70. Work visit to the northwest-01.11.21

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2021 > 70. Work visit to the northwest-01.11.21

I had to visit north Wales, Chester and then Winsford to collect some car parts for work. Encompassing a little work and play I took the opportunity to stop off and get a few railway images despite the miserable weather!

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Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.

Mostyn signal box (LNW, 1902)
The Grade II listed Mostyn signal box still stands proudly and appears to be in good condition despite being closed four years ago in 2017. Its closure was a year prior to the wholesale resignalling of the North Wales coast line that took place a year later. The former L&NWR type 4 box was opened in 1902 being named Mostyn Number One until 1942 when the Number Two box was closed.
Keywords: Mostyn signal box LNW London and North Western Railway

Mostyn station (Closed)
In 1981 I surveyed the North Wales coastal route on my summer trip with Graham and took a photograph of the closed Mostyn station building. Back then, the station building was empty and derelict in stark contrast to how it looks in this image, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30035069761/mostyn-station-closed. This view shows the 1848 Chester and Holyhead building in happier times now restored and in use as a private dwelling. The station was shut by British Railways in 1966 after a steady run down in services. It once boasted four platforms and a footbridge and like many Victorian stations was vastly oversized for the community it served; in the case of Mostyn, a small village.
Keywords: Mostyn station

Former goods shed, Mostyn
The former goods shed at Mostyn still stands and is in use by business. In the background is a large warehouse that is part of the small Mostyn Docks complex that is one of the oldest ports in the country still in use. Today it is the home to a number of industries associated with the off-shore wind energy industry.
Keywords: Former goods shed Mostyn

Frontage, Chester station
Back in 1981 I took a very similar image to this of the frontage of Chester station. I will scan and upload the image presently so comparisons can be made. The fine station was constructed by the Chester and Holyhead Railway being designed by the architect Francis Thompson, and constructed by Thomas Brassey. It took exactly a year to construct opening on 01.08.1848 to great acclaim by the locals who now had access to large areas of the country by rail directly from Chester. Today it is a busy station but I was denied access to the platforms by gate staff without first securing permission from customer services, frankly, I couldn't be bothered so I had a quick coffee and left!
Keywords: Frontage Chester station

350130, LN 13.08 Liverpool Lime street-Birmingham New Street (1G15, 11L), Winsford station
Running a little late 350130 drifts into Winsford station working the 13.08 Liverpool to Birmingham London Northwestern service. With very basic facilities, Winsford station is not the most welcoming and attractive of places, especially on a miserable November afternoon!
Keywords: 350130 13.08 Liverpool Lime street-Birmingham New Street 1G15 Winsford station London Northwestern Desiro

390131, VT 12.47 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston (1A35, 53L), Winsford station
An example of my desire to get a new camera with a higher minimum shutter but still as compact and as excellent as the Canon G1X that is my 'go to' machine. 1:2000/second does not quite freeze 390131 'City of Liverpool' as it passes through Winsford station with the 12.47 Liverpool to Euston 1A35 express.
Keywords: 390131 12.47 Liverpool Lime Street-London Euston 1A35 Winsford station City of Liverpool

7. 390141, VT unidentified down working, Winsford station
Despite all of the technology available I have been unable to identify this northbound Pendolino working as it passes Winsford. Nothing in either RTT or Rail Record fitted the time or could place 390141 anywhere near this location and believe me I spent some time trawling through the data and exploring all sorts of strange scenarios that could have caused this! Notice the pair of light engine Class 66s sitting in the loop towards the rear of the mystery working waiting for access to the two-track section of the mainline that acts as a significant bottleneck between Winsford South to Weaver Junctions.
Keywords: 390141 unidentified down working Winsford station Class 390 Pendolino Avanti West Coast

66050 & 66124, 13.45 Crewe TMD-Arpley Sidings (0Z42, 6E), Winsford station
With the driver of 66050 'EWS Energy' doing nothing for its fuel consumption and its emissions it accelerates extremely fast away from being held in the down loop at Winsford South Junction; perhaps the locomotive's name had encouraged his over-enthusiastic use of the power handle? The cloud of exhaust trailing the pair of locomotives (66124 on the rear) was also excessive but is not particularly clear in this photograph. The pair had just left Crewe as the 13.34 light engine move to Arpley (Warrington) as 0Z42.
Keywords: 66050 66124 13.45 Crewe TMD-Arpley Sidings 0Z42 Winsford station EWS DB EWS Energy

88001 & 88006, 12.16 DIRFT-Mossend (4S44, 7E), Winsford station
It was worth the wait! I had been tracking the progress of the 4S44 12.16 Daventry to Mossend knowing that it was usually double-headed and was pleased when it passed with 88001 'Revolution' as it was a photographic cop. With 88006 'Juno' assisting the pair are seen making good progress past Winsford station with a long and well-loaded train.
Keywords: 88001 88006 12.16 DIRFT-Mossend 4S44 Winsford station DRS Direct Rail Services Revolution Juno

350376, LN 14.05 Birmingham New Street-Liverpool Lime Street (1F46, 6L), Cassey bridge
As my drive home took me along the A500 Crewe southern relief road I thought that I would take a dive off it and call in at Cassey bridge just south of Basford Hall. However, on arrival, I consulted my 'phone and found that I had missed a number of recent freight workings. With nothing of interest due for a while, a long drive ahead of me and having just changed the clocks, a rapidly darkening late afternoon I decided to head for home. I managed a record shot of 350376 leading another Desiro on the 1F46 14.05 Birmingham to Liverpool service.
Keywords: 350376 14.05 Birmingham New Street-Liverpool Lime Street 1F46 Cassey bridge London Northwestern Desiro

Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.