CREWE - CHESTER -- BANGOR - HOLYHEAD  MONTHLY REPORTS MARCH 2008 - PAGE ONE

221112 "Ferdinand Magellan", forming the 09.50 Holyhead-Crewe, heads towards Sandbach on the Middlewich branch line. Virgin trains were diverted along this route while the Crewe-Chester line was closed over the Easter holiday. 24/03/2008

221112 passing what was originally the Hays Chemicals plant. It should be noted that these pictures were taken legally. 24/03/2008

221104 "Sir John Franklin" on the 12.23 Crewe-Llandudno, note the damaged valance. 24/03/2008

221104 returning on the reverse working, the 15.00 Llandudno-Crewe. 24/03/2008

Again passing the chemical plant. 24/03/2008

221112 returning, also on a reverse working, this time the 16.56 Crewe-Holyhead. 24/03/2008

221112 on the 16.56 Crewe-Holyhead with snow flakes. 24/03/2008

221112 on the 16.56 Crewe-Holyhead heading off into the setting Sun. 24/03/2008

As 221112 headed off towards Middlewich and then Northwich, Chester and finally Holyhead, the howling wind, the snow, the dark clouds and the rain that had plagued me all day, ceased, to provide a beautiful golden sunset! Always the way with photography I guess. 24/03/2008

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Sandbach station and I am here to see the double headed DRS class 37's on a Spitfire Railtours/WCRC, Birmingham-Carlisle charter. The train was late so a few shots of passing traffic - this was 90045 heading North light engine. 08/03/2008

158826 moving some. 08/03/2008

323223 on a Crewe - Manchester shuttle service and sporting the new Northern Rail livery. 08/03/2008

Eventually the 37's burst through Sandbach going at such a pace that I only had time to glance at the numbers which I think were 37667 + 37688. 08/03/2008

The tail-ender was 57601. 08/03/2008

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71000 "Duke of Gloucester" entering the road crossing at Alsager with the Chester bound, "The Cheshireman". 01/03/2008