RAIL37 MONTHLY REPORTS
NORTH WALES COAST etc.
CREWE - CHESTER - BANGOR - HOLYHEAD
JULY 2004 - PART TWO
Links

 4F 44422

 80136

Churnet Valley 

Link to July 1

Link to July 3

......and the answer is.....


 47810 "Porterbrook" seen here recrossing the A55 at Old Colwyn with the 13.23 from Holyhead en route for Chester, Crewe and London. The train was dead on time again so 410 gets my nomination for coastal loco of the year!   26/7/2004

 At last, a Virgin train on time. 47810 "Porterbrook" is crossing the A55, just below the derelict Colwyn Bay Hotel, with the 08.35 London-Holyhead - on time to the minute.
Earlier I had gone to the same spot to photograph the 09.20 Holyhead-London which didn't appear on time. What did appear at 10.20 was 47826 "Springburn" heading West for Holyhead. The weather was too poor to see if the train stopped at Colwyn Bay or whether it was running ecs from the day before? It will be interesting to see what appears on the 13.23 from Holyhead......    26/7/2004

The Sun is out, the sky is blue,
There's not a train to spoil the view...
(apologies to Buddy Holly.)

Over the past two weeks I have set out to photograph about a dozen Virgin trains on the Holyhead-London-Holyhead services and not one, not a single one, has been anywhere near on time! Now I fully appreciate that the railway industry has no obligation to me as a photographer but what about passengers? Is there no obligation there either? - it would appear not!

 47810 "Porterbrook" hauling the 13.23 Holyhead-London.and approaching Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch - OK it's Llanfair PG to you and me! 22/7/2004


 810 batting through the station at a rate of knots. Adjacent to the station is Pringles store which is a cafe/gift shop on a rather large scale and there are coach loads of visitors, many foreign, who stop there to eat and buy gifts. Many of them visit the platforms to take photographs of their friends and family in front of the giant board on the down platform which carries the station name in Welsh with phonetic assistance printed underneath. What a shame that the railways have positioned a lamp post in front of the board thus allowing only an angled shot. I appreciate that few, if any, of the visitors will use the railway but, well after all, I suppose it is Britain.....

 Colwyn Bay station and Thunderbird, class 57, number 57301, "Scott Tracy" (Red Ronnie???) arrives with the 08.35 London-Holyhead. The reason for the use of this locomotive on the coast is, as yet, unknown but one can speculate. Click the photo for more on this event. 20/7/2004

 Llandudno Junction and 47840 "North Star" brings the 08.35 London-Holyhead to a stand. The group of photographers are not here primarily to shoot the 47... 19/7/2004


 ... they are here for the Hoovers... click on the picture for more. 10/7/2004

 47810 "Porterbrook" heading towards Abergele station with the 09.20 Holyhead-London. 19/7/2004


 Abergele. 19/7/2004


 Leaving at a pace! 19/7/2004


 An unidentified Hippo romping through the station westbound. 19/7/2004

 After catching fire at Llandudno Junction some weeks ago, 47750 has been dumped awaiting collection. Now sat amongst the ever encroaching undergrowth, the locomotive will transferred to Warrington next week. 16/7/2004


 750 used to carry the name "Atlas" and this shot shows how destructive the carrying of metal nameplates can be. Water and debris get stuck behind the plate causing localised corrosion. Just what the significance of Newcastle Central is, I have no idea. 16/7/2004


 After viewing the dead 47 it was time to take a ride up the Conwy Valley to Betws for afternoon tea! Today we were to ride in 153303 with 153361 in tow. 16/7/2004


 Despite the gloomy weather forecast, the sun was shining brightly upon arrival at Betws and the museum coaches had received a new coat of paint over the Winter. 16/7/2004


 The announcement of the line's reopening was a little bit out dated. 16/7/2004


 Today the tram was running....


 ....as was the usual diesel and business was brisk. 16/7/2004
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Link to July 1

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