Weekly works visits in the 1970s/1980s

[RKynaston]

Can anyone refresh my memory. I recall there was a time during the 1970s and 1980s I think when it was possible to visit BR works regularly.

I think Swindon was a Sunday morning (was it every week or just the first Sunday in the month?) and Eastleigh was a Wednesday lunchtime because the works didn’t work Wednesday afternoons if i remember rightly. I think with both we just turned up at the gates and waited to be let in, but my memory isn’t what it was!

Could others such as Derby, Doncaster, Crewe etc .. also be visited?

Does anyone else remember?

Richie

 

[Gloster]

Somewhere around 1975, 1976 or 1977 I visited Swindon. I am pretty certain it was on a weekday, and probably late morning or lunchtime, as I don’t think I could have got there before early afternoon on a Sunday. My very vague memory is that visits weren’t frequent: more likely monthly than weekly.

 

[D6130]

I used to visit Glasgow (St Rollox) works with friends regularly in the early-mid 1970s but we always had an individully-dated permit - readily available from BR (Scottish Region) HQ. Apart from the occasional public open days, I don't recall regular 'turn-up-and-go' visits ever having been organised.

 

[pdeaves]

Swindon. I am pretty certain it was on a weekday

Wednesday afternoons, I believe.

 

[Taunton]

It was like this at Crewe Works in the 1960s, platform-enders advised us that if you went along to the gates at 2pm, which by chance was on that day, probably in the school summer holiday, you could tag along to a party. Others with prearranged permits also were taken in at the same time. Quite a number turned up.

I'm guessing it was 1966, in the school summer holidays, when there was still quite a lot of steam at Crewe. Among a few distant memories was the hulk of D322, wrecked in the Moore accident shortly beforehand, was in there.

As notable was a scene at the gates when we were waiting to start. A long wheelbase Land-Rover arrived, driven by a vicar in clerical garb, with five or six boys in it, doubtless some local church prearranged trip for the holidays, and equally doubtless the vicar himself was as enthusiastic about it as his group. Swept in through the gates and parked, in a marked parking place but presumably just for the management, right outside the door. Out storms the clerk. "Oi, what the Xyz£$% F**** do you think you're doing parking there" as their driver was getting out. Then he turned around. Clerks face was a picture, before the apologies started.

 

[Beebman]

Sometime in the mid-70s I visited Crewe Works with my Dad. It was a pre-booked visit and we travelled up for the day by train from Reading (the service from New Street on the return was hauled by a Class 52). My main memories were seeing 47046 being converted to 47601, and 76057 under overhaul.

 

[RKynaston]

Thanks guys,
Fascinating to read the memories as well as the info! Maybe it was something to do with Wednesday afternoons then? Could it be that with half-day closing in shops on a Wednesday, that the Works had a similar system? I seem to recall somebody once told me there was a half day working on a Saturday at one works, so if it was true, a Saturday morning would make up for the Wednesday afternoon!

I presume the dated permits were acquired by letter to the regional HQ, same as with the shed visits? A friend of mine did once write to request a ride in the guards van on a freight working, which was granted! Amazing considering how things are today!

Richie

 

[Harvester]

Visited Swindon Works regularly between 1977-1984, and it was just a case of writing for a permit for an afternoon visit. I cannot recall having a request refused (Monday-Thursdays), and a guide would always accompany groups around whether large or small.

Railway societies regularly arranged visits to Crewe, Derby and Doncaster. The visits were advertised in the railway press, and could be booked in advance with the society, for a small fee.

 

[Magdalia]

I'm always on the look out for Doncaster Works reports as part of a research project. Most that I have found have been on Sundays.

I have lots of reports up to May 1966, and from 1973. But reports are scarce for the period in between, including none at all between May 1966 and September 1967.

Does anyone know why that is? Were visits banned for a while or was it just lack of interest?

 

[Matey]

Wednesday afternoons, I believe.

I visited in 1950 with my school class (boys only allowed) from Chippenham. It was a Wednesday if I remember correctly.
Rows of Dean goods and panniers on the dump which we were allowed to "inspect" - sheer bliss.

 

[pdeaves]

I'm always on the look out for Doncaster Works reports as part of a research project. Most that I have found have been on Sundays.

I have lots of reports up to May 1966, and from 1973. But reports are scarce for the period in between, including none at all between May 1966 and September 1967.

Does anyone know why that is? Were visits banned for a while or was it just lack of interest?

A guess based on no evidence whatsoever: interest dropped as steam disappeared, then people 'came to terms with it' after a few years and took an interest in what was going on again.

 

[delt1c]

Did several visits to St Rollox in 1970’s. Just turned up and security showed me
Round.

 

[Harvester]

A guess based on no evidence whatsoever: interest dropped as steam disappeared, then people 'came to terms with it' after a few years and took an interest in what was going on again.

Reports on RCTS visits to Crewe, Derby and Swindon Works appeared in the Railway Observer during that period (May 1966 to September 1967) so it wasn’t lack of interest. It appears that Doncaster Works was out of bounds to visits for some reason.

 

[01d-and]

Was it Doncaster Works where an elderly "tour guide" turned up on an equally elderly moped ?? Or has my memory gone ??

 

[6Gman]

Pretty sure there were guided walks around Crewe Works every Sunday. I think pre-booking was expected but casuals tended to be allowed. On one occasion there was a lad wanting to apply for an apprenticeship who had turned up with his parents and they also tagged along though I'm not sure they learnt much about job prospects!

There was a regular guide (George?), older chap in uniform. When he retired I think the societies who visited regularly chipped in to a collection for him.

This was 1970s.

 

[Harvester]

There was a regular guide (George?), older chap in uniform. When he retired I think the societies who visited regularly chipped in to a collection for him.

This was 1970s.

My first visit to Crewe Works was on Sunday 27/11/77, arranged by the NREA. I can remember the society presenting a cheque to our guide, who was retiring, before we toured the Works. It may well have been (George?).

 

[Bevan Price]

In the 1960s, Swindon Works was open for visitors every Wednesday & Sunday at 2:00 pm. (These sometimes excluded the scrap yards)
Derby Works had one public open day per year in August, often also with a flower (??) show organised by/for staff.
Pre-organised visits (with pass) were possible at other times at most works; as noted above, casual visitors were sometimes allowed to tag along with organised parties

 

[Beebman]

There was a regular guide (George?), older chap in uniform. When he retired I think the societies who visited regularly chipped in to a collection for him.

This was 1970s.

When I went with my Dad in the 70s our guide was an older chap in uniform so it was probably him. While our group was walking around he was chatting with my Dad about his memories of LMS days at the Works.

 

[geoffk]

Wednesday afternoons, I believe.

Yes it was Wednesdays, but I'm talking 1960s now. You just queued up outside the works till they let you in. Fairly sure it was only the works - no running shed and maybe no scrapyard/dump. Not sure about the stock shed.

 

[6Gman]

My first visit to Crewe Works was on Sunday 27/11/77, arranged by the NREA. I can remember the society presenting a cheque to our guide, who was retiring, before we toured the Works. It may well have been (George?).

That date seems about right. My visits were early/mid 70s and his retirement was after that (I read about it in either the local or enthusiast press).