A photo report following the journey of 37415 from Crewe to Holyhead and back.
I received a call from the Prestatyn
Observer this morning to say that an EWS 37 had passes through
on 1D57 at around 07.15. I had been waiting for the opportunity
to return to Holyhead behind a 37/4 so we were on. A quick visit
to Crewe to check 1G96 and all was well so I returned for 13.19
and 1D71 - for Holyhead.
The train was lightly
loaded but left just a few minutes down, the stock was 5025, 4963,
17056 and 4902 and guess what? - 4902 had an irritating wheel
flat. This shot is taken from the train leaving platform 11 and
I decided to continue the practice of window shots throughout
the journey.
A lively pace was maintained into
Chester which was deserted apart from thunderbird 47705 "Guy
Fawkes". The train filled up a bit at Chester.
We passed two "Hippos"
en route to the County Town but there were none to be seen at
the Alstom maintenance depot - are they all in service or behind
the closed doors receiving attention?
There was bright sunshine on the
coast and the sea was calm but the temperature was very low with
the consequence that a mist had developed as we progressed westwards.
This is the approach to Conwy bridge and the castle can be seen
in the gloom.
Entering the tunnel
and the customary blast on the horn to warn any stray personnel
who might be inside! The castelations over the tunnel match the
castle well and they are almost vertical this time.
Through Conwy and on to the stop
at Bangor before running onto the single track for the Menai bridge.
Once over the bridge the Marquess of Anglesey's Column can be
seen up on the hillside and it doesn't really lean.
Arrival at Holyhead
still just a few minutes down so the correct pace had been maintained
from Crewe, quite a few "bashers" on board again today
- it's incredible how word gets around. The power of the internet
I guess.
As usual there is no messing about
on the runround and 415 was soon on its way to the head of the
train to form 1K73. There had been no tea trolley on board from
Crewe and I was spitting feathers (no, I don't know what it means
either) so a few photos and a trip to the cafe - brilliant.
A period shot of 37415
quietly ticking over in the warm(ish) sunshine. This locomotive
has a different tickover from most of the other coastline engines
- I wonder why?
Almost on this spot on 30th December
2000 I was fighting to photograph 37429 "Eisteddfod Genedlaethol"
with the "last ever" 37 hauled train from Holyhead!
Hmmmm. Where is 429 now I wonder?
Almost 15.58 and departure
time, the sun is well down over the yardarm and turning the locomotive
a beautiful golden colour - was there ever a better livery for
these engines? I returned in coach 5025 which also had a wheel
flat and a big one at that, the coach shook at each hammer blow
- I do not know how the bearings take such abuse.
Back over the Britannia Bridge
and onto the mainland running dead on time.
A real cracking pace
to Chester where, despite several checks on the way in, we still
arrived a few minutes early. Crewe was reached dead on the nose
and a black and white to finish. Another fantastic run to Holy
Island and back - will it be the last???
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