First service through Crewe?

[theshillito]

Yesterday I was visiting Crewe heritage centre and paid a visit to the viewing platform to look over the WCML. Around 5pm I saw what seemed to be a set in First colours heading towards Manchester or Liverpool/Scotland (I forget which). I didn't get a very good look, but it looked like First Great Western livery rather than TransPennine, but I could be wrong.

I had a look through Realtime Trains and I couldn't see the service, however I did see this though I don't know why the West Coast Railway Company would be using First carriages...

Any ideas?

 

[Manchester77]

Taking mark IIIs up for refurbishment, most likely for first class reconfiguration.

 

[theshillito]

Taking mark IIIs up for refurbishment, most likely for first class reconfiguration.

Ahhhh. That explains it. Strange how that has to be done up North rather than closer to where they're used...

 

[30907]

Barclays won the contract?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The right answer to the question is: 4 June 1837, the opening day of the Grand Junction Railway (first service through Crewe).

 

[theshillito]

The right answer to the question is: 4 June 1837, the opening day of the Grand Junction Railway (first service through Crewe).

heh, of course. How stupid I feel

Just to clarify, I didn't want to put any specific First TOC since I wasn't sure which one it was, though perhaps I should've put "First Group" in the title instead?

Thanks for the info though.