Yes, it really happened - preserved 'Western' class diesel-hydraulic D1015 Western Champion worked a charter from Castle Cary to Llandudno Junction and back on on 5 May. The train was basically a staff outing for employees of the Hanson quarrying company, although spare tickets were sold to the public through Pathfinder Tours. Gary Thornton writes up the tour on the excellent Six Bells Junction website - here we have a selection of photographs from our contributors: our thanks to everyone!
Booked times for the outward train, 1Z31 07:05 Castle Cary - Llandudno Jct: Shrewsbury pass 10:55, Crewe 11:35 to 11:37, Chester 12:03 to 12:06, Holywell Jct pass 12:24, Rhyl 12:37 to 12:40, Llandudno Jct arr 12:58. Above, the train arrives at Crewe on the outward run. (Steve Morris)
Holywell Junction (Tim E. Rogers)
... passing Abergele ... (Richard Osborne)
... approaching Llandudno Junction pas the junction with the Conwy Valley line (Tim J. Rogers) ...
... and arrived at Llandudno Junction where the passengers disembarked. (Tim J. Rogers)
The train then ran empty as 5Z31 13:18 empty stock Llandudno Jct -
Penmaenmawr,
for the loco to be fuelled from a road
tanker and the stock to be watered. The picture by Richard Osborne
shows it passing Conwy Castle.
Here's the train on arrival in Penmaenmawr Quarry sidings (Larry Goddard)
And after running round, the train is dwarfed by the quarry loading installation. (Tim J. Rogers) This is the first time these sidings have been used in this way, to our knowledge.
The return train ran empty as 5Z61 15:41 Penmaenmawr - Llandudno Junction, then 1Z61 16:18 Llan Jct - Castle Cary: Rhyl 16:34 to 16:37, Holywell Jct pass 16:51, Chester 17:11 to 17:40,Crewe 18:11 to 18:18, Nantwich pass 18:30 ... here it is at Clwyn Bay in pleasant sunshine (Richard Osborne)
Arrived back stafely at Chester (Tony Kirkham)
The loco was detached here to take on additional fuel at the Alstom depot (David Wood)
Ready to re-start from Chester (David Wood)
This view is at Hargrave, south of Chester (John Eyres)
A quick look at the day's supporting cast - 47 737 Resurgent at the same location as above, on the 17:21 Birmingham - Holyhead service. . (John Eyres)
Arrival back at Crewe. (Adrian Dykes)
Departure from Crewe. (Adrian Dykes). The 'Western' worked most of the way back, as far as Westbury, where 37 047 + 37 114 took over for the last few miles to Frome and Castle Cary.
A last look at this unique special as returns home to the Western Region (well, Network Rail Great Western now!) at Rope Lane, just south of Crewe Gresty Lane Sidings (note the end of the limit of the LMR 25kV masts in the background). (Tony Flusk)
The question on everyone's lips - have Class 52s ever worked down
this
line before, perhaps on test from Crewe works? Answers, and especially
pictures, welcome.