J. Crosse recalls an an enthusiasts’ coach trip starting from Bristol in April 1967 with Crewe as the prime destination.
E6101-7 had been noted on the April visit.
This trip was of interest both for diesel and steam fans as there was still a considerable quantity of steam motive power to be found in this corner of North West England. The journey to Shrewsbury probably occupied well in excess of three hours in those days so everyone was glad to pile off the coach and into the steam depot there which was host to 16 steam engines, a 2 car DMU and an interesting selection of diesel power:
D268/90, D316 D1801, D1944 D3028/35/49, D3194, D3970 D5006/77/88/9, D5140/5 D7060 12052 Northerly progress was continued via Wrexham to visit Croes Newydd where steam was definitely still in charge but on a reduced scale from the past. 26 steam were on shed along with 4 diesels:
D219 D5005/8/79 The next stopping point was Chester where a number of DMUs were noted but no locomotives were at the depot.
The final leg of the outward journey took us to Birkenhead where the staple motive power was the Class 9F 2-10-0 with over two thirds of the 55 steam engines being of this class. Diesel power was represented by:
D298, D311/28/70/7/8 D1806/8 D2198/9 D2219/35 D2372/4 It was time to head for Crewe, in fact past time, as all parties wishing to visit the works had to be there for a specific time. Disaster loomed as during a ‘hasty’ exit from Birkenhead the local constabulary decided to pull our coach in for speeding - not bad for a 1960 Bedford! However, Crewe was reached in time and all of the locations were visited as follows:-
Crewe North she
