Class 142s to Shrewsbury

Philip · 15 Mar 2024

Does anyone remember class 142s working Crewe-Shrewbury services in the 90s? I can vividly remember seeing one crossing the canal near Nantwich heading towards Crewe around 95-96 (can remember hearing the clickety-clack too!). Did they used to work the shuttle service regularly, even the occasional Manchester-Cardiff service, or was it more likely to have been an ECS move that I remember seeing?

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LowLevel · 15 Mar 2024

They didn't. You asked this before years ago and the conclusion was it wouldn't have happened in passenger service, but there's outside chance of some sort of move for works attention.

I think some scrap moves from Northern went that way a couple of years ago but they never worked there on passenger services. The closest booked work they had was to Crewe.

Philip · 15 Mar 2024

LowLevel said:
They didn't. You asked this before years ago and the conclusion was it wouldn't have happened in passenger service, but there's outside chance of some sort of move for works attention.

I think some scrap moves from Northern went that way a couple of years ago but they never worked there on passenger services. The closest booked work they had was to Crewe.

I seem to recall the train was slowing down for Nantwich. This was still just about in BR days, so my thought was whether either Crewe or Shrewsbury traincrew signed 142s in the 90s, or whether some Piccadilly/Victoria/Lime Street traincrew learned the Crewe-Shrewsbury route then, which would have made it possible in theory.

I know for sure that 142s used to work Crewe-Chester shuttles because we went on one in thr summer of 2004.

6Gman · 15 Mar 2024

Philip said:
I seem to recall the train was slowing down for Nantwich. This was still just about in BR days, so my thought was whether either Crewe or Shrewsbury traincrew signed 142s in the 90s, or whether some Piccadilly/Victoria/Lime Street traincrew learned the Crewe-Shrewsbury route then, which would have made it possible in theory.

I know for sure that 142s used to work Crewe-Chester shuttles because we went on one in thr summer of 2004.

I was Traincrew Depot Editor for Shrewsbury around that time. I have no recollection of them signing 142s. No way would Liverpool or Manchester have signed the route at that date.

The "slowing down" for Nantwich may well have been for the crossing (still operated from Nantwich 'box at that date).

Yes, Pacers were common on the Chester shuttles.

I suspect what you saw was an ECS move very likely for works attention or transfer.

Class 142s to Shrewsbury

Philip

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LowLevel

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Philip

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6Gman

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