Class 97 named Dave Berry in memory of Network Rail manager

NETWORK Rail’s Coleham depot in Shrewsbury was the venue on December 17 for the naming of Class 97 No. 97303 in memory of manager Dave Berry, who played a fundamental part in the Shrewsbury-Crewe and North Wales modular resignalling projects.

Mr Berry, who died last year, was a long-serving and well-respected member of the NR team, whose railway career began in 1973 with British Rail in the Midlands, working in the Signal & Telecommunications department.

In 1991, he transferred to the Western Region, initially becoming a signalling section manager in Plymouth.

Shrewsbury became his base in 2011 and it was there that he ultimately took-up a position as project manager in 2019.

He will be remembered by colleagues not only for his engineering skills and wealth of knowledge, but also his ability to offer support and advice in challenging situations.

NETWORK RAIL One of Network Rail’s fleet of four former Class 37s based at Coleham depot and equipped for working routes with ERTMS signalling on the Cambrian lines to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli, No. 97303 (previously 37178) Dave Berry is pictured there following naming on December 17.