The North
Wales coast enjoys a generally temperate climate and snow is a rarity.
An exception occurred in February 1996 when a spell of Arctic weather provided
the rare chance to photograph trains in the snow. 37421 "The Kingsman"
is seen here near Prestatyn on a Crewe - Bangor train.
Scottish celebrity 37403 "Ben Cruachan"
was a welcome visitor to North Wales in the summer of 1999. The green
machine is seen between Prestatyn and Rhyl on July the 22nd.
37298 was another no-heat substitution
on the 12th of June 1999. Seen
here nearing a sunny Rhyl on an
evening down working.
37520 was called to assist when
37422 was having problems at Chester.
The pair are seen at Rhyl
on a Crewe to Bangor working. 31 10 95
37275 "Oor Wullie" in authentic BR blue livery waits to leave Rhyl for Bangor on the 2nd of June 1995. The loco was named after a Scottish newspaper cartoon character.
A number of the regular locomotives on the line were painted into the attractive Regional Railways livery to match the coaching stock. 37414 and 421 are seen here entering Rhyl heading for Crewe on March 18th 1995. Towards the end many locos appeared in EWS red livery while chocolate and cream GWR liveried coaches were used for Summer strengthening duties.
37's rule O.K. 37422 heads into Rhyl on a Crewe bound service and passes 37222 on an empty ballast train for Penmaenmawr. Under the down platform canopy is 37420 about to leave for Holyhead. Once this train has cleared the section the ballast working will follow it west. 18th August 1997.
The "Irish Mancunian" headboard
is seen adorning 37407 "Loch Long" near Abergele on August the 31st 1993.
When 37418
first appeared on the coast it was still named "Pectinidae" from its days
hauling oil trains from the Shell refinery at Stanlow. The name was
removed in July 93 and in 1994 it was named "East Lancashire Railway".
37418
is seen entering Colwyn Bay past the disused signalbox. 5th May 1993.
Before the
Class 37's took over North Wales passenger duties it was necessary to train
large numbers of staff in their operation and in working loco-hauled coaching
stock again. On 2nd April 1993 No. 37509 stands outside the
carriage shed at Llandudno Junction with a set of coaching stock between
one of these training runs. The carriage shed was demolished in February
2000 and the site cleared to make way for a multiplex cinema. No.
37509 was withdrawn on 28 March 2000.
A quirk of the timetabling process
saw a loco hauled train to Llandudno run for a few months in 2000.
With some happy enthusiasts enjoying the novelty, 37420 is seen near Deganwy
on May 29th of that year.
When the Class 37's were first
introduced to the North Wales coast in 1993 their duties included a daily
visit to Llandudno on a working from Crewe. The driver of 37421 discusses
the impending reversal into the carriage sidings with the shunter on a
sunny summer's day - the 9th of June 1993.