All Change Crewe Open Day - Saturday 8th June 2019
I had literally spent months trying to decide whether to go to this event or not. I'd given up on it once the first batch of 5000 tickets sold out but then another 200 came up for sale and it brought the event back to mind. However, I still failed to make a decision (I am a bloke after all) and missed out on these as well but at the back end of last week I noticed someone had posted in the open day thread on here that they had a spare ticket. I usually avoid buying tickets in this manner but I never envisaged a ticket tout selling counterfeits for a railway open day so took my chance and messaged the guy. With an agreement in place, I ventured to the local for the short hop to Crewe and whilst waiting for the Pendolino was greeted by the sight of
66623 in its new FLR livery.
The weather was naff and whilst sheltering from the rain I noticed a guy in the waiting room with pen and pad and to put my mind at ease (no offence Phil) I asked to see the ticket just so I knew what I was going to purchase was actually a genuine ticket. Can't be too sure these days can you haha. What I never thought was that by asking this simple (if not slightly strange) question to a guy at Stafford, I would find a friend for the day which is one of the beauties of this hobby. We boarded
390131 for the journey to Crewe whilst we chatted about what it's like to spot in each of our local areas. A keen eye was kept on arrival into Crewe and despite the 3 FLR sheds at Basford Hall I was more interested in the Arriva Traincare facility where I was able to grab my first TOE 397s in the shape of
003 and
004 along with the resident gronk
08868. Upon arrival at Crewe we decided a coffee was in order whilst I waited for my ticket to arrive - ironically the ticket seller had text me to advise he was just changing trains at Stafford (oops!). He wasn't far behind though and it was quickly apparent things were very genuine so armed with a ticket and veins full of coffee we roamed across to the old mail platform and past the abandoned lines towards my first ever visit to a railway depot.
I won't detail my winners from the depot as I would normally, I will just post a full list of what I saw below as I'm sure everyone now knows what was there:
08:
08737,
08762
20: 20189, 20205
37: 37190, 37601,
37608
43: 43048,
43423
47: 47593, 47614,
47712,
47811,
47816, 47830, 47841
50:
50049, 50050
55:
55016,
55019,
55022
56:
56049
57:
57301, 57307
66: 66503
67: 67006
68:
68027
70: 70008, 70808
73:
73001, 73951, 73952
86:
86622
88:
88005
90: 90045
91:
91119
92: 92038
121:
121034
142:
142001
319:
319433
Steam - LMS: 45231, 46100
Steam - SR:
34046
Steam - BR: 70000
The notable successes for me were 91119 which set the klaxons off as the 91s are completed. Who would have thought I would tick these off so close to home. The 121 bubble car was a nice addition, certainly brought back many memories of travelling on this sort of unit. Bonus sightings of 47811 and 47816 still in their Great Western livery (with a Freightliner sticker added) but looking pretty forlorn and rusting away in the depot and my first viewing of the GBRf livery on a 50 was nice as well. Overall it was a good event and one I'm glad I went to in the end, who doesn't get excited about a visit to the cab of a 90 and 91
A few pics of the day are below but there are more on my Flickr
here:
50049 by
The_Train
Intercity liveried 91119 by
The_Train
Inside the cab of 91119 by
The_Train
55019 at Crewe Open Day by
The_Train
47811 and 47816 by
The_Train
73001 at Crewe Open Day by
The_Train
47712 at Crewe Open Day by
The_Train
Locos Galore! by
The_Train
My luck wasn't just in with sightings at the actual event either. As we were roaming around we ventured for a view down to the avoiding lines and right on cue, DB
66221 went trundling by. Whilst we were at the North end of the yard admiring the thrash competition that 68027, 57307 and 50049 were enjoying I also caught sight of
175003 followed by
153367 to add to my tally for the day. The time at the open day literally flew by and it definitely added to the day in having someone to experience it with - not sure the guy uses this forum but just in case thanks again for the company. We ventured back to the station at about 1550 and after grabbing a panini (am I right in there being no food stalls at the open day or were we looking in the wrong places?) we were back on a busy platform to see
150252 go by.
175008 would be my final winner of the day shortly before
390154 arrived to take us back to Stafford. I left my friend for the day to a PNB before his drive back to Retford and made my way home to bring another great outing to a close.
Summary is below:
For Sight
Winners:
31
Coaching Stock Winners:
9
Classes completed:
1 - Class 91
Sub classes completed:
N/A
TOCs completed:
N/A
TOC sub classes completed:
LNER Class 91
For Haulage
Winners:
2
Total Mileage:
48 miles 44 chains
Classes completed:
N/A
Sub classes completed:
N/A