Prior to the arrival of the 'plastic' Class 150/1 Sprinters at Derby's Etches Park depot, the Crewe - Derby route was, in common with many other Midland area routes, diagrammed for the hard worked Class 120 Cross Country sets built by BR at Swindon works.
Photo: © UD.
This shot shows 25258 with a three coach scratch rake powering up the
bank from Stoke Junction towards its next booked stop at Longton. The working
is the 18:30 Crewe - Derby, and the date 24th of June 1983.
Photo: © UD.
Towards the end of 1988, all members of the Class 155 fleet, based at
Cardiff Canton had to be withdrawn from service due to problems with their
doors. This resulted in a serious shortage of trains lasting over 18 months
during which time the Crewe - Derby route, in common with many others,
saw semi regular locomotive haulage. Here, 31407 has arrived at Crewe,
Platform 2, with the 2K49 10:08 Derby - Crewe working on 29th of March
1989. At the rear of the train, 08699 is about to shunt the stock to the
booked platform 4, releasing the loco for the return working.
Photo: © UD.
Two days before Christmas, 1988, 31444 Keighley and Worth Valley
Railway passes Heron Cross, again with the 2K49 10:08 Derby - Crewe
service.
Photo: © UD.
Not all appearances of hauled passenger trains over this route have
been due to dmu shortages and failures. This was a planned extension of
the 1M35 12:38 SO Skegness - Derby to Kidsgrove, thanks to the Stoke area
Potters
fortnight annual holidays. Seen here between Longton and Stoke-on-Trent,
45049 The Staffordshire regiment (The prince of Wales's) coasts
down the bank to Stoke Junc. This locomotive worked 1M35 throughout,
running round at Derby.
The date was 30th of
June 1984.