Daisy's last month
5th December 2003
The 1950s built MetCamm class 101 units were scheduled for withdrawal at the
end of this month. After several late reprieves it looked like they were finally
going so we took the class 47 hauled 06:38 Bangor to Manchester. This train
runs empty from Holyhead, where it is stabled overnight, and the few minutes
it took the conductor to board and release the central locking were sufficient
for me to set up my tripod for a night shot. As you can see from the clock,
it's 06:45 already, the stock being delayed by the Holyhead to Cardiff class
158 which was running late.
We left ten minutes late, the darkness revealing mist as we traversed the
coast line.
47 750 leaves Earlestown before the mist cleared and the
sun shone for our day out.
The class 87 electrics are doomed too. 87 016 waits at the
buffers at Manchester Piccadilly alongside one of the horrible new Virgin
Voyagers.
Good news! We were hoping that Daisy, the unit repainted in original
BR green, would be working today. She's about to take the 09:25 to Marple,
but as the day ranger tickets are not valid before 09:30 we went for a coffee
and a nose round the station.
43 070 is at the London end of the St Pancras service. The
new Midland Mainline livery is not to my taste, I quite liked the old one.