Warrington via Llandudno
Tuesday 9th October 2001
20 902 and 20 903 coast through Bangor station as the 09:20
departure for Birmingham approaches platform 1. We let the 175 go, in favour
of the 09:49 Virgin service - why travel on plastic when a loco hauled train
will be along in half an hour!
We pass 66 509 laden with ballast at Penmaenmawr, alight at the first stop,
Llandudno Junction and watch our train depart. 47 841 Spirit of
Chester is seen here ready to depart with 1A46.
We board our connection to Llandudno where a Fragonset 31 with a railtrack inspection saloon is expected at 11:08. It's a gloomy morning but we're soon joined by well known photographer Larry Goddard and another local enthusiast from Colwyn Bay. Time passed, and Larry phoned his contact at the junction to learn that the Railtrack special had been cancelled. Coincidentally, so had the 11:47 to Manchester, our planned escape back to the main line. Larry kindly offered a lift back to the junction, which connected perfectly with the 11:27 Bangor to Birmingham which we rode as far as Crewe.
66 509 was waiting in Chester with the ballast. I took this through
the glass as our 175 accelerated away from the station.
At Crewe I unleashed my zoom lens from the end of platform 12 before we boarded
the 13:36 Virgin service to Lancaster. 47 734 Crewe Diesel Depot
stands in front of 47 770 Reserved.
To the left of the 47s, Royal Mail Unit 325 010 and 58 036 flank
a sad line of condemned classic traction, with former North Wales Coast favourite
37 420 The Scottish Hosteller in Regional Railways livery. A
time machine would be handy just now!