18th January 2005
It was dull and windy and wet in Amlwch but as the loco haulage on the 10-03 from Manchester was due to end at the end of the month, I decided to go out and take a few shots anyway. I decided to head for the bridge by Valley RAF base. Driving towards Valley I passed a nuclear flas on a low loader heading for the power station and was pleased to see as I passed through Valley itself that the flask train was in the siding. First shot of the day was of 47847 Brian Morrison/Railway World Magazine on the 10.03 Manchester Piccadilly to Holyhead. It was blowing a full gale on this side of the island and I had to lean on the side of the bridge (which is very exposed) to avoid being blown over.
I decided to follow the train into Holyhead and was just in time to see 47847 having left it's train in the station disappear into the new servicing unit on the old mpd site.
Next into Holyhead was the 09.00 from Euston formed by 'Voyager' 221 101 arriving right time.
I nipped down to the station to photograph the 'Voyager' ready to form the 14.17 train back to Euston
Back up the hill 847, after a short stay, emerged and ran down to the station to pick up it's train and left on time with the 13.35 to Manchester Piccadilly, passing Riviera's stand-by loco 47839 stabled in the siding.
47847 made a fine sight as it forged up the bank
and headed towards Valley.
I decided to head for Ty Croes to try to get a shot of the flasks on the way back to Crewe, passing through Valley I got this shot of 37611 and 20315 shunting the flasks.
After arriving at Ty Croes (the wind still blowing a gale) first up, and going at a good speed,was 221 101 on the Euston service
followed by a 158 forming the 14.30 Holyhead to Bangor stopper.
and in the other direction came 158824 on time as the 11.33 from Birmingham (New Street), again going at a good speed.
And finally came 37611 + 20315 on the up flasks. As the driver spotted that the board was off and the crossing was clear (or perhaps he spotted the photographer) he opened the locos up and the made a tremendous roar as they went past,
and disappeared towards an ever more threatening sky.
And I disappeared homewards for a warm and a brew.
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