Locomotive Services Group is the realised dream and ambition of multi-millionaire owner, businessman Jeremy Hosking (hereafter referred to as 'The Chairman'). Locomotive Services Ltd (LSL), a subsidiary company, is a Train Operating Company in its own right. In 2019, Jeremy was 351st on 'The Times' Rich List with £375M. LS is best known for its railtour brands of Saphos Trains, Statesman, Midland Pullman, Intercity and, recently acquired, Steam Dreams.

Crewe is the main workshop and depot for LS operations, with smaller facilities at Southall and Carlisle Upperby Depot, which will be utilised more during 2025 for enhanced Anglo Scottish operations.

Crewe Depot has been developed on the site of the former Crewe Diesel Depot and Crewe Holding Sidings. I first visited Crewe Diesel Depot in my early teens as part of a school trip in Jan 1967, which also involved visits to Crewe South steam shed and Crewe Works. I remember the Works feeling more like Doncaster with three former L&NER A4 Pacifics present; 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' was undergoing a major overhaul, 60010 'Dominion of Canada' was in the paint shop being prepared for display in Canada and 60026 'Miles Beevor' was outside the paint shop acting as parts donor. The stripped remains of 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' were outside. Also, in the paint shop was 9F 92220 'Evening Star', Liverpool & Manchester Railway 0-4-2 'Lion' and the final batch of Brush Type 4s (Class 47s), the D1100-D1111 series, very smart in two-tone green livery. Remarkably, two BR (British Rail) steam locos were in the late stages of overhauls, 9F 92203 (later to become 'Black Prince' when acquired for preservation by David Shepherd) and Britannia 70013 'Oliver Cromwell', the latter gaining the accolade of being the last mainline steam locomotive to be overhauled under BR when released from the works in Feb 1967.

To be honest, the Diesel Depot of today doesn't look too different externally from that visit back in 1967. It opened as a diesel depot in 1958 but closed operationally in Dec 2003 under EWS. It was then used for locomotive storage until LS took over the site in 2014. The multi-million-pound redevelopment has since added some major new buildings and facilities to which we were kindly given access on the tour.

The visit, another Adam Turner special, was fully booked in just over eight hours. Despite Storm Bert wreaking havoc over large parts of the country the previous two days, 15 Society members all managed to arrive on time to meet Adam at the entrance to LSL's Crewe Depot on the morning of Mon 25 Nov. We were met at the security gate by Nick Gibbons, LSL Head of Planning and Stakeholder Management and, after a safety and security briefing (photos for personal use only, except for e-BLN of course!), Nick led us on a fascinating in-depth tour of the facilities. First off was the new purpose-built Boiler Shop. Before entering, we watched 08631 shunting Deltic D9000 out of the main running shed with B1 61306 'Mayflower' alongside, having hauled a railtour the previous Saturday. ETCS had just been fitted to the Deltic, the first heritage mainline diesel anywhere to be so equipped, which involved installing around two and a half miles of cable into the loco plus various detection and monitoring devices. It is due to be tested on the Cambrian lines soon, before future intended use on the East Coast Main Line.

In the boiler shop, it was soon apparent why ear defenders are needed, as rivets were being hammered into the firebox side of the upturned boiler of 'Nunney Castle'. The tall building was designed for boilers to be lifted and turned in any position to improve safety and accessibility. The work on the Castle's firebox looked to be nearly complete, with the boiler ready to have the front tubeplate and tubes fitted. We later saw the lower half of the loco and its tender in the fitting shop; the quality of the work on the loco rebuild was truly outstanding. It will soon be reunited with its boiler for service early next year.



Leaving the Boiler Shop, we entered the original Diesel Depot building, which now has a dividing wall separating the main running shed from the workshop space. A high-level gantry bridge connects both sides of the building, affording excellent views of the rolling stock and the work being undertaken in the workshop / fitting shop. On entering the building, the first thing we saw was 46100 'Royal Scot' looking pristine. Nick told us that from 3rd Dec she would be out of ticket but was making one more mainline run on 28 Nov. After that, she will likely be put into storage and eventual display at the LS facility at the former Hornby factory (owned by Jeremy Hosking) in Margate, while she awaits her turn in the queue for major overhaul. Next 60532 'Blue Peter' looked stunning in blue livery. Recently returned to service after a £5M plus rebuild from the frames up, she is a testament to the passion and commitment of the Chairman.









Another unique steam locomotive, 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' which I mentioned earlier as being a hulk in 1967, is due to join the LS fleet shortly after a lengthy, extensive overhaul at Tyseley, through a partnership agreement with the loco owning Trust of which I am a member.

In the workshop, we found 6024 'King Edward 1' with a couple of Class 47 diesel locos being worked on and a freshly painted but yet to be renumbered HST power car 43058 'Loch Eil' on jacks, awaiting replacement bogies. We then visited the Heavy Lift Shop where a roofless 47593 'Galloway Princess' was being worked on. Next was the Paint Shop where what appeared to be an extensively remodelled Mk3 coach was receiving a coat of varnish. It had been repainted, lined and sign written by hand and would form part of the Chairman's train. Named 'Zanzibar', it now sports an African themed interior. 110 litres of filler alone had been used in the refurbishment of the body shell. We later saw the Chairman's train outside and learned that the average cost of refurbishing / rebuilding each coach was £1.5M. After leaving the Paint Shop, participants next saw a recently arrived Mk1 coach being stripped in the Coach Shop. This rebuild would be themed around Winston Churchill. We then spent time outside the south end of the Diesel Depot, to see the array of heritage diesels which included Class 37s, 47s and 57s.















Before heading over to the newly built massive two road Carriage Shed, we had a tour inside one of the Midland Pullman HSTs. The train, under a covered lean-to attached to the Carriage Shed, was being prepared for a day trip, two days later, to Edinburgh Christmas Markets. 43055 was powering the train.

Our group was next shown the Carriage Shed itself, where we inspected some Mk1s that normally form the Saphos rake. I didn't need to be convinced of the high quality achieved in their restoration as I have enjoyed their lavish comfort on several trips and indeed have experienced the Midland Pullman several times too. All the Mk1s have been fitted with Central Door Locking and are mainline compliant.

On the adjacent track was The Statesman rake, which is to be refurbished next year. We then ventured outside to what was once the Holding Sidings to see the collection of mainly electric locomotives, the low winter sun accentuating their stunning Intercity livery. Unfortunately, we could only glimpse the Brighton Belle in the distance due to shunting activity in the yard. Again 'reengineered' as opposed to 'refurbished', this iconic train is due to make some runs to Chester soon, diesel hauled of course.



After an extensive two-hour tour during which we were given all areas access, it was time to say thanks and farewell to Nick, our guide, and reflect on the privilege it had been to have had the rare opportunity to see behind the scenes of this amazing railway operation. With over 40 locomotives seen on site (list below) memories of 'shed bashing' days were certainly rekindled. Thanks also to our ever-enthusiastic Adam Turner, catalyst for the visit. Following the fixture, a donation was made to Railway Benefit Fund.

:SPOTTING LIST: Steam: ●5029 'Nunney Castle', ●6024 'King Edward 1,' ●45231 'The Sherwood Forester', ●46100 'Royal Scot', ●61306 'Mayflower', ●60532 'Blue Peter' and ●92212 (Boiler only). Diesel: ●08631, ●08780 (D3948) 'Zippy', ●20096 (D8096), ●20107 (D8107) 'Jocelyn Feilding 1940-2020', ●37401 'Mary Queen of Scots', ●37521 (D6817) ●37667 (D6851) 'Flopsie', ●37688 'Great Rocks', ●40013 (D213) 'Andania', ●45118 'The Royal Artilleryman', ●47501 'Craftsman', ●47593 'Galloway Princess', ●47712 'The Lord Provost', ●47805 (D1935) 'Roger Hosking MA 1925-2013', ●47810 (D1924) 'Crewe Diesel Depot', ●47816, ●47830 'Beeching's Legacy', ●47853 (47614), ●55022 (D9000) 'Royal Scots Grey', ●57002, ●57003 'Inter City Railway Society' and ●57311. Electric: ●86101 'Sir William A Stanier FRS', ●87002 'Royal Sovereign', ●89001 'Avocet', ●90001 'Royal Scot' and ●90002 'Wolf of Badenoch'. HST Power Cars: ●43046 'Geoff Drury' 1930-1999, ●43047, ●43049 'Neville Hill', ●43050 'Loch Morar', ●43055, ●43058 'Loch Eil and ●43059 'Loch Shiel'. Railcars: ●55022 (Bubble Car) and ●142003 (Pacer).