Tom Camps from the Class 507 Preservation Society tells the story of the PEP units that were developed in Derby in the 1970s alongside the HSTs. These trains brought a major updating of how a BR EMU looked and operated. The learning curve was steep, but most features from the prototypes are now taken for granted today, such as the stepped brake and series three bogie.
This lecture will take place on Thursday 15th October 2026 starting at 18:00 at the Derby Conference Centre. The lecture will be preceded by the AGM. The lecture will also be broadcast live on Zoom with joining details emailed to Members prior to the event.
After a 46-year history at Merseyrail, unit 507001 has now entered preservation in Derby. A new chapter begins in making the train a teaching resource for young people and an economic vehicle for preservation. Making a mundane EMU stand out isn’t easy, but 507001 has been on the BBC news twice and the society has handed out thousands of stickers.
The next stage is to make the CL507 go where no third rail exists, which means batteries. A trial installation has covered 2.8 miles away from the juice, 25 miles is the aspiration.
Members are more than welcome to join us for a drink or a meal after the lecture.
CPD certificates are available to attendees upon request.
