The railways of North Wales - Changing trains: page 5
Tribute to the Class 37s, 1993 - 2001, Page 2.

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 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 multi screen cinema.  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 - 9th June 1993.


Next page: Tribute to the 37's - page 3

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