Crewe Heritage Centre

The Crewe Heritage Centre

File:Crewe-Heritage-Centre-Logo.png Crewe Heritage Centre Logo
Established	1987
Location	Vernon Way, Crewe, England
Type	Railway museum
Visitors	30,000 Annually
Director	Mike Lenz
Website	Crewe Heritage Centre

Crewe Heritage Centre, is a railway museum, located in Crewe, England. It is managed by the Crewe Heritage Trust; the museum is located between Crewe railway station and Crewe town centre.

History

Established in 1987 as Crewe Railway Age by the owning registered charity, it returned to its original name of Crewe Heritage Centre in early 2008. The museum is located in the old London, Midland and Scottish Railway yard, which was once part of Crewe Works, between the junction to Chester and the West Coast Main Line. The site is operated by the Friends of the Crewe Heritage Centre, and is open to the public every weekend between March and December.

Exhibits

The centre has a series of exhibits, ranging from the only surviving APT-P train, miniature railways, three open signal boxes (Crewe Station A, Crewe North Junction and Exeter West), and a varied collection of standard gauge steam, diesel and electric locomotives, as well as occasional visiting locomotives. The Main Exhibition Hall features many artefacts and exhibits associated with Crewe from its locomotive and carriage construction, and famous junction railway station. Brake Van rides are available to the public during special events.

Advanced Passenger Train

File:APT (8920678577).jpg

APT No.370 003/006 at Crewe heritage Centre

Built by BR in the 1970s and 1980s, this Class 370 Advanced Passenger Train (APT) is the only surviving APT set. Numbered 370 003/ 006, it is open at all times, with an occasional cafe run from the original buffet car (selected days only). The APT-P museum can be found inside one of the carriages, with photographs on display from the APT project. The set was tilted for the first time in preservation in 2013.

Signal boxes

• Crewe Station A: Open for display purposes, this box was moved onto the site after closure in 1985.
• Crewe North Junction: Built in 1939 and designed to withstand the Luftwaffe bombs of World War II, the box is constructed out of concrete and has an 18" thick roof and 15" thick walls. Located between the West Coast Main Line and Crewe - Chester line, its location is perfect for viewing passing mainline trains. Demonstrations of how the box was used often take place, and are linked to a simulator. In 1987 the building was extended to provide more room for the Heritage Centre, including a cafe and small shop, and to include a large USA model railway.

File:Exeter West Frame (8921044794).jpg

Levers of Exeter West signal box, as preserved at Crewe Heritage Centre

• Exeter West: used to control the split at Exeter between the Great Western Railway and the Southern Railway. With 131 levers, it was a Special Class A signal box, with only the best signalmen authorised to operate it. Since being rebuilt at Crewe, volunteers operate it on every weekend using a demonstration 1960s timetable, which include the hectic Summer Saturday service, which saw famous expresses such as the Torbay Express, Atlantic Coast Express and the Cornishman.

Locomotives

Both mainline and miniature railways operate on most weekends. The standard gauge railway uses either the British Rail Class 73 73 006, British Rail Class 03 03 073 or ex-Direct Rail Services British Rail Class 47 47 712. BR Standard Class 8 71000 Duke of Gloucester, constructed at Crewe Works in 1954, is visiting and awaiting overhaul. A cylinder and Caprotti valve gear from the locomotive form part of a permanent display. There may also be occasional visiting locomotives.

Locomotives

Locomotive	Pre Tops	Built	Owner	Type	Livery	Status
03 073	D2073	1959	Crewe Heritage Trust	Diesel Shunter	BR Blue	In Use
37 108	D6808	1963	Private Owner	Diesel Locomotive	BR Blue	Under Restoration
46 035	D172	1962	Locomotive Services Ltd	Diesel Locomotive	BR Blue	Static Exhibit
47 192	D1842	1965	Crewe Heritage Trust	Diesel Locomotive	BR Green	Off Site
47 712	D1948	1966	Crewe Diesel Group	Diesel Locomotive	Scot Rail	Off Site
87 035	N/A	1974	Crewe Heritage Trust	Electric (AC) Locomotive	Inter-City	Static Exhibit
370 003/006	N/A	1980	Crewe Heritage Trust	Electric (AC) Multiple Unit	Inter-City	Static Exhibit

See also

• List of museums in Cheshire

Distinguish from

• Crewe Railroad Museum in Crewe, Virginia, USA

External links

• Official website