The town of Crewe
was created by the railway, and even today railways are a major source
of employment. The station, located at a six-way junction, is always
busy
and a favourite haunt of train-watchers. Part of the station became
disused
when the track and signalling was altered in 1985, and in 1997 all mail
traffic has been transferred away to Warrington and Stafford, leaving
some
of the remaining bay platforms with little traffic. There are two
tracks
through the centre of the station for non-stopping trains, and four
principal
through platforms. A fifth platform, now numbered 12, was retained in
the
1985 changes for 'emergency' use, and is often used by North Wales
trains.
Normal departure platform, however, would be bay no.9 for trains
starting
from Crewe.
The traditional advice is to sit on the right-hand side of the train leaving Crewe, to get the best views of the sea once the Coast is reached. Leaving Crewe, and branching immediately away from the West Coast main line past the now-preserved Crewe North Junction signal box, the train runs for a mile or so on a deviation line opened in 1868 to allow for expansion of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) locomotive works which eventually grew to occupy a large area. The original route was to the right of the present line and was incorporated in to the Works site, the first part of which has now become the 'Railway Age' which is both a museum open to visitors and a small maintenance and overhaul works specialising in heritage trains. Preserved diesel and electric locomotives are often seen here, and it also acts a base for steam locomotives when special trains are operated on the Coast line. Crewe North steam locomotive depot, one of the most famous in the country, lay to the left of the line here but has been eradicated in favour of a car park: some way from the line is Crewe Signalling Centre, a long, low industrial building opened in 1985: most unlike a traditional signal box, but painted red with a white stripe to resemble a huge semaphore signal arm.
Soon afterwards on the right, a high brick wall marks the boundary
of
the currently operating part of the Locomotive Works. Today it is
operated
by Bombardier as an overhaul
facility:
little is visible from the train, although you might catch a glimpse of
the works shunting loco through a gap in the wall. On the left here is
Crewe electric locomotive depot, which includes in its allocation all
the
Class 92 locos built for Channel Tunnel duty,
although
the view from the train is not good. The northern exit tracks of the
depot
on to our line are controlled from a small signalbox called Crewe Steel
Works, built the the LMSR in 1935: this was the site of a Bessemer
steel
plant built by the LNWR. A short distance further on, the overhead
electric
wires end and we are on a traditional country railway. The maximum
speed
permitted over the whole of the line to Holyhead is 90miles/hour.
The city of Chester is one of the most beautiful and historic in Britain, with its almost-complete city walls, ancient cathedral and the abundance of timber-framed buildings in the shopping centre, laid out on two levels known as 'The Rows' and crowned by the world-famous clock. The city centre is about one mile from the station; buses (free to rail ticket holders) run frequently to the city centre, and there is also an open-topped city bus tour.