Direct Rail Services (DRS) Open Day, Gresty Bridge
Depot,Crewe
0142/bc/m
24th July 2008
The Mayor and Mayoress of Crewe and Nantwich
Councillor Brian Silvester and Ms Sheila Davies attended the Direct
Rail Services (DRS) Open Day on Saturday 19th July and
were given the honour of naming DRS loco 47501 the ‘Craftsman’.
‘Craftsman’ started life in 1966 from Brush
Falcon Works at Loughborough and was named after a rank in the
Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME). This was one of
the key highlights of the DRS Open Day and LOCO enthusiasts from
all over the country queued to get into the event at the Gresty
Bridge Depot at Crewe. At 10am, Direct Rail Services (DRS)
threw open the gate of its Depot with a ribbon cutting ceremony by
the MP of Crewe and Nantwich Mr Edward Timpson.
The site at Gresty Bridge proved a big
attraction for over 1,200 rail enthusiasts and DRS showcased their
rail freight services for spent nuclear fuels as well as award
winning intermodal traffic in the UK. DRS provides a valuable Rail
Head Treatment Train service in the autumn months in clearing
leaves of the railway infrastructure ensuring all rail traffic on
the network can operate smoothly with no disruption.
The Mayor said, “It was a great honour
to name such a wonderful locomotive. The name ‘Craftsman’ was
entirely appropriate because of the many locomotives built in Crewe
by local craftsmen and women in the last two centuries. Crewe owes
its very existence to the railways and we should never forget our
heritage.’
Visitors to the site also witnessed the naming
of a second loco ‘Solway Princess’, DRS loco 47832. Mr Sean Magee
of Northern Ireland and Mr Walter Satfford of Lancaster were the
lucky joint winners of a unique competition organised with Rail
Express publication.
COUNCIL
CONTACT:
Beverley Cope – Democratic Services
TELEPHONE:
01270
537037
EMAIL:
Beverley.cope@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk
For Media enquiries contact:
Ian Richardson
TELEPHONE:
01270 537018
EMAIL:
ian.richardson@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk
or http://www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk/
.