We arrived just as 37 426 was preparing to depart with the 12:22 Bangor to Crewe.
We were surprised to discover that the Virgin service to Holyhead was not listed on the monitor but the return working was. We assumed this was a mistake but then the announcer informed us that it would terminate at Bangor. I dropped my plan to meet Christine at the gym and settled down to record the activity.
47 474 emerges from Bangor tunnel. It's only about ten minutes late
so we're surprised it's terminating here.
Now detached from its train. 47 474 runs into Belmont tunnel...
...and back past the rail enthusiasts and the bemused passengers heading for
the ferry.
We sprint over the bridge in time to see 47 474 backing on to the other
end...
...and then pushing its train into Bangor tunnel past the passengers waiting
to catch the 12:41 to connect with their ferry. This train was running on
time but was held up by 47 474's prolonged occupation of platform 2.
D.J. Crawford solved the mystery: An Alphaline 158 had smashed through buffers
at Holyhead. Unit 158 826, coupled to First North Western's 156 427, had overshot
the head shunt at the fuelling point and the leading vehicle was leaning outward
at about 30° from upright, in front of the overbridge. This prevented a run-round
on one of the platforms.
To our surprise, the Virgin train pulls into the unnumbered and seldom-used
platform beyond platform 2. Normally one of the centre roads is used for short-term
stabling of trains, but this movement was presumably because the Holyhead
to Stockport goes through the middle on Saturdays as it doesn't call at Bangor.