Crewe North's Pacifics

摘要

Although my formative years were spent in the sight and sound of the Gresley syncopated beat, and the products of both Darlington and Doncaster, my real engineering knowledge would be acquired on the Stanier locomotives of Crewe along with their LNWR survivors. Gresley's Pacifies have always been a favourite with me, but having known them both in the works, on shed and on the road, the Stanier Pacifies demand their own special loyalty. At this distance in time it is worth looking at those halcyon days in the 1950s which would be the last shout of steam on the West Coast Main Line. Spending six months at Crewe North (5A) in 1954 as part of my engineering training was an opportunity not to miss in experiencing the Stanier Pacifies at work. Looking through my notebooks and at some of CJA's logs in the 'Railway Magazine' of the 1950s I have endeavoured to give a flavour of the performance of Stanier's masterpieces in the hands of some of the best Top Link drivers at Crewe North. The Glasgow, Perth and Euston workings were divided between four links, and the northward workings were shared between Crewe and Polmadie, and occasionally Carlisle (Upperby), whilst those to the south were shared duties with Camden. Generally they were lodging turns.