Today’s video focuses on The North Wales Coast Express, hauled by WR Castle Class 7029 Clun Castle! 7029 Was hauling this special operated by Vintage Trains from Tyseley to Llandudno in place of 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, and it was far too good a proposition to miss. The tour was heading via Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Crewe and Chester then along the North Wales Coast Line. Sadly on the outward it was diesel hauled from Chester to Llandudno, but on the return 7029 was given the chance to show North Wales what she does best! This was also my first trip to North Wales ever!
I headed out at 7:26 from my local to Birmingham New Street, where we set up on Platform 1 and view the train pulling into Platform 2 before giving a shouty departure; becoming a close call for me with a 158! After this I raced over to Platform 8 for the 8:34 train to Penkridge (meeting ‪@blackcountrysteamvideos8021‬ at Smethwick) where I alighted and set up. Clun Castle came through at her customary extremely high speed; knocking over my tripod! Thankfully I noticed and caught it, and only the diesel was obscured from the camera so in all it didn’t do any harm. Then we headed up to Stafford on a 350, meeting ‪@LiamsLocos‬, then grabbing a 390 the rest of the way up to Crewe, before a 153 took us to Chester. I stayed at the station, opting to see her pulling into the through line in the sun and heading off when given the road to turn. From here I was no longer chasing as it was diesel hauled, but I had by now met‪@harnettyrailways‬so the four of us headed for Deganwy to catch 7029 running light from Llandudno to Llandudno Junction for servicing.
At this point Richard headed back towards Chester, Luke and Liam went to Llandudno, and I stayed in Deganwy for a good Fish and Chips! I then took the 14:47 TfW service over to Abergele and Pensarn where I had a rest on the beach for a bit. After some time I set up to watch Clun Castle thrashing her way along the line at quite some pace, really showing me and the other spectators what she's capable of, beating cars alongside her on the A55 and giving a lengthy whistle for Abergele and Pensarn Station. After this I took the 18:05 service to Manchester Airport with Luke and Liam to Chester, alighting, then heading to Crewe, changing again for a 350 back towards the Midlands. Luke and Liam opted for Penkridge, but I stayed on and headed to Tame Bridge Parkway, which seemed to be a bit of a mistake when a late running 350 decided it wasn't in any hurry to leave my platform, pretty much obscuring the view. At that I headed home, arriving back at about 22:40.
In all an excellent day appears to have been had by all, thank you to everyone involved, TfW, NR, Avanti, LNWR, to VT and 7029's crew, to all the friends I met and people I spoke to! Although the weather wasn't always perfect we seemed to be able to make the best of it, and I hope you enjoy like I did!!