LarryG's general album

LarryG

Western Thunderer
Near Llandudno Junction English Electric style. Class 37 No. 37403 in retro green livery was photographed from the A55 near Mochdre while working the 12.51 Holyhead-Crewe on 15th July 1999. Some brown & cream Mk.I coaches were on hire...
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Twenty-two years previously, Class 40 No. 40067 was nearing Llandudno Junction with the 08.41 York-Llandudno on 19th August 1978. Those really were the days. The following loco were photographed that day :- 25094, 40092, 40022, 40031, 40108, 40079, 40067, 40009, 40033, 40081, 40174 and 40013...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
37073 blasts away from a signal check east of Llandudno Junction while on a test run with new wagons to Penmaenmawr Quarry and back to Crewe on 15th April 1998.
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25212 departing Llandudno Junction with the 11.30 Bangor-Manchester Victoria on 18th august 1978. The track on the left was the Conway Valley line...
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Trackwork at the east end actually increased in the early 1980's. The Up Slow line was reinstated as far as Conwy Corner and there was a new junction with the Conwy Valley Branch. Looking immaculate under a threatening sky, 37669 was running in on the Crewe test train with 47572 as back-up on 13th October 1997...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
Steam age nocturn at the 'Junction on the night of 13th November 1999.

Two Black Fives arrived at Llandudno Junction after dark and did some shunting of stock. With two steam locos moving around the station, it was he closest thing to me of what it was like when I was much younger. Black Five No. 45110 waiting to depart Platform 1 ...

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The other loco was No 45407 in Platform 4. Pictured during a pause in shunting...
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Deltin No. 9009 Alicidon was waiting for a signal to leave with the Venice Simplon Orient Express for Bangor. Exposure for all three was between 25 and 30 seconds @ f5.6 on Ektachrome 100. I was also walking up and down popping off hand-held flash to light up details. This really was a night to remember and there were surpingly few photographers around...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
Old Llandudno Junction with Class 24 No. 24023 swinging onto the branch to Llandudno town with the 13.30 from Manchester Victoria on 12th July 1978. A Class 40 can be seen in the yard on the 'Cokes' to Anglesey while two more Class 24's are on shed...

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Running non-stop, 40 093 rumbled through pointwork on the Holyhead line with the 11.12 Freightliner from Trafford Park on 19th August 1978...
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In the opposite direction, 40009 speeds down the embankment from Conway Tubular Bridge with the non-stop 13.00 Holyhead-Euston Relief on 19th August 1978. This was the site of the original Llandudno Junction station, closed in 1879 presumably when the new station was completed...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
Occasionally, a Class 45 worked the London trains. An unidentified 45 passes the new signal box with the 13.38 Bangor-Euston formed of mostly Mk.III stock on 6th September 1981...

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Scotrail Class 47 No. 47643 was on test from Crewe Works when it failed at Llandudno Junction on 7th March 1986. The fitters on board told me one of their own engines was being sent down to rescue the train, which meant a refurbished loco awaiting trials. It turned out to be Class 37 No. 37429. This was 7 years before Class 37's became a familiar sight in North Wales. A Class 25 stands on barrier wagons associated with nuclear and gunpowder traffic off the Trawsfynedd line. One of the magazines gave this picture a full spread...
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Something different. Class 60's No. 60061 Alexander Graham Bell and 60044 Ailsa Craig negotiate the sharp curve off the branch from Llandudno town with the 16.40 Llandudno-Crewe during a day of special Coal Sector workings involving Class 20, 56, 60 and 58 locomotives. The A55 road tunnel was being constructed under the Conway Estuary at this period, hence the mess. 11th August 1991.
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Such variety of colours would have been unthinkabl 10 years before. Standing around the yard at Llandudno Junction are LoadHaul Clas 37 No. 37881 Gart Cosh, EWS Class 37 No.37712 and Mainline Class 31 No. 31407 on 17th April 1997...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
Llandudno Town at the end of the branch from the 'Junction. D6700 was restored to BR green livery, but was let down historially by the rebuilt buffer fairings. This was its second test run and the loco had been renumbered from 37119 to 37350 since the initial test. Pictured under the remaining half of the over all roof on 6th May 1988...
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Class 20's put in appearances at Llandudno in the 1990's on the weekday 08.11 from Derby. No. 20007 and 20032 were leaving the terminus past No. 2 sgnal box on the start of their journey back to Derby at 17.40hrs on 28th June 1991. Most of the overall roof had been cut back to a skeleton over the circulating area by this time...
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Did the Class 31's ever look better? Regional Railways livery certainly lent these elderly locos a modern appearance. This was the first outing for 31410 Granada Telethon and 31439 in their new garb, seen waiting to leave Llandudno with the test run, the 11.40 back to Crewe on 17th July 1992. R.R. had pinned great hopes on the Class 31's for their loco-hauled services.
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
No.24023 storming up the gradient out of Llandudno with the 16.42 to Crewe on 12th July 1978. 24123 was the only Class 24 loco I shot in colour, the others being in black & white. Some enthusiasts had latched onto the new loco-hauled services althouigh in those days it was difficult for them to get time out of work on weekdays.
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Commencing 22nd March 1993, no less than 12 North Wales services were converted to loco-haulage. Class 31 No. 31408 Boadicea passes Maes Ddu golf course with the 16.49 Llandudno -Manchester on 23rd March 1993. Plagued by failures, late running and cancellations, these services reverted to Sprinter operation after 3 days! Regional Railways promptly asked for Class 37's, which started 'driver-training' almost immedietly...
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31421 Wigan Pier approaching Deganwy with the 12.06 Llandudno-Birmingham past 47237 working the 1Z28 'Rail UK' Charter from Cleethorpes to Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog on 22nd May 1993...
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It was difficult to determine whether this Class 31 was was washed out blue or grey! 31411 was heading to Llandudno with a vengeance when photographed near Deganwy heading the 08.40 from Stafford on 18th june 1992...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
Class 31 No. 31426 running non-stop through Deganwy station with the 15.50 Llandudno-Liverpool Lime Street on 14th July 1990.
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37429 Eisteddfod Genedlaethol passing Deganwy with the 17.10 Manchester Piccadily -Llandudno on the warm sumers evening of 17th June 2000...
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With the evening sun setting low, Class 66 No. 66084 rolls very slowly for the benefit of diners along the Conwy Estuary embankment on 3rd September 2000. This 3-day RAC Charter used stock painted in LNWR livery and was returning the wealthy clientel to Llandudno for the night after a day in Blaenau Ffestiniog...
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By the year 2000, Class 37's had been thick on the ground on North Wales trains for 7 years, but loco-haulage was coming to an end. One can only take so many 'wedge' shots before they become repetetive and so I went trackside looking for fresh locations just to experiment. 37429 is seen back- lit by the low evening sun while working the 19.54 Llandudno-Manchester near Llandudno Junction on 27th June 2000...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
Away from the Llandudno Branch and back on the mainline to Bangor and Holyhead. 47453 leaving the Conway tubular Bridge with an Up Freightliner in 1987...

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On the other side of the eastern end of the 'tube' lay a group of siding down on the quay. Latterly they were often used to store carriages. Class 47 No. 47342 is climbing above the Wharf Yard with Chemical Tanks bound for Amlwch on 21st April 1987...
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The ancient walls of Conway Castle stand watch over the railway as 47366 Institute of Civil Engineers comes off the tubular bridge with a train of empty 'Tiger' wagns from Ashburys on 28th april 1988. The train was bound for Penmaenmawr Quarry...
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The view across the castle walls towards Deganwy and the Great Orm with Class 37 No. 37418 Pectinidae (still in grey livery), heading the 12.06 Llandudno-Birmingham on 5th June 1993...
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A view from the bird sanctuary created during construction of the Conwy road tunnel. Class 47 No. 47829 heads the Virgin 08.50 Holyhead-Euston across the cob at Conwy on 25th July 1998...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
31408 Boadicea was shown in Post 528 on the 22nd March, the last day of loco haulage because of failures. The next morning, 23rd March 1993, drivers were being trained on the Class 37 locos. 37429 is seen below on the first driver-training run returning from Bangor through the familiar Conway Arch...
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Not so familiar is the view from insde the curve. 37401 passes the old goods yard with the 10.48 Holyhead-Birmingham on 30th March 2000....
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On the other side of the arch was Conway Station, demolished years ago. A completely new station was being built when 31143 was photographed passing the site with the Wylfa Nuclear Flasks on 15th April 1987...
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Taken in the worst of light, how could I not include this shot of a King and castle! 6024 King Edward I heads the return Holyhead-Cleethorpes special through the famous arch on6th March 1999...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
Reminincent of thirty years before, Metro-Cammell DMU No. 101685 drones past Conway Castle with the 13.25 Llandudno-Holyhead on 15th August 1997...
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With Deganwy across the Conwy estuary, 37 422 Robert F. Fairley climbs away from Conwy ewith the12.03 Birmingham New Streeet- Holyhead on 15th August 1999....
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37420 has just emerged from the tunnel west of Conway Morfa with the12.22 Bangor-Crewe on 8th august 1998. The new A55 Expressway tunnel can be seen on the left while the Chester-bound carraigeway still has to negotiate its way around the mountain side with severe speed restrictions...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
I had been using a Fujica digital camera in parallel with film for a couple of years, but Canon's Digital SLR's had suddenly dropped below silly prices in 2004 and I went 100% digital with a Canon 300D in the September. It was a curious move when my interest in ralway photography was at its lowest. The shot below is from my very last roll of film showing 57301 Scot Tracy passing Penmaenbach with the Virgin 08.35 Euston-Holyhead on 21st July 2004.
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
Class 60 No. 60006 British Steel Scunthorpe getting into its stride with a block train of ballast soon after leaving the quarry yard at Penmaenmawr on 26th May 1999...

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A lot of power for 4 wagons. After all the new liveries, it became neat to see a plain corporate blue Class 31. Nos.31255 and 31434 were approaching Penmanemawr on 5th September 1996. Judging by the grass, it had been a hot dry summer...
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31233 Severn Valley Railway and 31201 leacing the new 'tunnel' under the A55 Expressway bound for Edge Hill on 23rd June 1996...
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Soon after transfer to Bescot, 37695 leaves Penmaenmawr with ballast past 37452 storming through with the 11.18 Crewe Bangor on 2nd October 1996...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
A long way from its original home patch, 37025 Inverness TMD minus large arrows heads for Penmaenmawr Quarry on a hot 4th June 1996...

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A friendly wave to the signalbox from the driver of 33001 as it sped through Penmaenmawr station with the 14.17 Bangor-Cardiff on 25th July 1985. The promenade facilities were shortly to disappear under the A55 Expressway...
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Showing the old way of doing things, 40135 draws into Penmaenmawr station before setting back over a crossover in oder to access the quarry yard behind the Up platform on a damp overcast 11th November 1985. Accompanied by fellow photographer Ron Watson Jones, we rode around the yard on this loco.....
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At the other end of the scale, we have Class66 No.66096 passing Penmaenmawr with old ballast at the end of a days track relaying at Aber on 4th March 2001...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
A low-light setting sun shot of 37414 Cathays C&W Works 1846-1993 speeding through Penmaenmawr with the 14.30 Holyhead-Crewe on a bitterly cold 2nd February 1994. 37503 was in the yard taking on ballast...WEB Chester 73G.jpg

Better weather and lighting for EW&S 37418 entering Penmaenmawr with the 11.22 Bangor-Crewe past Mainline liveried 37371 waiting to leave the yard on 4th March 1997...
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The 13.16 Llandudno Junction-Holyhead local stopping train passing the 'Little Chef' on 22nd November 1994...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
An small example of the variety in the quarry yard on stone working.31286 draws it loaded wagons away from the hopper on 20th May 1986 while 25278 waits its turn after arriving with empties. This was one of the first appearances of a Class 31 on these workings. Of note are the old platforms were wagons were once loaded from narrow gauge quarry wagons... WEB Chester 72F.jpg

22nd February 1986...No one expected to see Class 40's again in Pen' yard at this late date, but 40135 and three others of the class were taken out of storage for remodelling of Crewe Station. Despite cracks in its bogies, the loco soldiered on for another 9 months before final withdrawal...
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20090 and 20104 resplendant in new Railfreight colours were another first in the yard on 25th July 1985...
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From parcels to ballast for Res Class 47's No. 47476 Night Mail and 47496 taking on ballast bound for Carnforth on Thursday 24th September 1998...
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A picture that was only available for a short time off a temporary footbridge while the station footbridge was being refurbished. 31203 and 31188 have 27 newly repainted wagons in tow at the loading facility on 22nd July 1996. This picture shows clearly how much of the original yard was lost to the new A55 road. Also the fake 'building' on the up platform was the back wall of the original waiting shelter. The road dives into a tunnel while the railways goes further around the headland before entering a much shorter tunnel...
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LarryG

Western Thunderer
This is the other end of the 231 yards lon Pen-Y-Cip tunnel under the headland of Penmaenmawr. Owing ot quarrying operation, the railway was built as close to the sea as possible resulting in a short viaduct over the sea (at high tide). An unidentified Class 31 passes with the 17.17 Crewe-Bangor on 24th august 1998. The A55 road built in the 1930's can be seen higher up the towering mountain. I got out in the water by stone-hopping...
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Looking down on Pen-Y-Clip viaduct, 37420 The Scottish Hosteller crosses the sea as the tide comes in on 18th July 1996. The sun needs to be high in the sky for this shot due to the mountain. The intrepid photographer must be prepared for some climbing up deteriorating ladders, however, a much higher view is available from the road...
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Another ladder climbing session to obtain this view. 37403 Isle of Mull comes off the viaduct with the 16.21 Crewe-Bangor on 15th July 1999. I slipped on the green slime seen down on the shore and was covered from head to toe with the stuff, such is the price we pay for exploring numpty locations...
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