Trains at: Crewe, WCML, 27/01/2020

A fantastic morning spent at Crewe station on the West Coast Mainline where we see plenty of services from London Northwestern Railway, Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, Northern, Transport for Wales, Royal Mail and Rail Operations Group along with some shunting work courtesy of Locomotive Services Limited.
There is so much to tell about this station so I'll try and include as much as I can.
The station was opened in 1837 by the Grand Junction Railway. The whole idea of this station was to connect the four largest cities in England by joining the Liverpool and Manchester Railway to the projected London and Birmingham Railway.
There were massive plans for the railway and the station when it first opened. As soon as the station was built there were plans to build at the time a branch line that would head to Chester. The line now being a pretty busy route for passenger traffic. Oddly enough the company created to build this route was called and Chester and Crewe Railway. But once the line had been completed they were merged with the Grand Junction Railway in 1840.
Because at the time the steam engines were only small it meant that an engine shed was built was built that was used to stable banking engines that would be used to push trains up a small incline that today would be no match at all.
Less than a year later plans were created for a trunk route to be built linking Crewe to Holyhead which also gave great access to Ireland which in turn started to cement itself as an important junction station in the UK.
The next line to meet was the line from Manchester. There were plans to have the line run straight from Manchester to Birmingham but when construction was underway it was deemed that it would be uneconomical because of the length of the line that they wanted to create. So it was decided that they would connect their line to the GJR at Crewe.
The town started to grow in size when the GJR moved their depot from Edge Hill in Liverpool to the North of the station. It was done in order to house the workforce.
In 1846 the GJR and the London and Birmingham Railway merged together to form at the time the largest company in the world which is the London & Northwestern Railway.
When the company came to be they started the largest amount of track laying seen in the country. They extended lines and built new ones heading to: Holyhead, Lancaster and Carlisle, Leeds, Shrewsbury, Stoke-on-Trent and the South of Wales.
With all the lines converging on the West Coast Mainline at Crewe it meant that more traffic was coming through the station roughly 1000 trains during any 24 hour period which mostly consisted of freight there were plans brought up which would take the trains under the station.
By 1903 the station was given a make over to allow stopping freight traffic to unload for road vehicles which meant that 9 through platforms were constructed each were a 1/4 mile in length. The total cost of the improvement at the time was £1,000,000 which in today's money is the equivalent to £97,080,000. I'll take a portion of that quite happily.
When the LMS was created Crewe continued to grow in size, locomotives were still being built on a daily basis and the signalling was given a complete overhaul. The two former signal boxes were instead made into concrete fortresses to withstand air raids. But aside from that nothing else really took place in the 50 years LMS were running around.
It wasn't until British Railways was formed that further changes were taking place around the station. Most notably was when steam was starting to be raise out and replaced with diesel and electric locomotives and multiple units which meant that the works were starting to close down because of lack of work and the fact that smaller depots were starting to pop up across the country that would task care of the trains.
Although as we all know Crewe works survived to an extent for the heritage centre and the actual works itself for restoring steam engines.
Much more work was taken out from then to the present day to incorporate the electrification of the WCML, bigger trains, better facilities to make it the station we all know and love today.
My next station is Liverpool Lime Street.
You can find me on Facebook through the group Tornado922, there you will find regular updates, videos and photos from all of my goings on throughout 2020.
You can also now find me on Instagram through the name tornado922.

[@barrythedieselelectricstea5217]

excellent shots 👍

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much!

[@paulhill8224]

Great video Tornado922, Crewe looks like a very nice station to go to.

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much, this is a great station to come to

[@michaelbutler3552]

Long may your mind continue to wander with amusing comments on the railway scene!

[@Tornado922]

I'm sure it forever shall do

[@evanswoodcentral315]

Great video from an excellent station. Nice cops of the 37, 47 and Royal Mail unit. I agree with you entirely concerning Transport for Wales. Keep safe and take care, regards Gary.

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much, I had a great time here. Shame that the sun wasn't in the right place at the start but I can't always have it my own way haha, I loved seeing the 37 along with the 47 doing some shunting work

[@pantograf460channel]

Amazing footage mate;) Crewe is really nice station with a tush traffic:)

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much :) I love coming here

[@gerontius34]

Thanks, that was fun- particularly your humorous remarks on the shunting sideshow!

[@Tornado922]

You're more than welcome and thank you for commenting

[@Desiro360]

Very enjoyable video and great footage. :)

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much

[@alanmolyneux5957]

There's always something worth seeing at Crewe. I was there last Thursday and the Network Rail HST turned up from Derby while Black 5 steam loco 45231 was also seen.Although the 11.56 Voyager to London Euston is usually 10 coaches rather than 5, it only starts at Chester. On returning from Euston it works the 14.07 to Holyhead.

[@Tornado922]

You can always find something good here, even if you're only here for about an hour or so

[@RWL2012]

There's a 17-something Crewe to Cardiff Central service via the Heart of Wales and South Wales Main Lines - *that* is a long journey in a 153 (over 6 hours!)

[@blkpig6664]

Fantastic write-up. Great session as always, top-shelf work ;}

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much my good man!

[@blkpig6664]

And you my good chap!

[@EWSTrains]

The 47 was moving with coaches is because it was taking that lot with the dbso down to Bishop Auckland so they can use it

[@ClaretBlueTrainspotter]

Great video. What sounded best, 37 or 47? With Transport for Wales, why don't the 67s come back for services to Manchester. They'd make Crewe sound better too.

[@russouk]

Agreed ,last time I went to manc Picc was on that..67014 up and..82307 brought us home

[@Tornado922]

For me it would have to be the 47 on that day. I would love to see more 67's running into and out of Crewe

[@ghighlandchieftain4462]

Brilliant video I love sound 390 and 37 and 365

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much, was great seeing the 37 hauling the 365

[@ghighlandchieftain4462]

@@Tornado922 yeah that really cool I wot what go to happened 365

[@madtrainspottermacrae6744]

Crewe station is very good indeed

[@BobtheYouTuber]

Amazing shots of the trains! 👍🏼

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much

[@BobtheYouTuber]

@@Tornado922 Your welcome!

[@EthanAfro707]

That class 350 at the start seemed to be getting in your way a lot

[@Tornado922]

I worked around the issue haha

[@levichalcraft8702]

Transport for Wales class 769’s should enter service soon. Great video

[@Tornado922]

Well when they do I will be sure to film them

[@kidsanthony6330]

i guess that 47593 was on shunting duty

[@chrisatrailway7573]

Great video 👍

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much

[@srgntsylveon2919]

Crewe is a place somewhat close to me, all i need to do is head up to Derby and down to Crewe. Might come here some day

[@Tornado922]

It's well worth it

[@nicholasmorrey3192]

That was me in the back of 350119. Didn’t realise it was you mate. Last time I saw you I gave you the horn from the rear cab at Stafford.

[@russouk]

gave him the horn lol

[@nicholasmorrey3192]

russell morgan don’t be jealous mate, plenty to go around big boy haha

[@Tornado922]

It's all good haha, I'll just wait for the next time you see me filming ;)

[@trainspotter5605]

I like the new levery of avanti west coast

[@Tornado922]

It does look good

[@alisonrawlings6679]

The 365 Hauled by the ROG 37 was going to storage or something as the government owns 40 of them

[@Tornado922]

That doesn't really clear it up in all honesty. I could have guessed that much for myself

[@alisonrawlings6679]

I thought that.

[@helpyfazbearsmlgairhorn800]

Tornado have you played train sim world also very enjoyable video at crewe

[@Tornado922]

I have played Train Simulator 2020

[@helpyfazbearsmlgairhorn800]

@@Tornado922 that's good do you remember what train classes you were driving was it just UK trains or was it UK trains and other ones from other countries

[@Tornado922]

@@helpyfazbearsmlgairhorn800 I've done multiple routes in the UK, Europe and America

[@helpyfazbearsmlgairhorn800]

@@Tornado922 which route was your favourite in all three countries

[@davidalt92]

When Avanti get their new rolling stock, are the Super Voyagers going to Cross Country? Cos they really need to get rid of 2/3 car trains on the Birmingham New Street to Stansted Airport

[@Tornado922]

I would assume that the super voyagers will be going to XC. I can't see why they wouldn't. As you say they need more seating on the routes that they work

[@ethanfountaine3812]

Hi, I have just one question, what is your opinion on East Midlands railway class 222104 livery because it's the new EMR livery

[@Tornado922]

I'm not overly keen on it

[@ethanfountaine3812]

@@Tornado922 do you think it will look better on the upcoming class 800s coming to the fleet

[@Tornado922]

Well I'll have to see it first before deciding anything

[@ethanfountaine3812]

@@Tornado922 fare enough.

[@Matthew_Webb_2023]

To be fair I work at that place and yh we took the buffet car off as we wanted prepared for a special something that's coming up soon. Sorry about the squeaky breaks it was the engine that's moving making that noise

[@Tornado922]

It was great fun watching you lot moving the stock around, to say I would have loved to have been filming in the yard next to the 47 would be an understatement haha, the squeaky breaks make it all the more better!

[@Matthew_Webb_2023]

@@Tornado922 your are more than welcome to come and film in the yard

[@madtrainspottermacrae6744]

What is the most windy station in uk

[@nightelectricityuniverse7349]

Berry Nice!! (In deep voice)

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much

[@keithalexander3386]

I would love to know how you can spot the difference between a Voyager and a Super Voyager other than by its number. They both look the same to me. I know the Voyager doesn't tilt but that is not a visual piece of gear.

[@alanmolyneux5957]

Avanti only operate 221's. Cross Country 220's can be seen at Crewe usually if there are diversions from the Manchester - Stoke route and I think there are a couple of Cross Country trains booked to run via Crewe.

[@transportationuk7656]

Keith Alexander Class 220’s Voyagers are 4 coaches. Class 221’s have 5 coaches with tilt. However the Class 221 Super Voyagers with Arriva Cross Country have had their tilting system taken out. Also the 221’s with Avanti and the 221’s with Arriva have different couplings. That’s all the differences I know.

[@buksi6342]

Also, 220s are 4 cars and 221s are 5.

[@transportationuk7656]

Transport News Finland I already said that.

[@buksi6342]

Oop, didn’t notice that. Sorry!

[@OfficialRyanx]

23:27 “This train is formed of fur coaches” What!?

[@dianecooper9932]

23:27

[@Cpr1234]

I sure miss 390104's ALSTOM livery :(

[@madtrainspottermacrae6744]

The 221s are going

[@Tornado922]

Eventually, however I think they will have a new home with Cross Country

[@kathryngrogan3778]

390104To Edinburgh waveley

[@alexdonald3779]

Hi Tornado922, I hope you’re having a wonderful new year and I love your videos as always. However, I have 3 requests. If you can, could you please film at Bethnal Green, and Cambridge to catch the class 90s before they get replaced and the new flirt units and Welham Green to catch the new Hull Trains 802s. Thank you very much and best wishes from NYC

[@Tornado922]

Hello there, I'm having a very good 2020 so far I hope you are too! Thank you for the requests, those are three stations I shall try and get done at some stage this year

[@cazz3130]

Do you start at Stafford at the start of the new year?

[@Tornado922]

Yes

[@cazz3130]

@@Tornado922 and why?

[@Tornado922]

@@cazz3130 just something I started doing. It's a great station to kick the year off with

[@kathryngrogan3778]

390118ToManchester Piccadilly

[@kathryngrogan3778]

158825ToMilford habour

[@kathryngrogan3778]

37884and365515To Peterborough

[@russouk]

33:59 that a 47 nose sticking out far right plat 12 ? TFW are getting new stock...and sooner the better we have a mixed bag of old Arriva Blue,half n half....and the new Red and White (crappy.livery imo.....wheres the Red Dragon !!!!!) some done some not....I know they gotta take revenue but they have enough stock in Canton to fill the gaps......top crewe vid m8...my fave after Cardiff.

[@Tornado922]

It was the nose of a 57 that was in the process of shutting itself down when I went up to that end of the platform. It would make so much more sense to have longer trains running on some of the routes that they have

[@kathryngrogan3778]

390134ToLondon euston

[@dianecooper9932]

23:27

[@dianecooper9932]

33:59

[@kathryngrogan3778]

158785To here

[@kathryngrogan3778]

350111to london euston

[@kathryngrogan3778]

153320Tohere

[@kathryngrogan3778]

47513

[@kathryngrogan3778]

390

[@kathryngrogan3778]

325001

[@kathryngrogan3778]

323235Tohere

[@kathryngrogan3778]

350119To

[@lifeisgood3386]

Talk about waffle on

[@kathryngrogan3778]

158785ToDerby

[@kathryngrogan3778]

350113to london euston