Class 76 at Crewe Works

[neilmc]

Visiting Crewe Works in the early 1970s there were always one or two class 76 from the Woodhead route in for maintenance. Question is, when they had been through works, was there a short section of 1500dc track within the workd on which they could be tested, or were they simply towed back to Reddish and it was hoped they would work first time!

 

[Ash Bridge]

Visiting Crewe Works in the early 1970s there were always one or two class 76 from the Woodhead route in for maintenance. Question is, when they had been through works, was there a short section of 1500dc track within the workd on which they could be tested, or were they simply towed back to Reddish and it was hoped they would work first time!

Apparently there was a 1500V DC test track, it was located alongside the Crewe-North Wales main line I believe.

 

[Cowley]

Apparently there was a 1500V DC test track, it was located alongside the Crewe-North Wales main line I believe.

That’s interesting, I never knew that.

 

[Ash Bridge]

That’s interesting, I never knew that.

You may find this interesting Mr C if the link will work.


https://www.railwayblogger.com/locomotives-at-crewe-works/

 

[pdeaves]

You may find this interesting Mr C if the link will work.

(You will probably get a 404 message but just click on home page and you'll eventually get there)

railwayblogger.com/locomotives-crewe-works

Add a / at the end of the URL https://www.railwayblogger.com/locomotives-at-crewe-works/

 

[Ash Bridge]

Add a / at the end of the URL https://www.railwayblogger.com/locomotives-at-crewe-works/

Ah thanks for that.....spot the amateur!

 

[Cowley]

Thanks both. Always good to learn something new.
I was quite taken by this interesting piece of detail:

“The Woodhead Route Electrics were probably the most well-built locomotives I’ve ever seen. When they came into the works although they were stripped of component parts for repair, it was usually just a case of cleaning them as the amount of wear was minimal.”

 

[Taunton]

Similarly, the LMS-era Merseyside 650v dc electric units, both the Wirral ones and the Southport ones, were overhauled at Horwich Works, until it closed, along with the 1200v Bury units, the 1500v overhead Glossop units, and maybe some others. They were hauled to and fro unbraked with match wagons, and one result was the interiors looked very similar between the different types for upholstery, paint colour, etc. I don't know if Horwich had a dc test line like this one, it would have had to adapt to a range of systems.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Thanks both. Always good to learn something new.
I was quite taken by this interesting piece of detail:

“The Woodhead Route Electrics were probably the most well-built locomotives I’ve ever seen. When they came into the works although they were stripped of component parts for repair, it was usually just a case of cleaning them as the amount of wear was minimal.”

Tbh just observing them from a laymans view point they really did appear to be of a very solid construction. Comparing one stood next to a class 24/25 at for example Reddish ETD back in the day the contrast was really rather stark.

 

[Cowley]

Tbh just observing them from a laymans view point they really did appear to be of a very solid construction. Comparing one stood next to a class 24/25 at for example Reddish ETD back in the day the contrast was really rather stark.

I completely missed out on them unfortunately.
I’ve seen at least one of the preserved 77s (and maybe ‘Tommy’), I do remember them looking like a pretty heavy duty bit of kit. Wish I’d seen them in service.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I completely missed out on them unfortunately.
I’ve seen at least one of the preserved 77s (and maybe ‘Tommy’), I do remember them looking like a pretty heavy duty bit of kit. Wish I’d seen them in service.

Never managed haulage behind one but ticked most them off and saw plenty in action. No surprise really as Reddish depot was only a couple of miles (as the crow flies) distant.

 

[Cowley]

Never managed haulage behind one but ticked most them off and saw plenty in action. No surprise really as Reddish depot was only a couple of miles (as the crow flies) distant.

Love the old E numbers. Is that a 1972 combined volume Mr Bridge?

 

[Ash Bridge]

Love the old E numbers. Is that a 1972 combined volume Mr Bridge?

It is, well observed! Really I'd imagine I would surely have cleared them all by a year or two later.

 

[delt1c]

Remember my 1st visit to Redish Depot in the mid 70's and was my 1st sighting of a 76. What struck me most was that body work look almost armoured plated, had never seen a loco like them .

 

[neilmc]

Well I never, they did have a 1500v dc test facility after all! Thanks for the input!

 

[lyndhurst25]

There were similar 1500V DC test facilities installed at Longsight depot, to maintain the Class 506 EMUs when they were transferred there after Reddish closed. A class 83 loco was used to do the voltage conversion!

83009 Longsight Depot 24th April 1983

Enjoying a repreive of sorts, Class 83 loco N°83009 is seen parked on a specially laid section of track at Longsight Depot 24th April 1983. It was used as a transformer to provide 1500V DC current for the maintenance of the Class 506 Hadfield units which were services at Longsight following the...

www.flickr.com

 

[Ash Bridge]

This is really interesting to learn, thanks for posting!

 

[Journeyman]

Tbh just observing them from a laymans view point they really did appear to be of a very solid construction. Comparing one stood next to a class 24/25 at for example Reddish ETD back in the day the contrast was really rather stark.

Weren't they supposedly built out of surplus wartime armour plating? I heard scrapping them was quite a tough job.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Weren't they supposedly built out of surplus wartime armour plating? I heard scrapping them was quite a tough job.

I hadn't heard that one if I'm honest but its definitely quite believable isn't it, and the timing of their construction dates ties in quite well.

 

[Bald Rick]

Love the old E numbers. Is that a 1972 combined volume Mr Bridge?

It is, well observed! Really I'd imagine I would surely have cleared them all by a year or two later.

I think that makes you a Spotter book spotter @Cowley

 

[Cowley]

I think that makes you a Spotter book spotter @Cowley

The lowest of the low...

 

[Ash Bridge]

The lowest of the low...

Honestly I really don't find that funny at all......

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Never managed haulage behind one but ticked most them off and saw plenty in action. No surprise really as Reddish depot was only a couple of miles (as the crow flies) distant.

It is, well observed! Really I'd imagine I would surely have cleared them all by a year or two later.

Wow amateurs. I cleared them all 5 times and I have multiple photographs of all of them and all of them working. Used to do Reddish Guide Bridge and Wath almost every 6 weeks in the 1970s and Crewe Works minimum twice a year. I can post photos of them all if you would like.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Wow amateurs. I cleared them all 5 times and I have multiple photographs of all of them and all of them working. Used to do Reddish Guide Bridge and Wath almost every 6 weeks in the 1970s and Crewe Works minimum twice a year. I can post photos of them all if you would like.

Shameful on my part really considering my close proximity to Reddish ETD! If I'm honest the Ian Allan Combine Page I posted wasn't updated when I moved onto later editions therefore I probably did eventually clear the fleet including 26000 Tommy which was stored by BR at Bury along with a handful of class 83/84s during the early 1970s. Also managed to see most of the 77s at Reddish after their withdrawal from service, at a guess perhaps late 68/early 69? I remember they were kept in warm storage so compressors etc. still ticking away, how I kick myself for not photographing them unlike yourself with the 76s!