Class 50 number 431 leaving Crewe with the Pathfinder Cardiff-Blackpool charter 3/11/2001
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CREWE - CHESTER - BANGOR - HOLYHEAD NOVEMBER 2001 - PART ONE |
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Clag alert as 431 winds up to
leave. Upon arrival there were sparks coming out of the exhaust.
3/11/2001
If it were not for
the OLE it could be the pre-electrification 60's as the EE's made
their mark on the West Coast Main Line, ousting the class 40's
in the process. As timings were reduced, double heading was the
order of the day. After electrification was completed the class
50 machines were transferred to the Western Region. 3/11/2001
More vintage traction in the form
of 47843 "Atlas" as it arrived with the
9.19 Holyhead-London Euston. Today, because of the charter traffic,
this train was ousted from its usual platform 11 spot in favour
of the shabby environs of platform 12. 3/11/2001
AC power takes over
at Crewe and today it was the turn of 87004 "Britannia"
that had been waiting on the Mill Street siding. It ran into the
station in parallel with 175105 which was completing its journey
from the North Wales Coast. 3/11/2001
Shortly afterwards the 50 left for Blackpool to be quickly
followed into platform 11 by 67015 on another charter(?). The
"Cyclops" waited a few minutes to change crewe and left
to run North on the WCML.
Was this the first
coastal Voyager in service? It was seen sneaking out of platform
6 around 10.45, just the time the London-Holyhead should have
been leaving. Was it in service or just visiting the works? 3/11/2001
Crewe Diesel Depot yard 2/11/2001. Left to Right are: 325009, 431 (Cl 50),
47145 "Merddin Emrys", 37889, 67029, 37216,
47XXX and "Prince William"
Three rapid sequence shots of
47722 "The Queen Mother" approaching Crewe
(register the trees at the top). 2/11/2001
One of those cartoon
units, 153305 with "Heart of Wessex" branding. 2/11/2001
47847 brought in the
9.19 Holyhead-London which was then pushed South by 90003 "The
Herald". 1/11/2001
60073 appeared off the Manchester
line with two oil tanks which it deposited and headed North on
the West Coast Main Line. 1/11/2001
On the Manchester
Airport - Chester shuttle was class leader 142001. 1/11/2001
A surprise in store was "Pendolino"
390 001 being hauled North behind 66166. 1/11/2001
Sleek!!
There were EWS match trucks at
both ends. 1/11/2001
Literally seconds
later two "Voyager" sets came thundering through the
centre road heading South. 1/11/2001
220 006 was leading with 220 002
trailing. Given the distance from the platform edge it was possible
to see the numbers even at speed. However, lineside is a different
matter. 1/11/2001
While "Fiona
Castle" (top) was stood at the North end of platform
6, an HST entered the platform at the South end - most unusual.
Just after 47 left for the IEMD, the HST crossed onto the down
fast and headed North. 43099 was leading and 43079 trailing. 1/11/2001
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