December 21st and the
shortest day has arrived at last. A brief visit to Crewe to find
trouble on the Crewe-Chester shuttle. 153327 was waiting to leave
as the 14.33 but there were too many people trying to board.
The train eventually departed leaving as many passengers on the
platform as had been allowed on the train. The PA announcer was
advising that the next train to Chester and Holyhead would depart
at 15.03. This arrived as a 175/0 and left similarly filled to
capacity. Nothing changes. 21/12/2006
The closure of platform
12 and the through loop appears to have had a knock-on effect.
A 323 unit entered platform 1 and was announced as "not
for public use". It subsequently reversed and parked up
on what I assume is a siding(?). This allowed a South-bound Pendolino
to use platform 1 - platforms 5 and 6 were occupied. Shortly
after the Pendolino left for London the 323 re-entered platform
1 to form a train for Manchester. This could become interesting
when Crewe is really busy. 21/12/2006
Shortly afterwards there
was another announcement to the effect that the next train in
platform 6 was not for public use. Well it would be difficult
for anyone to board this particular train which did briefly stop
in the platform to change driver. 21/12/2006
It was a North-bound
freight hauled by one of the smart looking DRS class 66's, in
this case 66406. It's strange to see these trains passing through
the main platforms, I assume once again that it's due to the
closure of platform 12. 21/12/2006
Yet another freight to
pass through, this time it was 92005 "Mozart"
coming off the Manchester line. The tunnels were in full use
so why use the station? 21/12/2006
"Mozart",
complete with crude EWS branding, passes through in the declining
Winter Sun. 21/12/2006
- BANGOR - HOLYHEAD
