14C’s famous five….
It is quite widely documented that 14A- Cricklewood had a large allocation of then newly built class 27’s from 1962-1966, before they became Leicester and Toton based until final transfer to 65A-Eastfield in 1968-70. However a surprise to me in researching the excellent "Allocation History" publications saw that 14C-Bedford had an allocation of five 27’s from around 1/64-12/64.The actual arrival dates at 14C are a little grey but the superb "MIB" gen listed here backs these dates.
5379-27032 ex 14A, to 14C 01/64-12/64…became 27032
5380-27102 ex 14A, to 14C 01/64-12/64…became 27046
5381-27033 ex 14A, to 14C 01/64-12/64…became 27033
5382-27034 ex 14A, to 14C 01/64-12/64..became 27034
5383-n/a ex 14A, to 14C 01/64-12/64..scrapped before she went North
As boilered 27’s these locos would have worked everything from Bedford-St Pancras "commuters" to Bletchley/Sandy line freight turns over a wide area including the Dunstable branch.
As 14C officially closed as a maintenance depot in 12/64, the locos on paper returned to Cricklewood’s care for a few more years. It is likely that 14C’s ongoing role as a stabling/fuelling depot saw them continue as regular visitors. All except 5383 became Scottish "tippies" by 1970 and ended their days between 1984-7. Most returned to Vic Berry’s Leicester yard for the final cut. 5383 never made it North of the border being withdrawn after accident damage in Nottinghamshire in 08/65.
Bedford shed continued as a stabling/fuelling facility until 1971 and amazingly the structure survives adjacent to the DF. So next time you pass the old shed think back to times when 27’s kept the more familiar 25’s/45’s and 47’s company on "14C".
From the extensive MIB" family archive files some sample workings, rcvd with thanks…
D5379 090364 Bedford - Sandy - Bedford on freight. Light to Wilstead then Wilstead - Harlington on freight. Light to Bedford
D5379 220664 Bedford - Wilstead light then Wilstead - Bedford - Elstow - Wilstead on freight then to Bedford light. Next she worked Bedford - St Pancras and St Pancras - Bedford passenger
D5380 120264 Bedford - Shefford - Bedford - Sandy - Bedford - Swanbourne on freights then light to Bedford
D5380 070364 D5380 Bedford - Shefford - Bedford - Sandy - Bedford on freight. Then light to Ridgmont and back to Lidlington then Lidlington - Bedford freight
D5381 090264 D5381 Cricklewood-Bedford Ballast
D5381 301164 D5381 Bedford – Luton light then Luton-Moorgate passenger, then light to St Pancras.
D5382 100264 Bedford - Shefford - Bedford - Oakley Jcn - ballast pit - Wilstead - Luton on freights then light to Bedford
D5382 130264 Bedford - Sandy - Bedford - Swanbourne on freights then light to Bedford. Then Bedford - Cardington - Bedford on freight
D5383 120364 Bedford - Shefford - Bedford - Oakley Jcn - Bedford - Sandy - Bedford on freights
D5383 130964 Mill Hill - Bedford Sunday ballast
Sample "famous five" phots…
