wirral line), to Rock Ferry, where we had to change for a DMU , to take us to Upton -By-Chester, which was the station for the Zoo.
Another journey was a school trip to York, aboard a class 124 'Transpennine' unit, from Lime street. The 124's have remained my favourite 1st gen DMU's of all time...truly clagging, nice looking beasts !!
These are my first Memories of childhood train Travel, and i forgot to include the Southport Trips. Hope you enjoyed my early memories.
