North Wales Coast Express

Video of Ollie on the outward run at four locations;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghmUsN7Rq2A

 

Great shots Ralph of 70013 in top form again. I think she could easily drown out the the jet engines with her exhaust!

 

Saw 70013 today at Frodsham, on the viaduct & at the station, followed by a journey down the coast to Talacre at Point of Ayr. Point of Ayr use to be a popular location for me of seeing the regular NWCE during the summer years between 1989 and 1991 when my grandparents use to live in a caravan. My photos have been sent to Charlie Hume, who runs the North Wales Coast Railway website.

 

Mobile phone noise must have been a text alert from Railtours Live *runs for cover---------------------->*

 

Thanks for that Ralph. At least going up the new line to 12 arches the gradient is off the end of the platform at Bank Q, lovely sound.

 

Inspite of a relatively poor forecast, I decided to follow Cromwell along the coast today, as it's probably the only chance I'll get to do a NWCE this year. The weather turned out much better than I'd expected, but it was a really frustrating day, as the clouds seemed to thwart us at most of the better locations and when the sun did play ball the exhaust disappeared. At least 70013 seemed to be on really good form, sounding very loud, and putting in some very fast running which will live long in the memory. Anyhow, I did manage a few reasonable pics and this one leaving Llandudno in the evening is probably my favourite:
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An excellent, excellent day out with Ollie yesterday! J We had the company of a Duff all day on the back, couldn’t be helped I suppose, but it didn’t retract from a great day out! I was as in coach 8 going out of Lime Street and the duff was ticking over as Ollie blasted up to Edge Hill, so, equivalent load 13 up the bank. One small slip crossing over to the slow – we were in platform 7, Virgin’s own - and then sure, steady and deep throated progress thereafter.

Arrived Chester 30 mins early, easy enough with 20 mins allowed for the last three miles into Chester! Then we were sent out behind a stopper which we soon caught up. We were then treated to some fine accelerations by 13. J Stopped at Colwyn Bay for quite a while and on getting away the duff put a bit on, no more than shifting it’s own weight, to get us away on the canted curve. I baled at Llandudno, the ‘delights’ of Holyhead I decided against.

The return was magnificent and money well spent. Now I was three coaches back and I could hear Ollie in all his splendour. Blasting out of CB up the 1 in 100 to Llysafaen tunnel was exhilarating, everyone on the prom stopped to look up at this fine sight, and then it was flat out along the coast. Aberegele was a blur and passing Rhyl well, I would have loved to have been on the platform as Ollie screamed through, what a sight that must have been! (On video, up later) The same was kept up all the way to Chester.

The rest was easy. The short, sharp curving climb to Earlestown, produced a couple of slips but it was starting to rain now and then it rained quite heavily all the way back to Liverpool. Too soon Ollie was on the blocks back in platform 7, sitting there quietly in the main platform, steam drifting up from the drain cocks, being photographed by the transport police that were on duty and filmed, on phone, by the local plod and that was it, Lime Street was deserted, it being 22.30 on a Sunday night. I just stopped and stared. If I squinted, it could have been the early 60’s and Ollie was covering a London failure of a class 40. Oh, hum…..

Alan.

 

Even on vibrate/silent a live mobile can still cause RF interference with a mic. When I'm doing sound my mobile is switched off.

 

Yes Ralph, there was a water problem at Llan. The hoses were laid out, but either the water was a trickle or nothing was coming out and the hoses were packed away. This was on the far down platform.

Alan.

 

Found this good pacing clip near Colwyn Bay:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKxk9yhmxzU

 

A great day out behind a very famous locomotive. For those interested Albert Seymour drove on the outward leg and Kevin Treeby on the return.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64454718@N05/sets/72157627387268054/

 

My effort is now up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqYy_Zalf5w

Alan.

 

Found a good clip at Rhyl station when Ollie shot through! Clip at 1.40

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSOE2ub5TWY&feature=related

Alan.

 

Just to confirm 70013 booked for the next trip (ND)

 

Thanks for the update Ray.

I'm off this coming weekend and I hope the weather improves for those travelling and out and about to see Ollie.

Neil