CREWE - CHESTER - BANGOR - HOLYHEAD
North Wales Coast
May 2001

 37038 at Crewe with 1V76 the 10.57 Wales & West for Pembroke Dock. The train was run to serve the Wales V's Barbarians rugby match at the Cardiff Millennium Stadium. 20/5/2001

 View through the station clutter. 20/5/2001

 37038 is well known for its "clag" and today was no exception. this sequence of shots shows it leaving platform 11 in style as it heads West towards Shrewsbury and Cardiff. The train was announced as stopping at many of the stations en route including Nantwich! The announced destination was Pembroke Dock. Shot 4 shows the scene several minutes after departure. Thanks to John Dawson for the information via Charlie Hulme's North Wales Coast site. 20/5/2001

 I went to the North end of platform 6 to photograph the tail end of an HST unit bound for Southampton and saw two class 175/1 units in multiple leaving bay platform 9. I have not seen this arrangement before and, as this was the first day of the new timetable, perhaps we will see more multiple running. Was this the new Sunday double header? Well at least it looks like a train now - the trailing unit was 175010. 25/5/2001

 Crewe Diesel Depot and 47739 "Resourceful" left the yard to run through the rear of the station and on to the Chester line. 19/5/2001

 I was about to leave when I heard it.....the growl. 37503 ran off the depot and onto the headshunt before moving into the yard. 37688 is in the background. 19/5/2001

 142006 with GMPT markings and 142002 in Regional Railways markings ran through the station and appeared to run onto the Shrewsbury line. Are these the units destined for the Valley Lines to replace the 37/4's? 19/5/2001

 56062 hauls the Middlewich-Arpley Enterprise working through Crewe station en route North. 16/5/2001

 Saturday 12th May was a busy day at Crewe station with much of the Manchester traffic diverted through behind class 47's and several specials to Cardiff for the FA Cup Final.

 Until it was pointed out by Charlie Hulme, I never appreciated the significance of this Cardiff bound train. The leading unit is Wales & West's 158871 with First North Western's 150211 coupled at the rear. The train was overfilled with Liverpool supporters and some had to be taken off by BTP officers. A train of 3 class 158's followed shortly to accomodate the crowd but the first train seemed to be very full with passengers standing (to Cardiff!). 12/5/2001

 The first of the loco hauled specials comprised 47734 "Crewe Diesel Depot" and the newly painted "Pride of the Nation" stock. 12/5/2001

 43180 sneaked in with the 10.01 to Edinburgh with 43160 attached at the rear. 12/5/2001

 A Manchester diversion arrived behind 47828 recently repainted by Virgin and named "Severn Valley Railway". 12/5/2001

 The first of the 37 hauled specials was behind DRS Class 37's 37612 and 37609 seen here entering platform 11 en route for cardiff and the FA Cup Final. (Liverpool won) 12/5/2001

 A hurried shot of 37609 sandwiched in the middle. 12/5/2001

 There was a variety of stock on the train and it was good to see the RR coaches back at Crewe. 12/5/2001

 Later on, after much activity on the 47 front, 37029 and 37038 arrived with the second loco hauled special. 12/5/2001

 The bright May sunshine made things difficult due to the high light contrasts. 37029 heads the train. 12/5/2001

 37038 from Bury. 12/5/2001

 Preparing to leave with a green aspect and a "W" showing on the gantry. Wales or West? 12/5/2001

 6th May 2001 and, having not been able to see DMU class 101 number 101685 nicknamed "Daisy" on the outward run to Blaenau Ffestiniog, I decided to catch it passing through Glan Conwy. With the train scheduled to work through Glan Conwy station at 16.10 I lay in wait and, dead on time, a train appeared rounding the curve - it was 150142! What happened to "Daisy"? - well apparently it was not refuelled on Saturday night and could only make one run out, hence the class 150 deputising.

 The train rounded the curve in the distance but it was the wrong colour, "Daisy" is in green livery. 6/5/2001

 Through the station and on the approach - it's a class 150. 6/5/2001

 Yup! 150142 passed beneath me and away to the junction - where was "Daisy"? I waited another 40 minutes but nothing appeared but I could sit and watch the Conwy estuary forever such is its beauty. The wild life is prolific, the colours are constantly changing and the Snowdon Range backdrop. What else can you say? 6/5/2001

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