11. Crewe Works Open day-24.09.77

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1977 > 11. Crewe Works Open day-24.09.77
This was my first Open day and what a one to go for! Crewe Works was simply huge and the locomotives on display in various states of repair or overhaul took my breath away. The majority of what was seen were cops. I went with my school friend Guy Vincent, my friend and neighbour, Jo Bell and my teacher from school Mr. Brush, who organised the tickets. We caught the first train of the day from Bradford-on-Avon, a three-car dmu forming the 06.42 to Bristol, then a Peak took us to Birmingham New Street and finally an electric to Crewe.
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Images 1-13 of 13 displayed.

46025, unidentified up working (Bristol TM-Birmingham NS), Westerleigh Curve A dark and misty autumn morning sees 46025 accelerating around Westerleigh Curve just north of Bristol. We were travelling from Bristol to Birmingham and were routed via Worcester. The picture is taken from the back of the train to emphasise the tightness of the curve. Notice the wisp of steam a few coaches forward indicating that 46025's boiler is going well. 46025 was withdrawn in 1981, only to be reinstated and then withdrawn again in 1984, finally, it was broken up at Doncaster.
TDB968009 (ex. 24142), stabled, Worcester SH station Stabled at Worcester Shrub Hill is TDB9680009 ex. 24142. This was used as a carriage heater for stock starting from Worcester. Unfortunately, I did not quite get this shot right with the lamp post oblitorating the centre of the image. But, I have included it for its rarity value.
47365 & 47223, undergoing overhaul, Crewe Works Nothing had quite prepared me for the experience of an open day! The crowds were huge and getting a clear picture proved a challenge. The other challenge was that the Exa camera's low light performance was abysmal! With my teacher, Mr. Brush, looking on 47365 and 47233 have been lifted from their bogies, had their internals removed and are well into a full overhaul. As can be seen, non-boilered 47365 is soon to lose its dual green livery in favour of BR blue. This locomotive survived on until 2007 after becoming an EWS engine. It was in long-term storage for many years. 47223 was steam heat engine that survived until 2005, again, after an extensive time in storage.
40163, 40113 & 47045, undergoing overhaul, Crewe Works Even though the masses of people at open days can really get in the way of pictures, in this one they form a quite natural part of the composition. Undergoing overhaul at Crewe Works are 40163, 40113 and 47045. 40163 was withdrawn in 1982 and cut up at Vic Berry's yard in Leicester. 40113 met it's fate at Swindon following withdrawal in 1981. 47045 went though a couple of incarnations in its later life as 47568 and, finally, 47726 after having extended capacity fuel tanks fitted. It ended its life at EMR Kingsbury in April 2007.
47527, 40064 & 40168, undergoing overhaul, Crewe Works 47527 had moved about in its life being ostensively a north eastern engine. It had spells in Scotland and the West Country. It was withdrawn in 1992 as an Inter-City Swallow engine and cut up at Bristol. It was named 'Kettering' for the last 3 years of its life. 40064 was initially a Scottish engine before moving south. It was withdrawn in April 1982 and returned to Crewe's Melt Plant for a protracted and painful death! Thanks to some help from a fellow enthusiast, Keith Riley who was also there on the day, I can now identify the third locomotive to the right as 40168, my notes from the day let me down on this occasion. 40168 lasted in service until the end of November 1984, being withdrawn and stored at Crewe Diesel Depot and then the works languishing on until final cutting in August 1986. Note the clothing and accessories being worn by the enthusiasts, it could only be the 1970s! Keywords: 47527 40064 40168 overhaul Crewe Works
40160, undergoing overhaul, Crewe Works 40160 sits on display at Crewe Works open day in front of a small tanker. Studying contemporary data reveals that there appears to be no reason for the 40 to be on the works save for the delight of the spotters! It was in use seen at Newcastle a couple of weeks prior to the open day and a short time afterwards stabled at March. 40160 survived in service until the end of November 1984 and was cut up here at Crewe Works during 1985.
83002, undergoing overhaul, Crewe Works 83002 receives attention at Crewe Works. A bit of dark and 'atmospheric' shot but one of very few I have class 83s. This engine was new in 1960, and withdrawn in 1983. It was cut up at Vic Berry's in Leicester.
87002, undergoing overhaul, Crewe Works First born class 87, 87002 stands in the electric shop at Crewe Works. This locomotive is still today, at the time of writing, mainline registered and used by Caledonian Sleeper. It also had the honour of hauling Virgin West Coast's last mainline working along with 87010 on 10.06.05
83005 & 82006, undergoing overhaul, Crewe Works Outside at Crewe Works, two first generation electrics 83005 and 82006 sit under a very grey and drab sky. 83005 was new in 1960 and ended its life at Vic Berry's Leicester yard in November 1984. 82006 story was almost an exactly mirrored 83005 but for it being cut up 2 months earlier!
40176, 47510 & 47378, undergoing overhaul, Crewe Works 47510 is at the works for repair having sustained fire damage whilst hauling a freight on 02.09.77. It was repaired and later was named 'Fair Rosamund' before it was renumbered 47710. Unfortunately it caught fire again in July 1988. This time, it was not so lucky as this incident precipitated its withdrawl. Some of its components lived on to enable 47497 to be rebuilt into 47717. 47378 had a pretty anonymous life as no heat example and never being named. The nose of 40176 pokes itself in on the left.
82007, awaiting repair, Crewe Works 82007 has sustained severe accident damage that has bent the underframe and superstructure. However, the better news was that it was repaired here at Crewe Works and continued in service until 1983. It went to Vic Berry's at Leicester to be disposed of.
Jo & Guy, return journey After an exhausting day fighting the crowds at Crewe Works Open Day, my friend Jo sleeps whilst Guy avidly catches up with the latest news in Railway Magazine whilst on the journey home in our comfy Mk.2 coach. No cramped claustrophobic Voyager 'airline style' seating to be had here!
Class 108, refurbished, Gloucester Horton Road A refurbished class 108 DMU is seen stabled at Gloucester Horton Road. This livery was not particularly practical and must have been a devil to keep clean. However, it has made it possible to produce this image, if had been the in the usual Rail Blue it would not have stood out in the gathering murk!

Images 1-13 of 13 displayed.