The Cheshire Gardens Express - report by Geoff Morris
On 4 May I went for a steam ride from Chester to Altrincham & back
on the
Mid-Cheshire
Rail Users' Association (MCRUA)'s "Cheshire Gardens Express". This
has run on the May Day Bank Holiday Sunday for most of the last 6 years
and gives one the chance to experience something different - a
steam-hauled all-stations passenger train. The stops are quite close
together but, unlike on preserved lines, the train runs at high speed
between them. The loco, Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 45407 had no trouble in
keeping to the schedule. Two round trips were made between Altrincham
and Chester with additional runs from Crewe to Altrincham (via
Middlewich) at the start of the day and Altrincham to Crewe (again via
Middlewich) at the end. I just sampled the train for a return
trip between Chester and Altrincham.
The coaches were supplied by the West Coast Railway Company and most
were in immaculate external condition.
This year MCRUA had obtained sponsors for each coach and appropriate
stickers were placed in the carriage windows. Other sponsors included
Cheshire FM.
The loco ran tender first between Altrincham to Chester and after
arrival in platform 4 at Chester (heading picture) on the first train,
it shunted west out of the station, after allowing a Merseyrail
electric to pass ...
... before running through the centre road ...
... to shunt on to the goods loop and take water.
During this lunchtime stopover passengers were entertained by a brass
band.
There were many civic dignitaries from the various local authorities on
the train and one of them found 45407 a distraction from the band.
After a spirited run at Altrincham I was able to run up to the
footbridge north of the station and grab a shot (above) of the empty
stock on its way to Skelton Junction where the loco was run around for
a tender-first leg trip to Chester.
Back at Chester the loco again ran around via the centre road to take
water on the goods lines. This time a class 175 had been parked on the
goods lines and obscured the loco but some 'interesting' pictures could
still be obtained (above) - worthy of a caption competition!
She then shunted back, past the 175 & some track machines
before departing, with thunder and lightning in the air, for Altrincham.
Thanks to everyone involved in another superb day - not forgetting the
loco crews.
Steam up
If you think there has been a surfeit of steam trains around the area
lately, you ain't seen nothing yet (as they say), as there seems to
have been an explosion of interest in the running of steam trains.
There is a run to Llandudno Junction on 17 May with 'Hall' 4-6-0 4953,
another 'Ynys Mon Express' to Holyhead with 'Duchess of Sutherland' on
14 June, and a run by 71000
Duke of
Gloucester to Holyhead on 5 July. 12 July
sees the previously-postponed 'The
Welsh Mountaineer' Manchester Victoria to Llandudno Junction, then
Blaenau
Ffestiniog and return with 45407 +
76079. Then there are the 'regular' operations: Not only will we have
the Monday to Friday steam train on the Cambrian lines from 28 July - 1
August, the Railway Touring Company has embarked on a programme of
steam-hauled trains on the North Wales line every Sunday in August plus
August Bank Holiday Monday.
For those of a more 'classic traction' inclination, the Cambrian Coast
line will see a pair of EWS 37/4s on Bank Holiday Monday 27 May, and,
very exotically, 'Deltic'
55 022
Royal Scots Grey on 12 July.
It's an interesting fact that despite its 3300 horsepower, the Deltic
has a relatively light axle loading due to the compact design of its
two diesel engines, giving it the same 'route availability' rating of 5
as its smaller cousin the Class 37, so Barmouth bridge should not
suffer any undue stress from the passing of this East Coast Main Line
monster.
See our
Calendar Page for more details and
booking links about all the above.
Further adventures of the 37/4s
EWS's last handful of Class 37/4 locos certainly get around, and so do
our contributors to take their pictures. Here's a selection from the
last couple of weeks. EWS ran a traincrew familiarisation (?) special,
0Z37 Warrington-Llandudno Junction, formed of
37 401 on 29 April. The route taken
was via Ellesmere Port and Hooton. Above, the loco is about to take the
Hooton route at Helsby. (
Mike Byrne)
At Helsby, where the loco reversed. (
Mike
Byrne)
At Llandudno Junction the loco performed manoeuvres in the sidings. (
Pete Lloyd)
Note the cast metal EWS 'three beasties' logo surviving on one side
from the loco's special 'Royal Scotsman' livery, the remains of which
it carried until a few weeks ago when it was repainted at Wigan depot.
(EWS lost the contract to haul the 'Royal Scotsman' luxury train around
the Scottish Highlands some years ago.) Picture by
Pete Lloyd.
The other side: picture kindly taken for us by 'a nice man from EWS.'
Back on to the main line at Llandudno Junction for the return to
Warrington. (
Pete Lloyd) This
is the second time lately that EWS have made a point of running into
these sidings, which they currently lease from Network Rail for their
exclusive use. Network Rail reportedly wish to return the sidings to
general use. One way or the other, it would be good news if they were
actually used for some freight traffic.
The return working along the Coast passes the Duke of Lancaster (
Mike Byrne). Note that the immured
ship continues to evade the scrapman; progress in the movement to save
her is recorded at
www.dukeoflancaster.net.
Commonly worked by a 37/4 is the Tuesdays and Thursdays only Dowlow
(Derbyshire) - Warrington and return trip working. Here is the return
working, also on 29 April, hauled by
37
417 Richard Trevithick,
passing new housing developments in Altrincham. (
Richard Boyd)
The same working at the same location, 1 May, this time with 37 401. (
Richard Boyd)
5 May, and Kingfisher Tours' charter 'The Settle & Carlisle
Experience' arrives at Crewe with 37 401 and 37 417.
A week later, 8 May, and Richard Boyd was at Ashley on the Mid-Cheshire
line at 12:08 to record the Dowlow trip with both 37 417 (leading) and
37 401 in charge. Apparently they were being given a test run in
advance of working together on
Kingfisher
Railtours' 4-day Scottish tour over the coming weekend. The consist
of the train includes an EWS open wagon - perhaps en route for works
attention - as well as the usual covered hopper wagons loaded from the
Lafarge quarry at Dowlow.
Cheshire Gardens Express (Part 2) - pictures by Greg Mape
Some more view of the 4 May special: here's an eastbound working at
Ashley
The empty train pulls round the curve from Deansgate Junction to
Skelton Junction. The line in the foreground goes to Partington;
currently on the first few hundred yards is in use as a headshunt for
the Northenden refuse terminal, although there are supposed to be plans
for further use, and a new road bridge has recently been built over it.
In the loop at Skelton Junction, where the loco ran round its train.
At Hale, running tender-first back towards Chester. This loco
doesn't have such a good view when running this way as 76079 which has
been used in previous years: the crew must have done most of their
journey hanging out of the window. The train also covered the
Middlewich branch: pictures of this coming soon.
