3. The Crewe Campaigner Relief-11.02.79

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1979 > 3. The Crewe Campaigner Relief-11.02.79

Despite it being February Crewe Works opened its doors to passengers from two special trains. The trains, operated by the R.P.P.R., were named The Crewe Campaigner and The Crewe Campaigner Relief both of which left Paddington within half an hour of each other. They followed the same routes as far as Birmingham with one having a photo-stop at Moreton-in-Marsh and the other one at Evesham. From Birmingham the first train (the relief) went to Crewe via Shrewsbury with another photo-stop at Wellington. The second train took the direct route via Stafford. My party picked up the first train, the 'relief', at Oxford that necessitated a very early start from home in Wiltshire. After some interesting haulage, we had a walk around Crewe Works to get our cops before returning to the station for the return journey. Both trains took the same return route via Stafford, Bescot, Birmingham New Street, Banbury, and Oxford.

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Images 1-31 of 31 displayed.

31256 & 31208, outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe (1Z68) & L402, unidentified up working, Oxford station
In the dull half-light at Oxford station, 31256 and 31208 arrive with the The Crewe Campaigner Relief railtour. We took this train from here all the Way to Crewe via Birmingham New Street and Shrewsbury. In the background a class 117 DMU, set L402, waits with an up service, probably to Paddington. Interestingly, the previous summer that actual DMU also wore the modest RPPR headboard as carried by 31256 when it worked The Merry-Go-Round railtour that took in all sorts of rare track in the Thames Valley.
Keywords: 31256 31208 The Crewe Campaigner Relief 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe 1Z68 L402 unidentified up working Oxford station

31256 & 31208, outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe (1Z68), Moreton-in-Marsh station
With steam escaping from leaky glands on the pipework of 31256, The Crewe Campaigner Relief railtour is seen at Moreton-in-Marsh station. 31208 is tucked in behind the leading locomotive. The train has paused at the this fog bound Cotswold town for a photostop where large numbers of the enthusiast disgorged themselves to get their shots of the train. As I was one of the first out, I managed to get a reasonable shot with only a few others most of whom appear to have the same idea judging by they way that they look to be moving.
Keywords: 31256 31208 The Crewe Campaigner Relief 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe 1Z68 Moreton-in-Marsh station

31256, outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe (1Z68), Moreton-in-Marsh station
Enthusiasts crowding round the front of 31256 at Moreton-in-Marsh as The Crewe Campaigner Relied railtour pauses on its journey from Paddington to Crewe. It was a cold, frosty and foggy winter's morning that brought out the parka coats as donned by the young man standing by the side of 31256.
Keywords: 31256 The Crewe Campaigner Relief 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe 1Z68 Moreton-in-Marsh station

31256 & 31208, outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe (1Z68), Moreton-in-Marsh station
Having got their pictures, the travelling enthusiast return to The Crewe Campaigner Relief at Moreton-in-Marsh station. The wood yard to the left is now home to a Budgen supermarket whilst the building to the right is still partially intact. The loading bay platform on which photographers are standing is still there if a little overgrown.
Keywords: 31256 31208 The Crewe Campaigner Relief 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe 1Z68 Moreton-in-Marsh station. There are a few stragglers still on the loading bay of the fertiliser distribution factory to the right. Incidentally, this building and its chimney still partially stands with the loading bay covered by undergrowth. The wood yard to the left is now the site of the town's Budgens supermarket.

40113, outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe (1Z68), Birmingham New Street station
40113 backs on to the stock of The Crewe Campaigner Relief railtour at Birmingham New Street. Attached to the other end of 40113 is 40144. Once attached, the pair of 40s then took the train to Crewe via Shrewsbury with a photo-stop at Wellington.
Keywords: 40113 The Crewe Campaigner Relief 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe 1Z68 Birmingham New Street station

40144, outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe (1Z68), Birmingham New Street station
With the headboard attached 40144 wiats to leave Birmingham New Street's platform 8B, along with 40113 behind it, with the outward Crewe Campaigner Relief railtour from Paddington. Young enthusiasts are seen returning to the coaches ready for departure scheduled to take place at 11.15.
Keywords: 40144 The Crewe Campaigner Relief 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe 1Z68 Birmingham New Street station

40144, outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe (1Z68), Wellington station
Scenes that are unimaginable today at Wellington station in Shropshire. With snow still lying on the ground, 40144 waits at the platform having arrived with The Crewe Campaigner Relief Railtour that started out form London Paddington. There are a few orange waist-coated marshals about to keep order but the enthusiasts seem to have free reign to wander about and get their pictures. Notice that there is even one who has climbed the signal post to get his shot, I wonder if the picture that he took is still in existence?
Keywords: 40144 The Crewe Campaigner Relief 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe 1Z68 Wellington station

40144 & 40113, outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe (1Z68), Wellington station
Look at the crowds massing on the barrow crossing and tracks getting their photographs of The Crewe Campaigner Railtour Relief as it has a photo-stop at Wellington station, could you ever imagine this being permitted today? 40144 and 40113 are leading the train on the leg from Birmingham to Crewe via Shrewsbury. Notice the branch of John Menzies above the bridge on what is Church Street. Their bookstalls were a familiar site on stations for many years, all of these, including the the high street branches, were sold to WH Smith in 1998 but the Menzies group of companies is still going strong in a number of key areas such as distribution and aviation support.
Keywords: 40144 40113 The Crewe Campaigner Relief 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe 1Z68 Wellington station

40144 & 40113, outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe (1Z68), Wellington station
As the photo-stop at Wellington was coming to an end, I dashed out of the station and up Station Road and leant over the retaining wall to get this picture. It shows 40144 and 40113 at the head of The Crewe Campaigner Relief railtour. Cabbing of the leading 40 is still taking place so I still had plenty of time to get back on to the platform and re-join the train. It's a shame that the semaphore is arm is out of focus. As it was such a dull morning the aperture on the Helios lens on the Zenith EM camera was probably pretty wide open giving very little depth of field. Notice the Mk. II Ford Cortina looking a bit lonely on the old wasteland in the background. This area of land was once the goods yard and had a number of sidings, it is now a huge station car park; a symptom of changing times I suppose.
Keywords: 40144 40113 The Crewe Campaigner Relief 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe 1Z68 Wellington station.

40113 & 40144, outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe, (1Z68), Wellington station
All action on Wellington station's platform two! With the stewards probably shouting at me and the other stragglers to "get back on the bl**dy train" The Crewe Campaigner Relief will be only seconds from departing. It is about to complete the last leg of its journey to Crewe via Shrewsbury with 40113 and 40144 doing the work up at the front.
Keywords: 40113 40144 outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe 1Z68 Wellington station

40113 & 40144, outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe (1Z68), Severn Bridge Junction
The eastern approach to Shrewsbury is dominated by Severn Bridge Junction signal box. The huge LNWR box is still in use today (2019) and I have visited it on a number of occasions. 40113 and 40144 are leading The Crewe Campaigner Relief railtour that was running as 1Z68 from Paddington to Crewe. The equally impressive spire of St. Mary the Virgin occupies the skyline.
Keywords: 40113 40144 The Crewe Campaigner Relief 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe 1Z68 Severn Bridge Junction

08068, 40116 & 08055, stabled, Shrewsbury station yard
On the approach to Shrewsbury station, with the castle in the background, 08068, 40112 and 08055 are seen stabled in the loading bay sidings. All these locomotives ended heir days being cut up at Swindon works in 1983, 1981 and 1983 respectively. Both the shunters were out-sheded from Crewe Diesel Depot. 08055 was an early example that was allocated to Woodford Halse (38E) on the Great Central when new from the works
Keywords: 08068 40116 08055 Shrewsbury station yard

40113 & 40144, outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe (1Z68), Crewe Junction
40113 and 40144 lead The Crewe Campaigner Relief railtour out of Shrewsbury under the gantry at Crewe Junction. This delightful LNWR structure has now been removed with some modern galvanised brackets replacing the signals, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/25753016204/x175004-05-03-carmarthen-manchester
Keywords: 40113 40144 The Crewe Campaigner Relief 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe 1Z68 Crewe Junction

Classes 47, 24, 25, 40 & 08, on-shed, Crewe Diesel Depot
Passing Crewe DieselDepot sees various classes of locomotive outside the shed. It is likely that all the locomotives seen have now been withdrawn and cut-up, I suspect that a similar fate befell the 1970/71 Hillman Avenger parked in the foreground. Whilst its registration number can clearly be read, it does not appear on the DVLA's data base so I cannot say how many more years it had on the road from when this picture was taken. Looking at the state of the front wing around the headlight, I suspect that time on it would be called soon!
Keywords: Class 47 24 25 40 08 Crewe Diesel Depot

40113 & 40144, outward leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe (1Z68), Crewe station
I am not absolutely sure what I was standing on to give this elevated view of The Crewe Campaigner Relief railtour after we had arrived at Crewe? 40113 and 40144 have brought the train to Crewe from Birmingham New Street via Shrewsbury. When all the enthusiasts disembarked, the train would go off for servicing whilst they attended an exclusive open day at the works being taken there by some chartered busses.
Keywords: 40113 40144 The Crewe Campaigner Relief 07.35 London Paddington-Crewe 1Z68 Crewe station

40035, unidentified down excursion, Crewe station
40035 leaves Crewe station with a northbound train. I have not been able to verify if this was a charter as I have it written in my note book from the day. The Class 40 Motherlist site has two observations of this train at Birmingham New Street and Stafford but with no detail, can anybody help?
Keywords: 40035 down excursion, Crewe station

$47506, 40082 & 40104, Crewe Works A duo of Class 40s and a Class 47 at Crewe Works. According to contemporary records, 40082 to the left had arrived the previous week for repairs to a fractured bogie, an all too common occurrence for members of the class. Meanwhile, 40104 was on the works for main generator repairs. Lastly, 47506 was at the works for conversion to a Scottish Region push-pull locomotive. It emerged as 47707 in May. In this final guise, it was a little accident prone as it was the locomotive that was pushing the 17.30 Edinburgh to Glasgow service when hit a cow standing on the track on a bend between Polmont and Falkirk, see....https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/28963921404/commemorative-plaque-polmont-station Then, just over a year later, it caught fire at Falkirk High whilst pushing another Edinburgh to Glasgow train. Keywords: 47506 40082 40104 Crewe Works$

86019 & 83014, Crewe Works
In the electrical testing shop at Crewe Works, 86019 is seen next to 83014. Looking at their shiny paintwork, they are at the end of the overhaul process and being tested ready for release into traffic. Notice the mysterious person sitting at the secondman's seat the cab of 86019.
Keywords: 86019 83014 Crewe Works

Various electrics, Crewe Works
A number of AC electrics are seen in various states of repair and overhaul inside Crewe Works. A quick glance around this picture illustrates the different approach to health and safety at this time. I do not cite this as a criticism but maybe as a comment about the perceived lack of common sense that exists today and of the litigious world that we, unfortunately, live in?
Keywords: Various electrics Crewe Works

Class 47, 40110, 47204 & 47457, Crewe Works
A collection of locomotives await attention at Crewe Works. To the far left is an un-identified class 47 next to 40110. The 40 was on the works for attention to its main generators. 47204 was at the works for repairs following a front end accident, I cannot find a record of how this damage was sustained. 47457 looks to be in good condition and I have found no records as to why it was on the the works. This locomotive only ever carried this TOPS number and D1577 throughout its life.
Keywords: 40110 47204 47457 Crewe Works

Class 43, 47457, 47204 & 40157, Crewe Works
To the left of this image. taken at Crewe Works is the rear end of a Class 43 HST power car with its connecting door on view. Unfortunately, my records reveal that it is one power car of set 254031 or 254029, can anybody help identify it? In the line up of locomotives, 40157 leads the trio with 47204 and 47457. The 40 was on the works for main generator repairs, it left at the beginning of March to resume its duties on the Scottish Region.
Keywords: Class 43 47457 47204 40157 Crewe Works

47130 & 40004, Crewe Works
Inside the works at Crewe, 47130 and 40004 are receiving attention. The 40 is listed as having power unit problems and classified repairs undertaken. It was back in traffic within a few weeks. 47130 is receiving extensive classified repairs, but unlike the 40 it is still on, what appear to be, accommodation bogies. Note that it has a silver roof, a trademark of Stratford Depot. Indeed, it remained at this depot until moving to the West Country and Wales, with another brief stint at Stratford and finally to Tinsley before withdrawal in 1987.
Keywords: 47130 40004 Crewe Works

47182 & 40011, Crewe Works
Undergoing attention in one of Crewe's repair shops, 47182 and 40011 are seen. 47182 was a local steam-heat engine at the time being based at Crewe Dessel. It moved to Bescot in 1982 and then returned to the works for conversion to ETH in 1983 emerging as 47598. 40011 was approaching the end of a four-month stay at the works having what is described as 'camshaft repairs'. I am not at all sure why camshaft repairs took quite this long; I suspect that there may well have been a lot of other work completed too. 40011 only had another eighteen months in-service being withdrawn from traffic at Healey Mills, later removed to and cut up at Swindon. I managed to see it just six weeks prior to its withdrawal on the Settle and Carlisle, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29725530004/x4-40-011-down-freight-ais-gill-sd773979
Keywords: 47182 40011 Crewe Works

20142 & 254028, Crewe Works
20142 receives attention at Crewe works whilst one of the new Eastern Region HST power cars nears completion behind it. The HST was either 43110 (43310) or 43111 (43311) as part of set 254028. At the time of writing all the locomotives in this image are still with us and mainline registered, the HST is still storming up and down the ECML whilst the 20 is painted in a totally inauthentic London Underground livery.
Keywords: 20142 254028Crewe Works

40076, 40044 & 40151, Crewe Works
In the gathering gloom of a cold February afternoon, a trio of Class 40s are seen outside at Crewe works. First in the line-up is 40076 that came on the works in September 1978 following a cubicle fire that damaged the main generator, it left in April 1979. In the middle of the line-up is 40044 with much damage to number two end. It had come to grief at Chinley on 31.08.78 being unable to stop after being put into a loop. Repairs were authorised and it returned to traffic 07.01.80. Finally in the line-up is 40151 that was to receive crankshaft repairs. Its stay was relatively short being back in service by the beginning of March. Notice the randomly deposited buffers in the foreground.
Keywords: 40076 40044 40151 Crewe Works

20081, 20033 & 37228, Crewe Works
A pair of class 20s, numbers 20081 and 20033 await attention at Crewe Works. At the rear is 20083 that is still with us to this day. Whilst, at the time of writing, it is not actually in-service it survives as 20903 stored at Nemesis Rail's Burton-on-Trent facility. In the foreground is 20033 that has obviously met with an unfortunate accident given the angle of its cab. This damage precipitated its withdrawal as, within two weeks of this picture being taken, the famed railway photographer John Chalcroft took an image of the locomotive in two halves with all but its superstructure remaining at Crewe. Notice that both the 20s in this image retain their tablet catcher equipment recesses under the TOPS numbers. Behind the 20s is 37228 that is receiving attention at the works. It went on to become 37696 in 1996 and was until recently still with us, all be it stored and in a shocking state. I have seen it at both Long Marston and Derby's RVEL facility.
Keywords: 20081 20033 37228 Crewe Works

47263 & 20097, Crewe Works
With the tablet catcher equipment recess under the number still in place, 20097 is giving away a little about its history. This equipment was only fitted to Scottish machines and indeed, as D8097 it was new to Eastfield in November 1961. In this image, it looks as if it has met with a relatively minor accident judging by the damage to the cab front. Repairs were authorised but took a long time as I saw the same locomotive in the same condition on a subsequent visit some seven months after this picture was taken. The locomotive remained in service until September 1989 eventually returning to Scotland, where it started out its working life, to be cut up at Springburn in 1992. To the left of the Class 20 is 47263 that as D1963 was new to Cardiff Canton in 1965. It was obviously at Crewe for overhaul as I had haulage behind it three months after this picture was taken when it was still in very smart and fresh paint! It survived into the privatisation era becoming 47736 as a RES (Rail Express Systems) machine ending its days at Ron Hull's scrapyard in Rotherham towards the end of 2007.
Keywords: 47263 20097 Crewe Works

25277 & 25282, return leg of The Crewe Campaigner Relief, 17.00 Crewe-London Paddington (1Z68), Crewe station
Our return train from Crewe to Oxford waits at Crewe station with 25277 and 25282 at the helm. The return Crewe Campaigner Relief left at 17.00 running as 1Z68. We travelled back via the direct route to Birmingham New Street then south to Oxford via Banbury.
Keywords: 25277 25282The Crewe Campaigner Relief 17.00 Crewe-London Paddington 1Z68 Crewe station

APT-P & 252001, test run, Crewe station
Whilst waiting for our return train to leave Crewe, this unusual working passed through the station. Out of sight at the front was 47199 towing various test coaches and one of the APT-P cars. Then, on the rear was one of the prototype HST power cars part of set 252001. Unfortunately, I do not have the actual number of the power car as to whether it was 41001 or 41002, but, I suspect the former.
Keywords: APT-P 252001 Crewe station

47456, unidentified down working, Oxford station
Quite why I decided to take this picture I do not understand! However, I have included it for interest sake. 47456 enters Oxford station with an unidentified down working. This was the final number worn by this locomotive as it did not last very long in service bing withdrawn in 1991.
Keywords: 47456 down working Oxford station

47108, unidentified London Paddington working, Oxford station
Breaking the rules at Oxford station by using a flash on the camera! 47108 arrives at the station with an unidentified working for London Paddington, as the display says, calling at Reading only. 47108 led a pretty uneventful life from being released to traffic as D1696 in December 1963 to withdrawal in March 1994.
Keywords: 47108 London Paddington working Oxford station

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