November 16th 2000
37429 "Eisteddfod Genedlaethol" waits to leave with 1G96 the 10.50 for Birmingham. 16/12/2000
37426 with 1D67 the 10.07 Birmingham-Holyhead. 16/12/2000
37704 passed through platform 12 with 47241 (for scrap?) and 66104 in tow. 16/12/2000
The target for the day "The Chester Chuffer" hauled by Southern Merchant Navy class number 35005 "Canadian Pacific" slowly entering platform 12 to take on water. 16/12/2000
Next stop Chester. 16/12/2000
The blower goes on......atmospheric or what? 16/12/2000
If you wait long enough the driver has to clear condensate from the cylinders to prevent a disaster and patience was rewarded. The steam kept on coming and eventually submerged the whole platform - the watching children were spellbound (so were the adults!). The curious, and very distinctive, 3 cylinder beat could be heard as the train set off towards Chester. 16/12/2000
The dimensions of a 13 coach, steam hauled train are demonstrated here as "Canadian Pacific" feels its way through the steelwork and crossovers to gain the Chester route. In the 50's and 60's "blood and custard" trains like this were a common sight leaving Crewe, probably behind a "Coronation" Pacific built, of course, at Crewe. 16/12/2000