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North Wales by Pendolino - 25th November 2008

The forthcoming December timetable changes mean that Virgin will no longer serve Llandudno and use of Pendolinos, dragged by a Cl.57, on Euston-Holyhead services will reduce to one return trip on a weekend. This was the catalyst for an outdoor fixture on Tuesday November 25th to sample both of these services. A total of 16 members participated, making their way to Crewe to sample the Cl.57 haulage from the start.

390052 at Bangor
  
390052 at Bangor. Geoff Morris  
The planned itinerary comprised a trip from Crewe to Holyhead on the Pendolino, then the Holyhead-Manchester service back to Llandudno Junction where the Voyager could be taken to Llandudno and then back to Chester (or Crewe). Unfortunately problems on the West Coast Main line (circuit breakers had tripped on the up line near Weedon and our Pendolino was being used to check the down line) meant that 390052 arrived about 30 minutes late. 57302 was quickly coupled on to the Pendolino but it was soon apparent that we would arrive at Holyhead after the Manchester service had departed. About half the party opted to travel through to Holyhead, and so forego the Voyager run to and from Llandudno, while the remainder left the Pendolino at Bangor where the Manchester service could be caught and the itinerary resumed. Those who broke the journey at Bangor were able to photograph the RHTT passing through the up platform behind 37069.
37069 at Bangor
37069 at Bangor. Geoff Morris
  
175105 at Llandudno Junction
  175105 at Llandudno Junction. Geoff Morris
This is one of the few RHTT services that is not top & tailed as its schedule allows time for the loco to run around during its layover at Holyhead.

The Manchester service was formed of 175104 and arrived at Llandudno Junction on time. Here the information screens showed that the Voyager for Llandudno was running about 15 minutes late, due to a points failure at Saltney Junction. We therefore decided to catch 175105 (recently repainted into Arriva colours) to Llandudno and so have the opportunity to photograph the Voyager’s arrival under the gantry of semaphore signals at the station throat.

221105 arrives at Llandudno
221105 arrives at Llandudno. Geoff Morris
Although most of its canopies were removed many years ago, Llandudno station still retains many original features
View of the Concourse
View of the Concourse. Geoff Morris
Entrance Gates
Entrance Gates. Geoff Morris
  
Don't miss the train!
  Don't miss the train!. Geoff Morris
Some members took advantage of the Voyager’s late running to visit the town where, among other things, they found a “bargain” bookshop opposite Llandudno’s parish church with a good selection of transport books at reduced prices.

221105 arrived about 20 minutes late, at about its booked departure time, so photo opportunities were brief before we had to join the train (or else get left behind) This unit had a blue stripe on its coupler , indicating that coach D had been converted to allow 1st class passengers to be served meals on peak hour services. This conversion means that almost all seats in this vehicle are positioned around tables and provides a much more pleasant environment than the usual Voyager coach. We chose to travel in in this coach and were joined by most of the Holyhead contingent at Llandudno Junction - the remainder had opted to travel back to Crewe (or Chester) on the Pendolino. Unfortunately the Voyager had obviously suffered an oil leak and the windows of coach D, and the adjoining 1st class coach, were very dirty. Arrival back at Chester, where many of the party detrained, was on time.

In complete contrast to our previous expedition into North Wales (last month),the weather could hardly have been better with blue skies all day.

221105 awaiting departure from Llandudno
221105 awaiting departure from Llandudno. Geoff Morris

25/11/08