For the best part of 20 years the rescued iconic APT (6 cars including a power car) has stood proudly at the front of the Railway Age museum Crewe along side the WCML. For a time it was used to host children’s parties and has also in the past served as buffet car for volunteers and visitors. In 2002 the APT had brief moment in the railway media spotlight as it was cosmetically restored (outside anyway) in order to play a starring role during the launch of the Virgin Pendolino service.
John Cameron’s two iconic Gresley locos 60009 ‘Union of South Africa’ and 61994 ‘Great Marquis’ head for their new base in Scotland. They are seen on Good Friday 2007 at L&NWR Heritage Crewe and thereafter northbound on the WCML at Winsford.
Five steam locomotives in ex‘Barry’ condition, on static exhibition at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway are now said to be offered for sale (Feb 2007) they are collectively known as the Rippingale Collection.
Owned by businessman Terry Rippingale the five were purchased from Woodham Brothers' scrapyard at Barry and brought to Blaenavon in 1987. The locomotives are:
Ex-Great Western Railway 0-6-0t No 5668, built 1926
Ex-GWR 2-8-0T No 4253, built 19917
Ex-GWR 2-8-0 No 2874, built 1918
Ex-GWR 2-8-0 No 3855, built 1942
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 5967 Bickmarsh Hall, built 1937.
D9016 Gordon Highlander arrived safely at Rowsley at the beginning of March 2007 travelling from Barrow Hill by low loader. The loco is currently in BR Green but there are plans to re-paint it blue in the near future. The preserved ‘Deltic’ was set to enter service in May 2007 and connections say that it is expected to stay at Peak Rail for at least 3 years.
Over the weekend of September 10th and 11th thousands of railway enthusiasts and many local families descended on what remains of Crewe Loco Works in order to witness the greatest ever gathering of preserved locomotives. Many of the visitors, in common with the locomotives displayed, had a historical connection with the once great works. An occasion such as that is unlikely to ever be repeated at the ‘works’ but as they say Never say Never!
Following the Great Gathering Keith Langston produced the bookazine
MADE IN CREWE.
It should be available at most branches of W H Smith or by mail order from Morton’s Heritage Media. Priced at only £6.99 it is a unique coffee table top style book with many original photographs which commemorates ‘The Works’.
Mail order at Morton’s 01507 529300 and ask for the title by name.
If you have difficulty obtaining a copy please use the contact us facility on this web-site.
A small collection of pictures showing 6201 during two of her many 2006 main line trips namely The Merseyside Express Birmingham-Liverpool-Birmingham and the celebrated return to Glasgow Central*.
*See article in text section.
The years between 1973 and 1986 are now cherished memories for the dedicated team that set about recreating a steam engineering masterpiece The group’s efforts were recognised by The Association of Railway Preservation Societies at the time and were celebrated by a display at the MRM. Moreover thousands of rail enthusiasts have since marvelled at the result of the project which at the time (1994) was described accurately as being the impossible dream. The revolutionary Riddles ‘8P’ Class 1954 Crewe built 4-6-2, 71000 “Duke of Gloucester” is about to return to the main line which in its self represents the end of another ‘dream’. In 2004 the loco groups CME Keith Collier talked about the re-birth which had been anticipated for a long time. See the Railway section for more information.
During 2004 Riddles iconic locomotive 4-6-2 71000 Duke of Gloucester entered Crewe Works (the place it was built) for a re-paint; this is a collection of images recording that event. It was a historically significant event as 71000 will almost certainly turn out to be the last steam locomotive painted at the famous works…………..or will she?
A small selection of archive pictures from the legendary locomotive works at Crewe, England. With thanks to the Webb Crewe Works Charity Fund and the late Richard Metcalfe.
Various types built between 1910 and 1922 and also G2a rebuilds between 1936 and 1947 at Crewe Works. Total taken into BR ownership in 1948 – 478 locos made up of 98 G1 6F Class, 60 G2 7F Class and 320 G2a 7F Class. Designed by Charles J Bowen-Cooke.
David Gibson is a Staffordshire Moorlands based photographer who has succesfully embraced digital photography.He is especially adept at capturing volumes of steam and smoke, often to dramatic effect. David does not just produce railway images he is also an accomplished landscape photographer.He can be contacted via d.r.gibson@connectfree.co.uk.
If you would like to be a guest photographer please use the contact us facility to let us know.
Over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of 15th – 17th October 2004 the West Midlands DMU Group staged a celebration of first generation diesel multiple units at the Severn Valley Railway. The Friday was all DMU but a couple of steam services operated in addition on the other two days. It was a very well attended event with all trains in the intensive timetable being loaded to capacity. The introduction of these vehicles in 1954 marked the beginning of the end for steam passenger services in the UK whilst at the same time arguably provided the railway travelling public with improved services and facilities. The trend has continued with now most passenger services being operated by multiple units. Many early examples are now in use by preserved railways.
Number 1450 (Ashburton*) is one of 4 of the ‘14xx Class’ preserved. The others are 1420 (Bulliver*) 1442 and 1466. These ‘pretty’ 0-4-2T locomotives were used by the GWR to replace earlier built auto-fitted tank engines. They were originally known as ‘48xx Class’ 1450 was out-shopped from Swindon in July 1935 as 4850. The loco spent some of its working life on the Abingdon, Fairford and Woodstock branches in the 1950’s. It also worked the Windsor and Marlow branches. It then saw service out of Exeter, Taunton, Yeovil and Exmouth. It was sold into preservation in 1965. The colour pictures were taken at the Churnet Valley Railway during a running in session following work at L&NWR Heritage Crewe. * Names given in preservation.
Although this collection of Ex GWR 4-6-0 Grange Class locomotives photographs are not of the highest quality; they are historically significant. Interest in the long lamented Grange Class has been raised by the ongoing Llangollen Railway based 6880 Betton Grange Project. The GWR build total of the class was 80 locomotives; none survived into preservation hence the importance of the Betton Grange Project.
“A line starting nowhere and ending up in the same place” was how the Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway was described by one of the inhabitants it was meant to serve. It opened on June 27th 1904 and if it hadn’t closed on March 10th 1934 it would recently have celebrated its centenary. Steam ran in that staggeringly beautiful Staffordshire valley for only thirty years, will it ever return or simply remain another railway memory?
