Open Day Raises £37k!
Our annual event took place on Saturday 21st July 2018 at our Gresty Bridge Depot in Crewe. The Open Day raises money for charities and local causes and DRS are delighted to announce that a record breaking £37,351 was raised at this year’s event. DRS would like to thank everyone who attended and supported the day!
The ever popular event has grown over the years and is now seen as one of the biggest railway events of the year. The weather was on side which helped to attract 4000 visitors, who were all welcomed through the gate for the rate opportunity of looking behind the scenes of a rail freight depot.
The Open Day itself is a great opportunity for DRS to engage with stakeholders and celebrate the industry. All monies raised will be donated via DRS’s Sponsorship & Donations Committee who provide and manage assistance to local communities around the sites where DRS operate through sponsorships, charitable giving and employee participation in local and national fundraising events.
Over 20 DRS locomotives were on display, from the Class 37 locomotive to the brand new Class 88 locomotive there really was something for everyone. For those with a more technical interest, the maintenance shed was open and there was access to the cabs of locomotives.
DRS volunteers were on hand to chat to visitors and explain what is involved in maintaining the DRS fleet and provide technical information. The event also provides the industry with an opportunity to promote railway safety as well as the career and apprenticeship opportunities available.
Network Rail and British Transport Police along with Sammy the Safety Bear from Virgin Trains were all able to support the event, highlighting how they help to keep the UK Rail Network safe for us all.
Two naming ceremonies were celebrated at the event. 66421 was unveiled by MP Laura Smith as ‘Gresty Bridge TMD’, this is the second of DRS’ Class 66 locomotives to be named. Brian Hetherington from our engineering team also unveiled 57007 as ‘John Scott’, to commemorate a past long-serving DRS employee from Kingmoor, Carlisle. A nameplate auction was also held for the second time and this raised an amazing £13k for the total. Click below to see winning bids for the lots.
DRS would like to thank all traders and exhibitors for their support along with event sponsors Tesco and AST Signs.
Special thanks goes to the Open Day working group, without their dedication and enthusiasm the event would not be possible and of course the many volunteers who work the event.
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