Guard’s compartment back in Crewe’s HST
CLASS 43 HST power car No. 43018 arrived at Crewe Heritage Centre (CHC) in October 2020 in derelict condition and stripped of many parts. It was so bad that it was nearly rejected on arrival and a telephone call to Angel Trains, which had donated it, resulted in an offer to take it on to a scrapyard, on the vehicle which had just delivered it. However, CHC’s Brian Porter took another look and thought the missing parts could be acquired or replicas made – and decided to keep it. Since then, he and his colleague James Mather have done a superb job in restoring it to as-built condition for static display. This has included the reinstatement of the rear-end guard’s compartment, as installed in power cars Nos. 43002-43152. They were unpopular as the position was noisy and lacking the comfort enjoyed by passengers in the adjoining carriage. The compartments were removed and guard accommodation provided within a passenger carriage. These were TGS (Trailer Guard’s Standards) Nos. 44000-44101. The vacated space in the power cars provided more luggage accommodation. When this was done the distinctive end windows were removed in most cases. However, in this vehicle it was found the frames had been sheeted over and they were revealed during the restoration. This provided the opportunity to re-install the guard’s compartment, which originally included a tip-up seat, PA equipment, a small electric stove and light etc. This arrangement, including the end windows, is believed to be the only example of this feature extant today. Finished in the classic, original InterCity 125 livery, numbered W43018 and its former name of British Red Cross regained, this Crewe-built power car is now a very worthy exhibit at the centre.