Over the weekend, Crewe Heritage Centre welcomed two of Crewe Works' heavy weight steam engines.

This was done to commemorate the anniversary of the first trains passing through Crewe Station on 4 July 1837.

The event began on Saturday 6th July with steaming beginning from 10am followed by a presentation at 12pm in which the National Trust handed ownership of the engine over to the Bahamas Locomotive Society.

Built in 1888, Coal Tank No. 1054 is believed to have worked in Birmingham and Wales before it was then decommissioned on the eve of World War II.

However, the engine was overhauled after a declaration of war saved the engine from the cutter's torch, and entered back into service until 1958 when it was decommissioned for a final time.

The engine has been in the care of the Bahamas Locomotive Society at their Dinting Railway Centre Museum since 1972.

At this event, the Bahamas Locomotive Society has now taken ownership of the engine following the National Trust's change of collection focus.

Left: Keith Whitmore, Chairman of the Bahamas Locomotive Society. Middle: Ceri Williams General Manager at Penrhyn Castle and Garden, National Trust Cymru. Right: Gordon Heddon, Chairman of Crewe Heritage Trust. (Credit – Peter Robinson)

Chair of Crewe Heritage Trust, Gordon Heddon was in attendance at the event and he said: "We're delighted to see a true Crewe icon continue to the next stop of its journey as it passes into the ownership of the Bahamas Locomotive Society, and for the opportunity for our local audience to experience the thrill of heavy engineering and steam power in Crewe as it would have been 187 years ago."

Crewe Heritage Centre also welcomed the locomotive Black 5 44871 over the weekend, making an appearance ahead of departure from Crewe Station around 10 AM, returning overnight for departure on Sunday 7 July.

It was designed by famous Crewe Works engineer Sir William Stanier and built by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway at Crewe Works in 1945.

A Black 5 44871. (Credit – Peter Robinson)

Crewe Heritage Centre Manager, Edmea Gori, said: "It was fantastic to welcome so many visitors to the site and give Crewe the chance to experience the engineering power of a steam locomotive at work."

The Heritage Centre is open from 10 AM to 4:30 PM on a Saturday for visitors to see the locomotives, and other exhibitions that the centre has to offer.

Crewe: Click HERE to head to their website.