NORTH WALES COAST etc.
CREWE - CHESTER - BANGOR - HOLYHEAD
JUNE 2003
- PART ONE

 June 2
 

 HNRC class 37 number 37087 "VULCAN Avro B1 & B2" and 37194 "Neil Webster 1957-2001" arrived at Crewe off the Manchester line. The leading locomotive, 087, was carrying "The Jolly Fisherman" headboard. 9/6/2003

 46035 ran off to the Locomotive Works to collect class 20 number D8087, both had appeared at the Open Weekend and were returning to the East Lancashire Railway at Bury. 9/6/2003

 The 11.30 loco-hauled service to Holyhead turned out to be a 158 unit but there was a bonus as 47810 "Porterbrook" brought the 09.26 Holyhead-London service into Crewe. 9/6/2003

 The clue was class 87 number 87035 "Robert Burns" waiting in the holding siding. The 87 ran out onto the Chester line to await the arrival of the 47 when it returned to attach to the rear to propel the train South. The locomotive was in a very run down condition and reminiscent of the time when Stanier Pacifics were being phased out in favour of diesel propulsion. The Pendolinos are coming! 9/6/2003

 The 14.00 from Holyhead, believed to have 47746 "The Bobby" in charge, romps through Llanfairfechan en route for Crewe. 7/6/2003

 The A55 "Expressway" can be seen in the background as 746 heads off towards Penmaenmawr. The A55 is quite a feat of engineering but has, in my opinion, had a devastating effect on this beautiful piece of coastline. Apart from the aesthetic destruction the exhaust and noise pollution are unforgiving. 7/6/2003

 "Thunderbird" 57305 "John Tracy" waits for business at Crewe 2/6/2003

 47757 "Capability Brown" left platform 11 for Birmingham, ex Holyhead. 2/6/2003

 37517 and 37695 left the LNWR carriage sheds and headed North up the West Coast Main Line. These two locomotives brought the Crewe Invader - 1 into Crewe on Saturday morning with the Pathfinder special from Salisbury in support of the Crewe Works Open Weekend. 2/6/2003

 You wait and wait to see 6201 "Princess Elizabeth" leave with the "Coronation Golden Jubilee" a Travelsphere charter to London Victoria. The driver opened the cylinder drain cocks and this was the result! 2/6/2003

 Eventually the steam cleared and I managed to get this shot. 2/6/2003

 With the ending of the Crewe Works Open Weekend on Sunday the stock is now finding its way to various destinations. This one is Stanier 8F number 48151 leaving Crewe en route for Carnforth with empty coaching stock. 2/6/2003

 Driver Frank Santrian acknowledges the crowd as the 8F feels its way carefully onto the main line. 2/6/2003

Listing
Top

Link to June 2