West Coast Main Line Driver's Eye View: Crewe to Liverpool Lime Street

[@kharkhov]

Lime St has to be one of the most imposing station approaches in the UK. The cutting from Edge Hill is a masterful piece of engineering.

[@Vikkin1218]

It does look stunning, do we know why the speed restriction?

[@wilsonator2008]

Wanting to go to Liverpool after all the Coronavirus stuff dies down and look at the merseyrail network, not been to Liverpool in 2 years or so currently so saving up for the train journey over there.

[@GuyKenward]

Josh Wilson its really good here there is a bridge outside of speke great for vids and photos

[@kevinkibble8342]

It's very similar to the northern approach to Sheffield, with all the tunnels and trenches.

[@richardheade7778]

Your videos are superb, thank you for sharing them with us all. I also like the non music, please just leave the audio sounds in as I love to hear the flange squeal and other associated noises, it's all part of the railway experience.

[@johnwrigjt8658]

You made me home sick. This was the last rail journey I had as a 15year old headed for a new life in Canada. Thankyou John G.

[@kjmusicalmarshall]

My parents live in Runcorn and I am currently in Bournemouth. I haven't been to Runcorn for a year due to the pandemic, but this makes me feel like I'm home in Runcorn whilst being at home in Bournemouth. It's truly marvellous. Thankyou so much :-)

[@ashleytardivel8216]

As a person who works on the railway I do take for granted how beautiful some of the areas we get to see are

[@benbisley]

Fascinating, the complex engineering work on the approach to Lime Street.

[@KrotowX]

Sure. those tunnels for 4 trains are enormous.

[@KrotowX]

@북극곰 UK

[@bulwinkle]

@S R T you have heard of Google, right?

[@luziapereira6491]

Wow ! As a Beatles fan you can imagine how I feel watching these images . Very emotional for me that never could to visit there . I loved it , the names of stations and others informations . Thank you so much .

[@kriswarren2469]

Well said...too many unappreciative people who think they can just demand things

[@paulanderson79]

I am in complete agreement. KZbin seems to host a lot of unpleasant individuals.

[@geoffupton]

well i personally think you did very well with this 😊 these people on youtube who dont appreciate good work need their heads looking at! at least us folks who appreciate your work give you credit for it! 😊👍🏻

[@Drone3774]

paulanderson79 welcome to the internet 😂😂

[@rc4716]

The approach to Lime Street must be the 8th Wonder of the World!

[@gb5uq]

Great video many thanks. Incredible Edge Hill section, those Victorian engineers were amazing.

[@jps1179]

Interesting video, brought tears to my eyes. I first did this trip in 1955 from Liverpool to London Euston and return to visit my aunt. The last time was in 1979. It's amazing how the original track has been upgraded to high speed. The original engineers knew what they were doing. Still the same mould and mildew in the Edge Hill cutting and Lime Street Station as I remember from years ago!

[@motormouser]

Great video,always loved the journey into LimeSt. My Dad was a driver in Liverpool and i got to ride in the cab as a kid a few times on this route :)

[@edwardtsoukalidis2071]

Often wondered what you did after leaving Eastern Suburb’s RL Club. Great work; good, clear vision. Hope to see more of your work.

[@zulkiflijamil4033]

In my past experience as a student in UK, i always have high regards and respect for the then British Railway ( in the 1980s ). I wish i can travel to the UK. Thank you for your excellent videos.

[@MerrickWells]

Used to live overlooking the line at Mossley Hill, great to see the Edge Hill cutting and entry to Lime Street from driver's eye view

[@rubyait]

Great video Ben. I would think that Lime Street would be the favorite destination for any train buffs.

[@rogerredding5269]

Love your videos even better with no stupid music or people talking in the background just the sounds in the cab of a train going about it's everyday 😂 business I love it well done, many thanks for sharing these wonderful scenic railway journeys from the drivers eye view? Very best wishes Roger.

[@LJones20110501]

Rather apt that I have admonished you today (20/05/2020) about music on your 'Sutton to Selhurst' video from 2016, then up pops this one ! There is nothing 'half arsed' about the audio on this video, Ben, you are back to your usual excellent self.

[@dream.machine]

YES! I've been waiting for a driver's eye video for months now from you! Awesome videos! Look forward maybe to doing some of my own in the future.

[@DogSerious]

I love watching these videos at double speed setting!

[@iaspex1289]

Do this trip on a daily basis, Liverpool's my home city. Thanks for uploading this

[@MattWillisVideoProductions2023]

They are YOUR videos so you can do what you like to them for the publics entertainment. They have no right to judge or be critical or even demand that you do this/do that to them just to please their pathetic opinions. End of the day its also your job as well! So they can button it! As an agency rail worker I love watching your videos. Gives me more of an insight to lines I have worked on or on those that I hope to work on in the future. Keep em coming and ignore the haters!

[@calopes68]

Fantastic trip and video! You English railroadmen built long ago the railroad system (now completely degraded) of my state of São Paulo - Brazil: Santos - Jundiaí; Sorocabana, Noroeste, Cia Paulista, Mogiana...

[@gordonburns8731]

I love these real-time videos... so absolutely cathartic.

[@heatherbennett506]

phew. Thank you for the ride through the beautiful English countryside. Living in Australia I miss it

[@richardcochrane1966]

Remember once travelling down from Scotland to Hereford and stopping (on coach) at an under renovation Crewe to use their "facilities" - down into the main area - no trains, NO RAILS, literally deathly quiet - eerie as hell....

[@danamack7405]

Hi! Love your videos and I hope you may do some more - do you think you might be able to ? Best regards, Dana.

[@SDMSAUDI]

Thank you, great ! Seeing the Freightliner 66 whizz past made me think; when you first started driving, especially with fast closing speeds, is there a tendency to flinch as you 'meet' each other? I did just watching !

[@MetalFan10101]

I do the same when my girlfriend overtakes parked cars!

[@arthurrytis6010]

I normally flinched going through Linslade tunnel on the down fast. Especially with an 86 !

[@steves5172]

A really good quality video without music - thank you! Like many people who have commented I can recall the Crewe - Lime Street journey from many years ago and it is great to see it 'from the front'.

[@hugebartlett1884]

Watching these films always makes me feel that humanity has disappeared,hardly a soul to be seen,even working by the tracks. Great way to travel,beautiful countryside,relaxing atmosphere,and there in half an hour!

[@daicymru5527]

Interesting to see the approach to Lime St. from the drivers cab. However deoes anyone remember the Royal Scots steam engines pulling the express trains uphill out of Lime St with a tank engine at the rear to give them some push?

[@geoffupton]

brilliant work, anyone who says otherwise didnt watch it! its nice to see (and hear!) the views and hear the sounds the driver gets when driving!

[@stevies.1975]

Loved the arrival into Lime Street under the arch!

[@paulziolo9241]

I must’ve done this trip thousands upon thousands of times - but never from the cab POV. Wonderful - and thanks everso for the upload. AND for gettingb id of a silly muzak track.

[@TheXboxGamer32]

I love train rides! I once went to Liverpool on a train. This video makes me nostalgic of that!

[@Mike.o.s.b]

A brilliant video. Thank you very much for posting it on KZbin

[@cmdrmunster5879]

My dad used to be a driver/fireman in the steam days. He worked for LMS, out of the Sutton Oak Sheds. Wish I could have been a train driver :)

[@flowerking3848]

fantastic video. thank you from france.in october i would have a great pleasure to see this wonderful arrival at lime street during my next stay in liverpool ( google traduction) tres belle video.merci depuis la france.en octobre,j 'aurais le plaisir de voir cette impressionante arrivée a lime street lors de mon prochain sejour a liverpool

[@roykemp4941]

Excellent video , many thanks for uploading, enjoyed it.

[@ChrisGJ700]

A Desiro 350/360(?) class EMU, I'm guessing, going off of that distinctive "car alarm" whine which can occasionally be heard, which I believe is produced by the units' AC traction motors.

[@neilcrawford8303]

It's a class 350. You can see the corridor connection to the left of the camera. 360s run out of London Liverpool Street out to Essex and beyond. They also operated the Heathrow Connect commuter services from Paddington.

[@markcf83]

Class 350 probably a London Midland one.

[@RWL2012]

it's a 350. would've been nice if he had put that in the title or description but yeah

[@SuperSivla]

so relaxing to watch this, while in bed. I just wish there there was a full length london to scotland video, they are great to fall to sleep watching to see how far i can get (there is absolutely nothing boring about these videos, i love them. In fact i would have loved to have been a train driver, but it just never happened for one reason or another.

[@vincentm614]

Im American and when I think of Liverpool I think of The Beatles. The guy who wrote "A Hard Day's Night" screenplay also wrote a television teleplay about Lime Street in Liverpool. Lime Street must be a major artery in Central Liverpool.

[@Mortimer50145]

Lime Street is a busy A road (main road) in Liverpool city centre. It is probably best known as the name of Liverpool's main railway station. goo.gl/maps/5oJdgnFQEKPXJdmh9 is the station front; spin road 90 degrees left or right to see the street. The big red logo on the front of the station (two parallel horizontal lines intersected by a zig-zag line) was the logo of the nationalised company British Rail which ran UK's railways from 1947 to the early 90s when the system was privatised; the old BR logo continues to be used, now by National Rail, the company that owns the track, signalling and most of the stations. Thinking of the Beatles, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Rigby_(statue) is a bronze statue in Stanley Street, a small insignificant street in the city centre, to the fictitious character. I hadn't realised until I looked it up on Wikipedia that was designed and made by the entertainer Tommy Steele.

[@andrewkendall8035]

I see at 19mins 12s into the video as you pass the track workers the second one trips over & something like PPE flies onto the up line rail - A near miss accident! I passed train driver aptitude test twice but sadly could never get in to my dream job despite trying many times! Shows I'm sharp to notice this moment & what being a driver is all about - Good concentration & observation! Not easy to get shortlisted as so many apply for this awesome career! PS I knew Weaver Junction was a very fast set of points (used to me 70mph) but I see now 100mph for a Pendalino.. Mind boggling fast piece of engineering! Just sad most of the rest of the line into Liverpool is a slow 80mph! A bit stupid really if they can brilliantly engineer those points to 100mph but not the rest of the line upto Liverpool Parkway!

[@lousherwood8227]

The oddity, for me as an American rail fan, is in the high speed sections, seeing full length ties, where several transit systems, and Amtrak's NE Corridor, there's a movement to using half ties in concrete bases. The rationale is that it stands up to higher speeds better, is quieter, plus lasts longer.

[@paulwhitear4983]

Very good video. Nice to know where we were going, as I live in the south.

[@HAZ2B]

Amazing description

[@PaulL42654]

You're alive! Great video

[@brianligat8901]

We are now arriving at Crewe. For passengers wishing to change for Wolverhampton... there is a Sports Direct opposite the station.

[@soundseeker63]

Seems like a lot of track and OHL work has been done outside Lime St. since I was last there!

[@defaultmesh]

Finally arrived at Liverpool Lime Street. Thank you Mr. Train Driver for the pleasant ride.

[@SuperSivla]

Liverpool Lime street to Crewe change platform for London Midland train to London Euston. took over 5 hours. I only had to wait 10 minutes even after changing platform, thats how slow the London Midland train was. Now I just get the Virgin train out of Lime street and get there without changing within 2 hours.

[@Cydonius1]

while watching these train videos and see a small little village in the countryside with a brick house close to the tracks, I say to myself "I wish I was living right there in that nice house"" :D

[@brucewilliams8714]

No, Ben, I won't bite you. I prefer your cab chat to music, even if I can't decipher it. A great trip. On a visit to UK, I stayed at the nearby Adelphi.

[@TIMBOWERMAN]

32:01, are you opening a Pepsi/Coke/J2O bottle Ben? It always intrigues me seeing the throat of Liverpool Lime Street to Edge Hill in both directions. I remember being told that it was done by pick and shovel, I claimed that because that throat was dug in 1850, well since the Industrial Revolution that some steam machinery was used. Have you driven Class 390 (The Pendolino)?

[@greatbritishentertainmentl5636]

Very nice trip into Liverpool Lime Street station

[@mountainrover]

Great video. I love these cab views, especially at the junctions where the perspective is completely different to that from a side window. A little question - where does the line from Manchester converge - was it Edge Hill Jn?

[@extrude22]

mountainrover There are 2 separate lines between Liverpool and Manchester. They both converge just before Liverpool South Parkway Station.

[@FabianEason]

The sectional appendix is out of date (pdf version) is still showing as that platform at Lime St as out of use, last updated 9th April 18.

[@oddities-whatnot]

I must admit, the journey from Crewe to Liverpool is a bit random, not sure how many people do that but great video all the same. Nice weather for it.

[@craigymarsh941]

you should do a drivers eye view video from London liverpool street to shenfield on a class 345 train on the Great eastern mainline on the stopper

[@nanba25]

It's always this impression of 19th century England when you come to the final miles (after 29:37), vaguely menacing, a kind of Piranese subterranean architecture, a perfect setting for a mean plot…

[@ds1868]

Let alone one of the finest pieces of engineering anywhere in the world.

[@josephkarl2061]

Excellent presentation. All the info you add to your videos makes the experience that much more enjoyable, especially to someone like me who lives in New Zealand, and couldn't practically experience this any other way. The half-arsed efforts you have used to mute the audio worked very well, I think and **IN MY OPINION** (just trying to avoid the trolls there), works much better than adding music. People like Goeff Marshall do cab rides with all music, and again, *in my opinion* it's akin to buying a Kinder Surprise and finding there's no toy inside - the chocolate was nice, but you're missing something essential.... If I may, I would make one polite request - At places like Hartford Junction (9:08), it would be interesting for me to know which other railway lines the train is merging with. A quick Google search landed nothing of any immediate relevance, and as I have said, I live on the other side of the world and can't easily go to these places and find out. I fully realise that may be too much extra work, and you have every right to ignore me, but I thought I would at least politely ask. Many thanks for well-made, informative video.

[@beneliastrains]

Hi Joseph, thanks for your comments. I appreciate people don't want to listen to music when watching these videos - I am much the same, it's just a lot less effort to overlay music than it is to do as I've done here which is why people (including myself) do it/have done it in the past. I see your point about diverging junctions and in future videos I will see what I can do with regards to adding this information.

[@josephkarl2061]

@@beneliastrains Many thanks for the reply. I absolutely appreciate how much extra effort is required to silence the audio, and at least from my perspective, it is greatly appreciated. Again, many thanks for your efforts. Joseph.

[@colbrazier]

That seems to be a branch off the Stockport - Chester line

[@stephenbagwell8275]

28:31 is there a driver's eye view video of a Liverpool to Drax train?

[@jamesfrench2454]

That's quite the tumble from the maintenance worker at 19:09 hope they pulled out of that ok!

[@iaspex1289]

Face first, that's gotta hurt!

[@martynd]

Could of been worse, the helmet came off as well and bounced off the rail.

[@roboftherock]

Nope. helmet didn't come off. Looked like some rubbish, but helmet stayed put - as it had to.

[@RogerDiotte]

Good Catch!

[@drummingriffin]

"It's not perfect. Bite me". OK, arm, leg or arse? lol. Great video mate, just keep 'em coming. Cheers.

[@malcolm06768962]

Great video, thanks for the upload

[@HenrysAdventures]

Another great video!

[@AndreiTupolev]

Brilliant view going over the Runcorn Bridge!

[@pgchase4578043026]

To what train does the yellow "EPS" Permissible speed indicator refer? (Example at 9:40.) 125/110.

[@beneliastrains]

The higher speed applies to class 390 Pendolino trains and the lower speed applies to class 221 Tilting Super Voyager trains.

[@beneliastrains]

Though in the scenario at the time you mention, the EPS speed applies to both 221 and 390 trains and the standard 110 applies to all other passenger trains.

[@pgchase4578043026]

FourFoot What does "EPS" stand for? (Sorry I don't live in UK). Thanks.

[@beneliastrains]

@@pgchase4578043026 enhanced permissible speed

[@stevies.1975]

FourFoot I thought EPS applies to all tilt equipped stock?

[@David330ify]

Great video. Really enjoyed.

[@danamack7405]

Love the video - ChrisGJ700 asked whether this was a class 350 EMU ? Can you please help us identify the unit filmed from ? Many thanks, and best regards, Dana.

[@RWL2012]

it's a 350.

[@onpeppy4596]

i' m glad i found your channel thx

[@danamack7405]

Hi!!! Never received a reply so I will try again! :))) Will you be able to film more of your wonderful train cab ride videos ? Best regards, and hope to hear from your soon !!!! Dana.

[@beneliastrains]

Yes Dana, I've been consistently uploading a video a year for the last 3 years. I will be uploading more, more regularly, soon.

[@DanaMackstormdog94]

Love the video btw !!!! Best regards again, Dana.

[@ELAviation]

Awesome video mate. Lovely work 👌🏽

[@harveyjohndrew907]

Wow! It's been a long time, nice to see a new video. Is there more coming?

[@beneliastrains]

There will be!

[@harveyjohndrew907]

I'll look forward to them

[@marcraetchii6805]

It would have been great to see you current speed as well as speed limits in your videos. I am planning to become a train driver and it would provide me with an overview of how you are using brake at stations.

[@EM-yk1dw]

Crewe looks like an overgrown gardens nowadays. If I had to travel by train to Liverpool I would much rather be on a Desiro than one of those tilting mobile sewers.

[@allanralston7014]

I thought the wavertree resignalling was supposed to increase linespeeds on this section? 80 seems quite low when you look at the track geometry

[@formidable38]

One thing I noticed when you joined the DN Liverpool, there was no warning board for the 85. You seemed to slow to 85 only at the commencement board, how come?

[@voltbradyusa1530]

I have just arrived in London and this has convinced me to take the Virgin Pendolino to Liverpool during my spare time on this trip. Out of curiosity, are you able to advise the name of the yards on the left side as we approach Liverpool?

[@AlwynMaynardLPL]

Wavertree Sidings, I think.

[@AndreiTupolev]

I like the looping of the soundtrack leaving Liv Sth Pkwy. You could make a good dance beat out of that

[@gfgfgf466]

Those 350's have good acceleration. Straight up to 110 in the blink of an eye!

[@DanielMartin-fm8lg]

350 are only limited to 100 the 110 speed limit was only for pendolinos when passing through Crewe then going up to 125

[@neilcrawford8303]

@@DanielMartin-fm8lg Class 350s have a limit of 110mph Class 350/1s were modified under 'Project 110' around 2012, while classes 350/3 & 350/4 were delivered with 110mph capabilities.

[@RWL2012]

@@neilcrawford8303 even 350/2s were later modified for 110

[@stevenstobbart]

Was the line worker who fell ok.... party of 3 one of them fell just as train passed

[@AlanThomsonsim]

Fantastic video do you know the date is was filmed please

[@iaspex1289]

Hiya Alan, this seems like it was quite recent because of the new Lime Street upgrade, so within a month.

[@thisismyname007]

The tracks and the train are awesome and they must be a huge investment. Do the fares pay for the expense or does the government make up the difference?

[@extrude22]

Even Dwarfs Started Small Fares pay for the majority of the costs but they system (infrastructure and operators) are subsidised by the government. The government actually owns the infrastructure and it is looked after by a not for profit company and the government appoints the operators to actually run the trains

[@Tangobaldy]

playback at 2x speed. much more entertaining.

[@camotech1314]

Whoaaaaaa Nelly this is fast 😮

[@philnewton3096]

29:222 just behind trees on the left is 1st station in world - sandstone steps for passengers still visable in cutting from sharp st and what was memphis st. off tunnel rd

[@danparisi97]

@19:07 anyone notice the track worker fallover and throw a clipboard or hat onto the edge of the line?

[@kevintucker8564]

Outstanding balance

[@sw01ller]

I’ll be signing part of this route in a few months. Don’t suppose you have one going the other way 😜

[@danamack7405]

Hi! Any idea when your next video might be and was this a class 350 please ? Thanks, Dana

[@deanobucket123]

Dana Mack yes this is a class 350

[@zoqaeski]

The gangway connection really blocks the view, doesn't it? Do most services get joined frequently enough to warrant the walk-through connection for passengers? What does the EPS on the yellow speed board mean?

[@fouloleron2002]

EPS, Enhanced Permissable Speed, allowing tilting trains to travel faster than normal limit.

[@RWL2012]

350s are 4-car units that operate in 4, 8 and 12 car (1, 2 and 3 unit) configurations.

[@oscarwylder]

Another bellter Thank you.

[@cmdrmunster5879]

Is that a rare APT on the left at 1:03?

[@r0g3r5m1th]

Another wonderful ride

[@deaustin4018]

I wonder how many people are here to see how close their sims are to real world. I gotta admit, mine's pretty darn close (though I like to drive a 50s era Pannier just to see what it was like for the driver when I was a kid)

[@johng9399]

Another non UK res with an oddball question. Do you set the speed of the train or do you regulate the power? In other words do you set a control to, eg, 80 mph or a regulator power setting and watch the dials closely?

[@beneliastrains]

Regulate power and monitor speed manually using the speedometer.

[@johng9399]

@@beneliastrains Thanks! Would that our trains travelled at 100Kmph never mind 100 Mph!

[@barryrowlings83]

Going over Runcorn Viaduct makes me feel ill

[@Hokieredneck]

nevermind, I got it, down main is the platform track and down fast is the through track if there is one

[@bulwinkle]

Down is away from London or the main line and up is towards London or the main line. Simples.

[@onetothetwothreetothefour465]

I think this is a great video