CREWE - CHESTER -- BANGOR - HOLYHEAD  MONTHLY REPORTS DECEMBER 2004 - PART TWO

A very happy and peaceful 2005 to all and, as ever, my grateful thanks to all those of you have e-mailed me during 2004 - your comments are always welcome.

Having seen 805 venture out towards Holyhead I decided to meet it at Conwy on its return run. Here it is, dead on time and going some through the station, with the 13.35 Holyhead-Manchester. It is good to note that timekeeping seems to be much improved under the ARRIVA banner. 30/12/2004

Powering away towards the arch. 30/12/2004

I decided to wait for the afternoon Virgin Voyager service to London Euston and, with time to kill, took a stroll along the castle walls to find a different vantage point. I was just in time as 221xxx glided round the curve....

....and headed towards the castle's river bridge. In the background is the Conwy River estuary and note the old goods yard crane at the side of the track. 30/12/2004

The imposing ramparts of Conwy Castle taken from the river bridge - note the support chains on the extreme left, carrying the original suspension bridge over the Conwy River. 30/12/2004

Having seen one Voyager I decided to look for another, this time out of Llandudno via the Deganwy branch. The barriers came down to allow 175004 to leave Deganwy Station en route for Llandudno. On the right is the local landmark, The Deganwy Castle Hotel, now looking smart after a repaint. 30/12/2004

004 disappeared under the footbridge....

....just as the Voyager appeared from the other direction - a curse on those headlights. 30/12/2004

221xxx formed the 15.23 Llandudno-London Euston and is seen here passing through Deganwy Station and towards the brightly lit South Western sky. The signal box is looking very smart. 30/12/2004

---

The 47 workings have returned to the North Wales Coast at last so it's off to Llandudno Junction to see the arrival of the 10.03 Manchester-Holyhead with 47805 in charge. 29/12/2004

805 made a spirited start...

...as it headed West towards the cob and Conwy. 29/12/2004

Once over the pointwork the driver opened up again and the the 47 roared away into the distance. 29/12/204