NORTH
WALES COAST etc.
CREWE - CHESTER - BANGOR
- HOLYHEAD
JULY
2002 - PART
ONE |
A morning trip
to Chester and back to record the two class 47 workings while
they survive. The journey out was performed by "Hippo"
175008 which, I only realised as it was leaving, carries a name
sticker "Valhalla Blackpool Pleasure Beach."
The ride in these trains is very good, extremely smooth and so
quiet that the only real noise in the carriage was the rustling
of newspapers. There were some interesting sounds produced by
what I assume was the transmission, not loud or obtrusive, just
interesting. The return journey was in 150146 forming the 12.00
Chester-Manchester Airport - just no comparison! 16/7/2002
The 9.19 Holyhead-London
arrived on time behind 47839 "Pride of Saltley"
seen here approaching Chester Station. 16/7/2002
47839
entering Chester. 16/7/2002
At
the same time that the class 47 entered Chester so did the HST
set forming the 08.33 London-Holyhead. The leading power car,
seen here heading West, was 43079 with 43008 trailing. 16/7/2002
Next
was the 10.07 Birmingham-Holyhead with 47773 "Reservist"
at the head. 16/7/2002
175103 "Mum" - what can you
say?
Close
up of the "nameplate" which appears to
be on one end only over the first window and I can't confirm that
it is applied on both sides.
I
received word that the morning London-Holyhead HST had not appeared
and that the train comprised a loco hauled set. I went to Crewe
to catch it returning and had all the time in the world to take
this shot - and blew it! This was the best I could make of what
would have been a nice view of 47787 "Windsor Castle"
on the 13.35 from Holyhead. You win some.............
The
class 47 was detached for the journey South and 87008 "City
of Liverpool" took over at the rear. Shortly after
it had departed, the 14.02 Holyhead-Birmingham left from platform
11 with 47789 "Lindisfarne" looking good
in the sunshine despite the black cloud hovering. We can't complain
about the variety of locomotives on these services. 11/7/02
47727 "Duke of Edinburgh's Award"
bringing stock from the carriage sidings into Crewe's platform
12 at around 15.20 today. The locomotive later ran round the stock
and reattached at the South end to form the 16.00 for Birmingham
which should have started from Holyhead. Granada TV are reporting
an incident on the North Wales line at Connah's Quay when a Radyr-Holyhead
train struck three stray horses on the line. One horse apparently
ran off but one was trapped under the train, dead. I assume that
this is why the train started from Crewe. 9/7/2002
Meanwhile a Serco train
had arrived in the loop hauled by 47780........
.....with 56095 at the
rear. The Class 56 was detached and replaced by 47770 "Reserved".
The train then left to head off up the Stoke line. 9/7/2002
56067 stormed off South
light engine. 9/7/2002
|
47761
pulling away from Chester with the 10.08 Birmingham-Holyhead
working. Click the picture to see more shots from my "ride
the rails" outing. 3/7/2002 |
While waiting for the 47 to arrive
at Crewe, 37797 arrived from the North travelling light engine.
It later went onto the Crewe Diesel Depot fuel pumps. 3/7/2002
Also passing through was 90022
"Charles Dickens" with what appeared to
be a train of empty steel coil carriers of French origin. The
cynical humour surrounding the current problems with illegal immigrants
was apparent on one of the wagons' covers.