Class
08/0, 08951 was officially named "Fred" after retired
Canton Depot Fitter Fred Billet in a private ceremony at Canton
Depot on Monday 21st July 2003. Fred Billet retired from EWS
four years ago after 50 years service with British Rail /
EWS in which his career started as an apprentice Fitter /
Turner at the former Pontypool Road Depot. The ceremony was
conducted by David Mathew in Tony Jameson's absence and was
supported by his management team, staff from Canton Depot
and Fred Billet. The Shuntergang were very fortunate to find
Fred after a couple of weeks searching, just three days before
the event, as he was staying with friends in Newport after
recovering from a stroke. The formal naming of 08951 Fred
underpins an initiative by the Shuntergang several years ago
to name all their Class 08/09 locomotives after former Canton
Depot employees. Prior to its repainting and B exam, 08951
was painted in former Railfreight grey livery and named Fred
/ Bugle Nose, the latter being Fred Billet's best friend Bob
Purnell, whom were always seen together. 08951 Fred joins
08752 Lenny in a newly won contract to supply Celsa, formerly
Allied Steel & Wire with three Class 08 locomotives and
drivers for shunting duties within their steel making complex
in Cardiff. 08951 Fred is one of five former Canton Depot
Class 08 locomotives fitted with Remote Control apparutus
and its recent overhaul was undertaken to the highest standards
of craftsmanship as expected in true Canton Depot tradition,
projecting a very powerful image for EWS and firmly placing
them in pole position for enthusiasts interest.
I
asked Fred if he had one particularly fond memory of working
at Canton Depot and this was his response..... "During
1994 whilst working on a Class 08 locomotive in No 12 Road,
I set fire to some oil under its generator whilst burning
off some bolts from the underframe and in a panic stricken
manner ran round the shed muttering "Oh Mother"
(Fred's favourite saying) whilst Martyn Williams's assistant
John Taylor ran to the Stores for more fire extinguishers
after trying to put the fire out with the locomotives own
one's. The Storekeeper Ken Thorne, refused to issue any on
the basis that his stock was depleted." <g>
Here
are some of the images taken on the day................. |
