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"Blue
Peter" is back
in town. Seen here being prepared for Saturday's "Cumbrian
Mountain Express" romp up Shap and over the S&C.
The train is operated by Steamy Affairs. 27/4/2001 |
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The sleeping giant
- the prototype British Railways standard class 7 number 70000
"Britannia". What can you say apart from
"Built at Crewe"? 27/4/2001 |
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Holyhead
to Crewe in 10 hours and 20 minutes - quite a long time even for an old '47! Actually
the time was 11.30 and the 9.19 Holyhead-London Euston had arrived
dead on time behind 47806. 24/4/2001 |
The locomotive
was quickly uncoupled and ran forward to the signal to await
the "go". It then ran round through platform 12 to
take up its hold position in bay platform 10. 24/4/2001 |
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This left the DVT
number 82121 "Carlisle Cathedral" free
to pilot the train to London. 24/4/2001 |
The reason that
the class 47 ran through platform 12 was because the Middlewich-Arpley
Enterprise service had arrived earlier than usual and occupied
the platform 12 loop. 24/4/2001 |
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The AC electric
locomotive that appeared on the rear of the train was probably
the most unkempt I have ever seen, it seemed to have half the
paint missing from its side and end. 24/4/2001 |
Another shot of
the leading end of 86416 shows the large panels of paint that
had become detached from the body side. It just looked as if
it had been reinstated in a hurry! 24/4/2001 |
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The 8.38 London
Euston - Holyhead approaching the site of Worleston Station,
near Nantwich, running what appears to be a mandatory 30 minutes
down. 19/4/2001 |
175010 approaching the same
spot. 19/4/2001 |
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It was all class
47's at Crewe today and the first to arrive was "Royal"
47798 "Prince William" earning its keep
with a mixture of postal stock. There was a crew change here
before it set off South with ominous blue smoke coming from the
leading bogie. 18/4/2001 |
Next to arrive
was 47279 in "Railfreight" livery. The loco ran light
into platform 8 before heading back South, probably onto the
depot. 18/4/2001 |
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Finally, 47750
"Atlas" brought the 9.19 Holyhead-London
into platform 11 before unhooking and reversing to head off to
Preston. The train was propelled South by 86430 "Saint
Edmund". There were a further five named class 47's
in the diesel depot yard. 18/4/2001 |
The highlight of
the 45 minutes I spent at Crewe was the arrival of class 37 number
37717 "Berwick Middle School" which ran
South between platforms 5 and 6 before returning via the platform
11 avoiding line en route for Warrington Arpley. This train runs
daily from Middlewich. 18/4/2001 |
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Nothing to do with
North Wales but I think interesting nonetheless. Wales and West's
153374 parked at Crewe station showing off as the first of a
series of Pictorial Trains. This particular unit depicts Truro
Cathedral. 8/4/2001 |
A more detailed
shot of the mural which I think is rather good. I wonder if FNW
will adopt this idea for the North Wales Coast line - there are
plenty of delightful Welsh scenes to depict! Caernarfon Castle
and the Menai bridge to mention but two. 8/4/2001 |
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Power car 43013
led the Southampton bound HST into Crewe station and guess what
was on the rear? - yes, it was 43014 - how often does that happen?
3/4/2001 |
47843 "Vulcan"
arrived on time at Crewe with the 9.19 London - Holyhead but
the usual AC electric locomotive did not attach to the rear for
the onward journey. 3/4/2001 |
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Sure enough the
class 47 took the train South - is the 47 removed en route? Surely
it does not continue to Euston. Any information please anyone? 3/4/2001 |
The sight and sound
of a class 37 locomotive entering platform 6 sets the heart a
pounding, but on this occasion it is the daily Middlewich - Arpley
with 37110 in charge. On this occasion it avoided the usual centre
road route. 3/4/2001 |
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The class 37 reversed
and dropped off a tank vehicle before returning via the platform
12 loop to head North for Warrington.
3/4/2001 |
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