Used to meet at the deviation entrance at 2pm on sundays in the 50s and as soon as you entered the works down the long walk it was engines everywhere magic we bunked south shed and gresty road western shed my friends grandfather was an engine driver at north shed and would take us round on Sunday nights the world seemed perfect happy days 😢
When I toured the works in 1959 there were a couple of Webb saddle tank works shunters, The old main line was very attractive. That was where, a decade before, the last passenger LNW engines were paraded before cutting up-a Claughton, a Prince of Wales and a George V. I was impressed by the flame cutters automatically cutting out huge loco frames. The goods line underpass always seemed to have a 4F in it and Crewe South and North sheds were so full on a Sunday with locos in light steam.
Superb footage ,always makes me chuckle when you see loco's with the yellow cabside flash , ie barred from running under the wires ,actually running under the wires
It makes me wonder what the rule was? You see a 4F with a low running board with a yellow stripe and a BR Standard with a high running board and no stripe so it can't have been about risk to crew during maintenance? I've seen video of Firemen shovelling coal forward, standing in the tender but surely they'd remember without having to check the cabside? Maybe on GER and Woodhead lines the wire was lower in places and was genuinely at risk of touching the loco? I guess the wire for 25Kv is set a bit higher just for general safety?
It was nothing to do with maintenance like todays orange stripe. it was the height of the engine itself. The yellow stripe meant the engine was banned from running under the wires SOUTH of Crewe due to the lower height of the catenary wires after construction of the electrified route to London, in comparison to those north of Crewe. I think it was very much a 'just in case' scenario!
Very fortunate to have been there and done that in the years 1963-66, including bunking both North and South sheds! North was amazing in 63/64 - everywhere you looked, there was a namer - Semis, Royal Scots, Patriots, Jubilees, Brits. A magical time! Can't remember seeing the Titfield Thunderbolt though!
I was there as well in 1963/65. As well as the smell of steam, the smell of fuel from the diesel depot on Gresty Lane on the way to South shed, always sticks with me when I smell it now!
Interesting to see a new Crewe built Western in a test run, Crewe were much quicker at construction than Swindon, reflected in lower unit costs. Thanks for a great upload.
Fortunate enough to remember Crewe when it was like this. Fabulous footage.
Used to meet at the deviation entrance at 2pm on sundays in the 50s and as soon as you entered the works down the long walk it was engines everywhere magic we bunked south shed and gresty road western shed my friends grandfather was an engine driver at north shed and would take us round on Sunday nights the world seemed perfect happy days 😢
A new western class 52 captured in this film !!
When I toured the works in 1959 there were a couple of Webb saddle tank works shunters, The old main line was very attractive. That was where, a decade before, the last passenger LNW engines were paraded before cutting up-a Claughton, a Prince of Wales and a George V. I was impressed by the flame cutters automatically cutting out huge loco frames. The goods line underpass always seemed to have a 4F in it and Crewe South and North sheds were so full on a Sunday with locos in light steam.
That's just as I remember Crewe and North Shed. Superb stuff ❤
Superb footage ,always makes me chuckle when you see loco's with the yellow cabside flash , ie barred from running under the wires ,actually running under the wires
It makes me wonder what the rule was? You see a 4F with a low running board with a yellow stripe and a BR Standard with a high running board and no stripe so it can't have been about risk to crew during maintenance? I've seen video of Firemen shovelling coal forward, standing in the tender but surely they'd remember without having to check the cabside?
Maybe on GER and Woodhead lines the wire was lower in places and was genuinely at risk of touching the loco? I guess the wire for 25Kv is set a bit higher just for general safety?
It was nothing to do with maintenance like todays orange stripe. it was the height of the engine itself. The yellow stripe meant the engine was banned from running under the wires SOUTH of Crewe due to the lower height of the catenary wires after construction of the electrified route to London, in comparison to those north of Crewe. I think it was very much a 'just in case' scenario!
Happy memories.
Crewe. So any memories for me. Thanks for this video.
Very fortunate to have been there and done that in the years 1963-66, including bunking both North and South sheds! North was amazing in 63/64 - everywhere you looked, there was a namer - Semis, Royal Scots, Patriots, Jubilees, Brits. A magical time! Can't remember seeing the Titfield Thunderbolt though!
I was there as well in 1963/65. As well as the smell of steam, the smell of fuel from the diesel depot on Gresty Lane on the way to South shed, always sticks with me when I smell it now!
😂@@NickGarswood
A great video.
Interesting to see a new Crewe built Western in a test run, Crewe were much quicker at construction than Swindon, reflected in lower unit costs.
Thanks for a great upload.