
37421 was on 1T50
the 15.30 Crewe-Holyhead and at some time has received a fairly hard
knock on its nose - in the closing days of steam, this would
have been sufficient to warrant withdrawal. Any excuse to get
rid. 11/12/2000 |
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Parallel
lines (good name for an album!) as 37421 leaving platform 12
at the gallop. 11/12/2000 |
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On
the centre road was rebuilt class 47 number 57011 in charge of
a Serco test train... |
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....and
in tow was that hopper wagon again. 11/12/2000 |
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37401
"Mary Queen of Scots" arrived in bright sunshine
some 20 minutes down on 1K57, the 7.49 Holyhead-Crewe. 9/12/2000 |
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A
day of sharp contrasts with sun and cloud mixed. The low Winter
sun makes things difficult but it can produce dramatic shots
if the digital camera can cope. This one came out fine after
I managed to stay in the shadows on platform 12 to see 37401
leaving with ecs from 1K57. 9/12/2000 |
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Another
shot into the sun and the silhouette of 37421 stands out in the
Crewe Diesel Depot yard. Shortly after I took this shot the locomotive
left through the back door route by which 37429 had entered (see
below). This avoiding line was in heavy use today, I saw a class
86 remove two Royal Mail sets this way and later a string of
five class 90's passed through. 9/12/2000 |
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37429
"Eisteddfod Genedlaethol" had failed at Chester
with an AWS fault and limped back onto the depot via the back
door route behind platform 12. 9/12/2000 |
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37426
was switched to platform 11 at the last minute with the 8.53
Holyhead-Birmingham and loaded a good crowd on board. That made
4 members of the sub-class in just over one hour - not bad going.
9/12/2000 |
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37401
"Mary Queen of Scots" left Crewe's platform
12 at a cracking pace with the 15.30 for Holyhead. 8/12/2000 |
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37421,
which had brought some oil tanks to the yard, ran off into the
shed. 8/12/2000 |
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Just
as the sun had set 37429 "Eisteddfod Genedlaethol"
emerged from the shed after repairs to a traction motor. 8/12/2000 |
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"Cyclops"
number 67025 was quietly ticking (whining) over in the yard.
8/12/2000 |
|

I
called at Crewe's platform 12 to see 1G96 the 8.47 Holyhead-Birmingham
and found GM "shed" 66243 waiting to leave LE north
up the WC main line. Given time, I believe we will grow to love
these engines! 7/12/2000 |
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1G96
arrived but, surprisingly, behind no-heat loco 37717 "Berwick
Middle School" - a failure on the coast line? This engine
has been on coastal duties before and I have some shots of it
in bay 9 after having performed the, now defunct, runround procedure.
7/12/2000 |
|

When
the loco was unhooked I concluded that the train had been terminated
but a mighty roar from bay 8 revealed 37426 rushing (literally)
to the rescue. I can assure you from experience, that travelling
the coast in Winter with a no-heater up front is about as close
to a near-death experience as you will ever need! 7/12/2000 |
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37426
hurriedly reversed and coupled up to the waiting stock. 7/12/2000 |
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"Hippo"
175007 arrived to enter platform 11 with a Holyhead train. This
train and 1G96 has swapped platforms to allow for the loco change.
7/12/2000 |
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47292
pulled into the centre road to await the right of way. This locomotive
looks as if it has been rubbed down pending a repaint. 7/12/2000 |
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37426
left for Birmingham some 25 minutes down, mainly due to having
to wait for a pathway out. 7/12/2000 |
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Parked
in the centre road was new looking 66602 on a Serco test train.
Serco have been very active at Crewe recently. 5/12/2000 |

The
Diesel depot yard boasted 7 operational Class 37 locomotives,
the photo shows (L-R) 37413, 37401, 37797, 37426 and 37799. 37219
and 37710 were at the rear of the shed. Withdrawn 37407 "Blackpool
Tower" still languishes on the scrap line, now protected
by a track-centre flashing light? 5/12/2000 |
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47840
"North Star" was parked in the way of the Serco
train which prevented decent photos. This montage shows how the
camera can lie - you can have North Star with or without an OLE
mast. 5/12/2000 |
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37799 is named "Sir Dyfed/County of Dyfed"
and it later transferred to a different parking spot. 5/12/2000 |
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37401
"Mary Queen of Scots" arrived with the 7.49
from Holyhead and ran off to the carriage sidings with its stock
before..... |
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...returning light engine
into bay 8 then heading off along the Shrewsbury line. It later
went onto the depot to refuel after which it entered the shed.
5/12/2000 |
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37421
arrived and departed with the 8.47 Holyhead-Birmingham. 5/12/2000 |
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Sunday
on the railways and Crewe station was almost deserted at 15.00hrs.
The only train around was the 15.05 for London Euston sat in
platform 12 with 87003 "Thane of Fife" waiting
to propel its charge southwards. 3/12/2000 |
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Meanwhile
round the corner at the IEMD, the number of "stored"
AC electric locomotives is growing. One of the longest serving
members of the club is 87101, the unique thiristor controlled
loco formerly named "Stephenson" behind it is
RES liveried 86241 "Glenfiddich" 3/12/2000 |
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