LIZZIE DOWN THE COAST: 14 JUNE 2003

A Picture report by the North Wales Coast Railway website team


14 June 2003 saw the North Wales Coast line hosting a charter train from Colchester to Holyhead and back, organised by the amusingly-named Steamy Affairs company. Steam haulage from Crewe to Holyhead and back was by London Midland and Scottish Railway 4-6-2 6201 Princess Elizabeth, now owned by the Princess Elizabeth 6201 Locomotive Society and recently returned to main line service after a period out of service for overhaul.

The day started badly: the Porterbrook Purple Deltic D9016 Gordon Highlander was to have hauled the train from Colchester to Crewe, but this loco failed, with a traction motor fault according to one report, and to 'a minor component in an electrical cubicle failing' according to another, and a class 66 eas fetched to take over, resulting in a delay of over an hour, and some puzzlement amongst the enthusiasts waiting along the coast, including your compiler who was heading west aboard the 10:21 Birmingham - Holyhead train which was scheduled to overtake the special during its 40-minute water stop at Llandudno Junction, whereas in fact the steam train was somewhere behind the 47-hauled service train.

David Wood waited patiently at Chester to take these two views of the train running through Chester station.

The water stop at Llandudno Junction proceeded as planned, the loco crew also carrying out some maintenance in the cylinder area. (Alan Crawshaw.)

The sun made only a brief appearance during this stop, as passengers and visitors admired the loco. (Charlie Hulme)

Those unable to visit North Wales could follow the trains's progress using the live web cameras along the A55 road! Above is a montage of two views captured by Paul Ballymoss from the Puffin rounabout near Penmaenmawr.

Arriving at Holyhead (Rupert Lewis)

Standing at the buffers before running round and heading off the Valley to turn. (John Lewis)

At Valley station, waiting for the 'road' to enter the triangle. (John Lewis)

On the Valley triangle (John Lewis)
 

Back at Holyhead, 47 739 Resourceful is woken from its slumbers and detached from the First North Western stock to act as station pilot for the afternoon.
 

The object of the shunting was to move the support/generator vehicle to the other end of the train so it could be behind the locomotive for the return run. (John Lewis)

47 739 and the whole train. (John Lewis)

CONTINUE TO PART 2: THE RETURN JOURNEY


Compiled by Charlie Hulme, 15 June 2003.

Comments welcome at charlie@dweb.u-net.com