Class 350 from Liverpool to New St passes Crewe Heritage Centre. Geoff Morris

On a blazingly hot and sunny Saturday 30th May, a party of 15 (including members from as far afield as Swindon & Newport) visited the L&NWR site at Crewe carriage shed. The early bird arrivals had been rewarded with spectacle of Cup Final specials (top and tailed by Cl.67s), a northbound charter running through non-stop behind preserved 86259 and the departure of 6233 (Duchess of Sutherland) on a charter to Carlisle.

No more than 2 hours before our party visited, a FLOYD-liveried Cl. 86 (originally 86250 but now renumbered), that had been in the L&NWR yard was dragged to Basford Hall. This was frustrating as it had been at L&NWR all of the previous week, Only the early birds witnessed this and many of them were at the wrong end of the station platforms, awaiting the last Cup Final special, and unable to get a photograph. It was sent by road from Basford Hall to Hull (for export to Hungary) the next day.

We had not been able to visit to L&NWR in 2008 because of the construction work that had been in progress at their site. Members who had visited there in 2006 or 2007 were impressed by the upgrading that has since taken place during those works. This included a new fuelling apron, carriage washer and facilities for the discharge of retention toilets. As a result of this work, the site now has contracts to service Virgin Super Voyagers and London Midland Cl.350 Desiros overnight. However, none of them were present during our visit.

The site was emptier than it had been during our previous visits. In part this was accounted for by the transfer of Riviera Trains locos and rolling to the former Crewe Diesel depot. Also, as it was summer Saturday, the remaining coaching stock based here was out in the line earning its corn. The only occupants of the carriage sheds were 2 refurbished Mk 1 vehicles.

An Arriva Trains Wales Cl.175 was receiving attention in the wheel lathe but the main work in progress during our visit was ’A’ & ’B’ exams of Freightliner electric locos (class 86 & 90). Indeed, 90041 and 90049 arrived on site during our visit: they ran into the south end of the yard under their own power and were then dragged into the maintenance shed by 08810 (which has been painted in a light grey livery with LNWR’s logos). ‘Celebrity’ locos stabled in the sidings included the 3 Network rail-liveried class 86s, the unique 86501 (awaiting fault remediation and informally described as a boomerang because it keeps on coming back !) and 87002.

A condition of the visit was that photos could only be taken for private use - i.e. they should not appear in the press nor on websites. Consequently we cannot include photos with this report. The full list of locos on site was as follows:

Sidings alongside fuelling point (south end).
86501   87002
47769   86901   86902    47747   86424
90041   90049 (en route to the main shed for B exam)

Wheel Lathe
175108

South end of Carriage shed
86609 (on site for A exam)

Outside main shed
D1916   86635   86604   08810 (used to shunt class 90s into main shed)

Inside main shed.
86623   86602   86614   86610   08868

Siding alongside Alsager line
86633   20906 (no numbers visible)

Super Voyager from Euston to Chester heads west. Geoff Morris

	General view of yard at Crewe Heritage Centre. Geoff Morris

After a much-needed break for refreshment, 11 members continued to the Crewe Heritage Centre, formerly known as “The Railway Age”. The name change reflects a broadening of the site’s remit, resulting in the appearance of road vehicles with a Crewe connection including a Bentley Continental car, in British racing green, that attracted many envious looks and (in complete contrast) an ice cream float, whose manufacturer is also based in Crewe). Unfortunately it was only an exhibition item - it could have sold plenty that day !

The viewing platform at Crewe North signalbox was popular, particularly as Cross Country services were diverted through Crewe due to engineering work at Stoke, closing the direct route to Manchester, over the weekend. An interesting variety of standard gauge rolling stock (steam electric & diesel) was assembled in the yard. Pete Waterman relinquished (to Arriva) all interest in the L&NWR operation at the Carriage Shed but he still retains its Heritage Arm, which has a workshop and boiler shop at the Heritage Centre.

Up Pendolino approaches Crewe station. Geoff Morris

	Diverted Cross Country Super Voyager from Manchester Piccadilly about to run through Crewe station. Geoff Morris

Standard gauge locos on site were:

APT vehicles 48106 48404 49002 48602 48603 48103
87035 (No visible number but understood to be this)
70000 (Britannia) - loco inside locked workshop and not accessible, tender outside
47575
D1842
BR Standard 2-6-4T 80136 (boiler removed)
08830
LMS 4-6-0 6100 (Royal Scot) - loco was inside workshop, tender was outside
LMS 4-6-2 6201 (Princess Elizabeth)
GWR 0-4-2T 1450 (boiler removed)
BR Standard 2-10-0 92134 (under tarpaulin)
D2073
0-4-0ST AE 1875 (Elizabeth)
GWR 4-6-0 7027 (Thornbury Castle) Frames, driving wheels & boiler dumped at west end of site (beyond Exeter West signalbox).

Exeter West signal box interior - downstairs. Geoff Morris

Exeter West signal box interior - upstairs. Geoff Morris

Signalling demonstrations were available in Exeter West signalbox where a weekday summer timetable was being reproduced. It was exhausting just to watch this - yet alone participate ! Another on-site attraction is a miniature railway that gives an impressively long run within a confined area (at one point it runs along the length of the site, sandwiched between the APT train vehicles and the WCML). The layout is an inverted V shape with a turntable at both ends and also at the apex of the V. Passengers were requested to turn around every time the loco did and some of our less agile members were not entirely comfortable with this as it required them to “get their leg over” the sit-astride carriages on each occasion !

7 members assembled, along with member of the public, for a ride on this. The passenger complement consequently comprised mainly adults and the little diesel needed some impromptu "banking" assistance from the guard to get away from the slowing over the level crossing and also merited an extended "rest" afterwards to allow the engine to cool down ! We could all sympathise with this having (enjoyably) covered a lot of ground on a very hot day.

GELM

16/06/09