Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot hosts DRS open day event
an enforced two-year absence, Direct Rail Services held one of its popular open day events at Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot on July 16, with the operator stating that more than 3000 people had purchased tickets in the lead-up. The sun shone brightly as 17 locomotives from the DRS fleet – from Classes 37, 57, 66, 68 and 88 – were displayed within the depot building and yard, along with a range of sales stands and traders.
The undoubted stars of the show were five members of the operator’s remaining Class 37 fleet, with 37218, 37401 Mary Queen of Scots, 37419 Carl Haviland, 37425 Sir Robert Mcalpine/ Concrete Bob all on display in the depot yard. 37424/558 Avro Vulcan XH558 was on display inside the depot building. While DRS is seeking to dispose of its remaining Class 37s as it moves to a more modern, environmentally-friendly locomotive fleet (see page 18), the locomotives are still popular with enthusiasts, and the freight operator had arranged for 37218 to be specially repainted into the original version of DRS livery, which has been absent from the rail network for a number of years.
Special livery
The repainting was completed at the neighbouring Crewe Heritage Centre, with 37218 moving across to Gresty Bridge on July 15 following completion of works. Additionally, DRS’S stored 37423 Spirit of the Lakes has been loaned to CHC and is on display at the heritage centre for the summer.
Two locomotive namings took place during the event, with 66422 receiving the Max Joule 1958-1999 nameplates that were previously carried by 20301 and 20303, while 66424 was named Driver Paul Scrivens 1969-2021 in memory of a former DRS driver. A blind auction was also held, with both nameplates carried by 37409 Lord Hinton, 47810 Peter Bath MBE, 47832/57312 Solway Princess, 57301 Goliath, and 68006 Daring on offer, along with a pair of cast brass Furness Railway 150 plates.
Bidders could make offers during the open day or online in the run-up to the event.
The results of the auction will be published in the next issue of Railways Illustrated on our Railwayana page.
DRS has held a long tradition of holding open days each year, alternatively at its Gresty Bridge and Carlisle Kingmoor Depots, with the charity events always proving to be popular with enthusiasts and the return of the open days is a welcome development.