Dyer Diesels

In addition to John Dyer’s collection of steam photos taken between the late 50s and the mid-60s, he also recorded many of the earlier diesels that were gradually replacing them, often referred to today as classic traction. This is the beginning of a second tranche of photos from John’s archive and once again I’m very grateful to him for making them available to me for this purpose.

Many of John’s images were snapped on the Wirral, where we both grew up. I don’t remember regular steam on passenger trains on the old GCR mid-Wirral line from New Brighton to Chester Northgate and Wrexham, but I do recall the DMUs that replaced them, before they themselves were taken off the electrified Merseyrail network to start their journeys thereafter at Bidston. The one big advantage of the DMU was the view it provided at the front end of the line ahead - unless, of course, it was marked first class and therefore frustratingly out of bounds to us. 

John photographed a Derby lightweight DMU approaching Wallasey Grove Road on a New Brighton to Chester Northgate service on 23/4/62 and a Shotton-bound train approaching Hoylake Road bridge, with Bidston station and Wallasey in the background during August 1962.