39. A trip to Chester-08-11.06.22

My wife and I travelled up from Milton Keynes but after missing our booked train we arrived a little later than anticipated (and a little lighter thanks to having to buy a replacement ticket!). After we had settled into our hotel room I went for a quick evening walk camera in hand.

After a busy day's shopping, my wife had to go back to the hotel and lay down! I took the opportunity to go to the station for an hour or so. Now I knew from my previous visit to Chester station that it is not very 'enthusiast friendly' with spotters and photographers having to seek permission from the station supervisor who then has to issue some sort of permit. To get around this ridiculous situation I simply bought a modern-day platform ticket, a return ticket to Bache that I did not use for travel but merely permitting me to pass in and out through the barrier. Something that I did not spot until I came to 'process' the images is that all those photographed on this summer's afternoon was that they all were due for imminent replacement with the railway face of Chester about to look very different.

Whilst my wife was readying herself for the day ahead I took an early morning run out to one of my favourite stations, Helsby. The reason that I never tyre of visiting this seemingly unassuming station is its superb array of mechanical signalling controlled by the platform located Helsby Junction signal box. I was only there for an hour or so but sitting on a bench on the platform in the sun with a coffee and listening to the sounds of the box in action was a real tonic!

 

Our journey home was pretty uneventful but for some extremely busy trains heading to Chester carry racegoers to the Edinburgh Gin Summer Saturday at the city's racecourse. The station itself was absolutely rammed with rather overdressed individuals heading to the course complete with a fair amount of noise and high spirits!