Porterbrook Leasing gifts 8000th Crewebuilt loco to Crewe Heritage Centre

THANKS to a generous donation by Porterbrook Leasing, Crewe Heritage Centre has secured a second HST power car,

No. 43081, as a permanent exhibit at the museum.

No. 43081 was built a short distance from the heritage centre, in March 1978 and is officially considered to be the 8000th loco to be constructed at Crewe Locomotive Works.

BRIAN PORTER Class 43 HST power car No. 43081 in East Midlands Trains livery on the day of its arrival at the Crewe Heritage Centre, September 13. This marked 45 years to the day in 1976, when British Rail officially introduced the first High Speed Trains into service.

BRIAN PORTER Crewe Heritage Centre’s first HST power car, No. 43018 (RM Dec p75) has been finished in Inter-City 125 livery. It is currently having its cab restored to as-built condition, as near as possible, but using 3D-printed buttons and gauges from a Class 87 electric loco. Restoration is being undertaken by two volunteers, Brian Porter and James Mather. James has rewired the headlights etc, while Brian has carried out bodywork painting, inside and out. It is hoped some of the missing parts can be obtained for No. 43018, such as roof grilles, drawgear panel, cab door etc.