Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group
Class 45 Restoration News : See front page
Built at Crewe works as part of lot E504, Class 45 No. 45149 (then D135) entered traffic in January 1962 at Derby Shed. The original livery was green with a white stripe on the lower body side and small yellow panels. It was transferred to Cricklewood in June 1964 and Toton from May 1966.
When new the class were used to supplant steam on the Midland Main line (St. Pancras – Sheffield – Leeds), later replacing Jubilees, Royal Scots and ex-LNER pacifics on the Leeds – Glasgow, Liverpool – Newcastle and Newcastle – Bristol services.
In 1973 the St. Pancras – Sheffield services went over from steam heat to electric heat stock and D135 was one of 50 locomotives selected to have its steam heat boiler replaced with electric heat apparatus utilising a Brush BL100-30 ETH auxiliary alternator. It was the penultimate loco dealt with and with this came renumbering in the 45/1 series as 45149. By this time it had received dual brakes (air and vacuum) and blue livery with yellow ends. A further modification was the replacing of the original centre split headcodes with flush ends by the end of 1976.
A general overhaul programme was instituted at Crewe and Derby to extend the lives of the 45/1s until HSTs could take over their Midland Main line duties. 45149 was dealt with during 1979. However, the HSTs took over before the overhaul programme could be completed and a new use for the 45/1s was found on the Trans-Pennine duties. Unfortunately reliability was poor and Class 150 Sprinters displaced the 45s during 1987. This resulted in many casualties and locos concerned were towed to March depot for storage awaiting further work, which never materialised. Some were sold for preservation but the majority were scrapped at MC Metals in Glasgow.
45149 escaped this cull and lasted long enough to allow Tinsley depot to adorn it with the unofficial name ‘Phaeton’. It was withdrawn in September 1987 with a traction motor defect, a year before the end of class 45 operation on BR, and was parked at Cricklewood for a long period before being towed to Leicester and offered for sale. There was competition for its purchase but Pete Waterman was successful becoming its new owner in 1993. It was moved to Heysham for safe storage and then to Crewe Heritage Centre in 1994 minus its power unit. No restoration work was carried out.
The locomotive was eventually offered for sale late in the autumn of 1996 and was purchased by the Cotswold Mainline Diesel Group. A programme of restoration is now taking place with much already achieved. An early priority was to remove the years of accumulated grime and paint the engine room. Whilst this was going on a program of tracking down and purchasing spares was initiated – 8 tons of spares in the form of 45128’s number 2 cab was one of the items acquired. Much of the electrical work has been completed and a newly overhauled traction motor installed to replace the defective one, which was removed at Cricklewood. A replacement axle was also procured, as the original was also defective. The brake frame has been rebuilt, as has the cooler group. Work is now concentrating on number 1 cab, the air systems and the ETH room. Next job is to complete the engine overhaul for which the fuel pumps, injectors and 3 cylinder heads are already completed.
However, this is not an exclusive club and new working volunteers are always welcome. If you’d rather help financially then shares of £250 are available in the locomotive and you can pay by standing order if you desire.
If you
wish to help with the restoration please contact the Diesel
Department Head, The Railway Station, Toddington, Glos. GL54 5DT and
if you wish to purchase shares contact The Treasurer, Cotswold
Mainline Diesel Group at the same address.
All of the following shots of 45149 are copyright by Gavin Morrison and used by permission. My thanks to Gavin, and to Tony Bowles of the Restoration and Archiving Trust.
