Farewell to Crewe by Frank Nicholas

Unless some rich benefactor is found, the last mainline appearance of a Class 100 DTC, a 101 DTC and a 104 TBSL took place on Sat. 19th 2000 when three vehicles stored at Crewe were moved through the station from the South carriage sidings to Adtranz, and then to Gresty Lane Freightliner terminal, hauled by DRS class 20's.

The vehicles involved were the last Class 100 DTC, M 56106, a class 101 DTS (with fluorescent lights and original 1st class seat frames)- ask Kev Dowd for its number-, and the sole surviving class104 TBSL, E 59228, with three Mk 1's from Riviera Trains providing Brake force.

Initially booked for an 07:00 move, delays meant that the intrepid gricers were well and truly frozen by the time the formation went North through Crewe station to the Adtranz works, were the 100 is to be cut up.... Phone calls to helpful staff on the train told us that the return was going to be about 12:30, then we were told they were coming off the works. Cameras were primed, but nothing showed. A long wait then followed, until the class 20's appeared from the SOUTH with the Mk1's, but no DMU cars. It was later found out that they had used the avoiding lines, thus effectively avoiding the gricers, owners and restorers....

A trip to Gresty Lane depot found the 101 and 104 parked in the yard for movement by road. The 101 is missing all its doors and most of its windows, and apparently is going to storage at Shoeburyness for its owners, Angel Trains. The 104 is missing glass on one side, and is due to move on Weds 23/02 to Telford Horsehay Steam Trust for storage and restoration.

Pictures by Frank Nicolas. Click on the thumbnail for a larger image.