North Wales Coast
August 2001 Part 1
A trip to Sandbach in the fading
light to record the return of 1Z11 the 17.38 footex from Cardiff
to Manchester. It was, of course, late but only circa 30 minutes
so a few practice shots. This is 323231 leaving for Manchester
- not very good at night these digital cameras. 12/8/2001
I used black and white setting
to reduce the amount of light needed but the "shutter speed"
is still too slow. This is an unidentified class 86 in Inter City
livery heading for Crewe. 12/8/2001
I saw it's headlights in the distance
and slowly the growl got louder and louder. I don't know what
speed it was travelling at but it was absolutely fearsome as it
passed me.....
........going like the proverbial
bat it was! 37038 was leading 37029, and were they both working?
- I haven't a clue! What a remarkable sight. 12/8/2001
The first of the specials was
a cavalcade of class 150's from Llandudno Junction led by 150148
then 150207 and 150205 (thanks to Dave
Skipsey's website for the information). The train was stopped
in the station where the driver spoke to the signalman, apparently
to be advised that his was the first train of the day after the
line had been closed all night. 12/8/2001
The next train was loco hauled
and the "Growlers" could be heard growling in the distance
as they charged through the quiet Cheshire countryside en route
for Cardiff. 12/8/2001
I had not been aware that this
was a fast stretch of track and fully deserving of the super elevation
on the track...
...the consequential lean on the
curve was quite pronounced as DRS machines 37608 and 37609 thundered
past. 12/8/2001
The growl had hardly died down
in the distance when the crossing alarms sounded again to announce
the arrival of 1Z12 from Manchester and this time there was a
blue locomotive leading....
....37029 had obviously been repaired
overnight after its coolant failure the day before and today it
had been entrusted in the pilot role with 37038 inside. Once again
the pronounced lean can be observed at this point. 12/8/2001
Over the road crossing and past
the signal box towards another road crossing only a few hundred
yards down the track. This crossing always carried a "whistle"
board on the approach but recently this seems to have disappeared.
Not required now or added to someone's collection? Certainly there
was no hooter sounded on the approach to either crossing. 12/8/2001
37038+37029 approaching Nantwich
en route for Cardiff with 1V77 the 8.33 Manchester-Cardiff football
train. 11/8/2001
Entering the station...
....and passing the semaphore
signal and ornate footbridge. Tim Rogers via the Class
37 E-Group advises that 37029 failed at Church Stretton with
a coolant leak. 37038 continued with 029 dead in train. 11/8/2001
87016 "Willsden Intercity
Depot" brought 1D87, the 8.00 London-Holyhead, from the
Capital to Crewe. 11/8/2001
At Crewe the Class 87 was replaced
by 47749 "Atlantic College" for the journey on
to Holyhead. 11/8/2001
The train left platform 11 and
headed west for Holyhead. 11/8/2001
Driving past Sandbach station
revealed a class 37 parked in the avoiding loop so a quick about
turn and there against the platform was 37419. I only managed
to photograph this engine once while it was on the N.Wales coast
and that was at Holyhead some years ago. Nice to see it around.
8/8/2001
The other end, looking less damaged.
8/8/2001
A Crewe Cavalcade. 66053 leads
66043, 47767 "Saint Columba" and (I think) 47770. 7/8/2001
Colwyn bay and 47767 "Saint
Columba" powers out of the sun with 1A65 the 16.13 Holyhead-London.
5/8/2001
An unidentified class 175/1 entering
Conwy Castle tubular bridge. Sad to see how many cars are on the
A55 on a Summer Sunday and how few trains there are during the
day. 5/8/2001
43089 + 43xxx approaching Conwy
station with 1A61 the 13.45 Holyhead-London. 5/8/2001
175110+175106 passing through
Conwy.....
...and leaving through that
archway. Do these 6 car trains REALLY have 6 x 14 litre diesel
engines underneath?
A Crewe surprise as 37038 waits
for green in platform 12 with 4 Riviera coaches in tow. 3/8/2001
Heading for the carriage sidings.
3/8/2001
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