British Rail North Wales Coast 1995-Classes 31, 37 & 47 at Fflint, Chester & Bangor

[@alanmolyneux5957]

I spent many happy days travelling along the North Wales Coast between 1995 and 2000. Although there was officially a pool of 37/4's allocated to these workings there were often surprises turned up. 37708 and 37375 are two memorable trips I recall. Oh to have those days back!

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

I spent a lot of Rest Days and Annual Leave from 95 to 2000 along there too.....Lots of weird locos appeared to cover for the official pool of 37s, Scottish 37/4s as well as plenty of freight ones, 31s, 47/9s and varoius Res 47s......happy days! There are a few of my films from that time already uploaded....

[@Shelfandtabletoplayouts00gauge]

Can’t believe I haven’t commented before 👍👍👍 fantastic video 👏🏻

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

Thank you......

[@alanmolyneux5957]

Prior to all the stock being transferred to North Wales workings in 199 I used to commute home from work on 17.12 Liverpool - Preston which was nearly always a 31/4. Only travelled as far as Prescot, but much better than a Pacer.

[@theimperialist2686]

Excellent railway video as always Soi Buakhao

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

Thanks, i aim to please......

[@ClydebridgeStation]

The two RES 47s, are not hauling the Crewe works test train. That's a normal RES working. During this period, RES used two 47s on some trains, especially TPOs, in case of failure. The Royal Mail contract had penalty clauses for delayed trains, and this was one way round the problem for RES. Both RES trains are double headed for this reason. Note that a couple of BGs are in the 1989 parcels sector red with yellow thin bands, and not RES livery.

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

The double headed 47 was the Crewe Works test train. One of the 47s is still on test while the other is insurance against failure. The stock used was a rake of Res stock standing idle during the day. There were no parcel train workings along the coast at this time. It ran as required, leaving Crewe after the morning peak, a straight out & back to Holyhead run. At that time Res were putting 47s through Crewe Works for overhaul......

[@ClydebridgeStation]

@@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus I understand now. Thanks for clearing it up. Good catch though!

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

@@ClydebridgeStation I seem to recall being on annual leave this week and was out along the coast all week, and saw this working most days....plus quite a few stand in locos on the passenger trains, 47/7s, 47/9s plus some non passenger pool 37/4s and of course lots of non passenger 31s! It was a good time to be bashing locos along this line in 1995.....happy days!

[@ClydebridgeStation]

@@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus maybe you should build a model railway layout that you can set in the era!

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

@@ClydebridgeStation I love model railways, as i can see from your channel that you do! I don't really have what it takes to build them, i do better with things in 1 to 1 scale! I was a driver with Trainload Freight and i have seen a model layout of Acton Yard that used to be on the model railway circuit, probably around 20 years back now. It was great and very realistic, i think they even had a model driver dossing on the bench outside the messroom.......lol

[@going2thedogs]

Double headed RES 47's - Wozza!

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

That was the Crewe Works test train. Res was putting 47s through works at this point and this train ran most weekdays.....

[@MatthewRailways50033]

Nice 5⭐video 👍👍👍😎

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

My plaesure.....

[@vincitveritas3872]

2.05 perfect stop

[@jamesfrench7299]

That's my kind of station with a tunnel portal either side. You could see the light on one of them. Driver of 31 556 reminded me of a bus depot inspector where I used to work. Same outfit. Soi, you have to take a look at this. It's the XPT only taken yesterday. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6rKZXuXib6qfZI

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

Thanks for the link, that looks a good vid. I'd love to get to Aus and film & ride behind them before they go.....but i can't see much travelling for a year or two and i think they'll be gone by then......

[@ClydebridgeStation]

This video confirms that RES trains were often double headed. Go to 3:20 on this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3mwZHSrfNCVgac

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

I never saw any Res workings double headed except in case of failure or as a stock move, and at this time i wasa driver with EWS in London and saw plenty of Res train workings. The one shown on the Exeter vid is doubled headed because of the Devon banks, 47s had no sanding gear and having one slip to a stand would indeed incur a penalty. I'm inclined to think this may be heading in to autumn with leaf fall an added problem. The China Clay train that ran to Scotland was worked in two parts from Burngullow to Exeter before joining up as one train again to head to Scotland for the same reason, the still gradients on the Devon banks,. The return empties had no such problems and worked back without splitting.

[@ClydebridgeStation]

@@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus the Devon banks being why, for many years, Hsts on one power car had to have loco assistance. And as you're a former RES driver, you'll know more about their working. Thanks for clearing it up.

[@EssexGayBoi]

other Cracking video Soi :D

[@SoiBuakhaoRoutemasterbus]

Thank you.....i was very desperate back then for video.....and haulage!