The Cumbrian Coast
27 April 2002
An early start was required for the Green Express tour to the Cumbrian Coast
so we set our alarms for 05:15 to ensure we were at Llandudno Junction in
time for the 06:36 departure. We arrived in time to see the pair of class
31 diesels run round after bringing the empty stock down from Carnforth.
31 452 Minotaur and 31 602 Chimaera are in charge
today
43 080 brings the 05:43 Holyhead to Euston into Llandudno Junction.
I grabbed a quick coffee from the buffet before striding down to the far end
of the platform to our seats in coach M and we were off!
Our train was very busy and almost all the remaining seats were gradually filled as we picked up passengers who'd had the luxury of a longer lie-in, calling at coast stations before Chester, Frodsham and Warrington Bank Quay. Then on up the main line to Carnforth where the diesels were detached in favour of Stanier 8F 48151.
Frustratingly, this was effected in the sidings rather than the station so
we couldn't pop out to photograph the proceedings. Here a well-filled First
North Western class 175 unit leaves the station bound for Manchester Airport
while the steam locomotive is coupled to the head of our train.
I knew that Carnforth was the final pick-up stop so I and a few others raced
to the front for a quick snap, keeping an eye out for doors closing. The front
of the loco was at the start of the platform ramp so a front view wasn't possible.