Three namings at DRS’ Crewe G
THREE locomotives were named at the Direct Rail Services (DRS) open day at Crewe Gresty Bridge on July 23.
The first of these, 37424, which is almost fully restored to main line condition, was re-named Avro
Vulcan XH558. The locomotive was moved from Railway Vehicle Engineering Limited’s Derby workshops, where it is being returned to working condition. It was withdrawn by EWS in March 2000, and has not worked since.
DRS bought the ‘37’ from preservation last March, and more than £1 million has been spent on its restoration.
To mark the naming, it was numbered 37558 for the event but there is no confirmed date for its return to traffic.
The Vulcan To The Sky Trust, which maintains the Vulcan aircraft, tweeted after the naming that the ‘37/4’ could be used to haul charters to airshows next year. In the meantime, the ‘37’ will move to Anglia to go on hire to Abellio Greater Anglia on local passenger trains between Norwich and Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. DRS currently has 37405/422 in Anglia.
Also named at the open day were two former DRS Class 47s. Both locomotives were reunited with names they previously carried. The first, 47501, was renamed
Craftsman. Now owned by Locomotives Services Limited at nearby Crewe Diesel Maintenance Depot, the ‘47/4’ is main line-certified and will be used on the main line in the future.
Also re-named at the event was preserved 47712, which was reunited with its Lady Diana
Spencer nameplates. The fully operational ‘47/7’ is based at the nearby Crewe Heritage Centre, and is owned by Crewe Diesel Preservation Group.
As well as the locomotives named, a further 16 locomotives were displayed, including examples of DRS’s Class 20, ‘37’, ‘57’, ‘66’ and ‘68’ fleets.
Additionally, privately-owned Class 40 D213 (40013) Andania was at the event. It is owned by DRS engineers and is at the Cheshire depot to be returned to main line condition. The other non-DRS locomotive at the open day was the Deltic Preservation Society’s D9009 (55009) Alycidon.