For several years in the late 1980s, the preserved 502 was a regular performer on various special trains on the Merseyrail electric network. One big event came in September 1987, when Southport was visited by the renowned steam locomotive Flying Scotsman.
In conjunction with this day, the preserved 502 operated a special service between Southport and Sandhills.

Between journeys, the opportunity was taken to pose the two very different pieces of traction next to each other.

The man standing in the centre of the picture below is Joe Halsall, who was a well-known and much-respected Southport-based driver. Joe was the regular driver of the 502 unit whilst running in preservation, and was a good friend to the Northwest Friends of the National Railway Museum who restored the unit to working order following withdrawal by BR.

For Joe’s last time driving the 502 prior to his retirement, he was surprised with a special headboard to commemorate the occasion. In the picture below, Joe (right) poses for a photo next to the 502 at Southport.

These pictures were supplied to us by Richard Priestley who was involved with the unit at Steamport and also manufactured the “Northwest Friends” and “Joe Halsall Special” headboards visible in the above pictures. Many thanks to him for supplying these pictures to us. If anyone else has any photos of the unit they’d like to share, please contact us.