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It's been a crap couple weeks so this was a chance to get some miles under my belt and a new line.
Bold = Haulage, Red = Winner, All others are sightings.
Starting off the morning was a bit dull and overcast and off I went to Selhurst for the first train of the day.
2B03 Selhurst to Victoria 377126, 377137 non winners [9m 31ch]
After navigating the longer walk through the modernised tunnels to the Victoria line I caught 11050 (non winner) [2m 33ch] to Euston
At Euston there wasn't a lot in to see apart from the Caledonian sleeper stock so I made my way over to platform 14 for my train
1H62 Euston to Crewe 390124 (winner) [158m 05ch]
Of course I found an unreserved seat but as you can guess I was joined by others and sadly they weren't the quiet read a book type. Everything was going well until we managed to pick up a 7 minute delay. I had originally had 10 minutes between trains which should be sufficent. My next train should have gone off of platform 9. As simple transfer. But no!
A platform change meant it was a quick up and over the bridge to platform 12.
1D53 Crewe to Chester 197002, 197014 (winners) [21m 11ch].
I was quite impressed with the 197s. I say in an airline seat on this one. Decent enough leg room, fold down tables that didn't squeak, elbow room on the window is adequate. Being a TfW train the announcements were all in Welsh. It appears that the 197s do have quite a smooth ride and the windows were pretty good.
At Chester I had some time before my train to Holyhead. I grabbed a few photos outside the station and also my lunch from the Costa. Strangely the toilets were all closed off and you had to use the Portapotty outside the gatelines.
My next train was the ex Cardiff Central train. I had been hoping it was a cl. 67 loco wioth the MkIII coaching stock but alas it wasn't.
1W91 Chester to Holyhead 197111 (winner) [84m 31ch].
Again I had an airline seat.
Holyhead must have an amazing station in its heyday.
Now it isn't as well used as it once was. There are only three platforms possibly in use now;
Platform 1 is the one the Avanti West Coast trains use. it is also by the extensive yard.
Platform 2 is used by the local TfW services. THis is the one you walk to the end of the platform and enter the ferry terminal.
Platform 3 looked to be fenced off temporarily.
There used to be another platform (probably the original platform 3) but this is now permantly disused. Tracks have rusted and there is a barrier along the platform edge.
With little else to do there I caught the next train back to Chester.
1V97 Holyhead to Chester 197111 (non winner) [84m 31ch]
Travelling back I discovered my train from Chester to Euston was cancelled. Typical! So I ended up on a local back to Crewe.
The two American Ladies were a bit purturbed so I helped them find out info and they joined me on my next two legs to get back to London.
1K12 Chester to Crewe 197002 (non winner) [21m 11ch]
We all crossed over to platform 5 and 1A60 Crewe to Euston 390011 (non winner) [158m 05ch]. The thing that miffed me off was that the 221s that I should of got back would have been one winner!
At Euston went across on the Victoria line to Victoria 11079 (non winner) [3m 33ch]
And then back home via 2B06 Victoria to Selhurst 377624 (non winner) [9m 31ch].
Despite the cancelled train it was a pretty good day out and I cleared a line I've want ed to for years. I must get the Blaunau Ffestiniog and Llandudno lines soon.