25th October 2014

Virgin Trains
The Welsh Warrior

Locos Used 37419 'Carl Haviland', 37682 & 57302 'Chad Varah'
Stock Used 12011+12078+12133+12122+12138+10212+11007+11018+11048+17159

Route :
1Z57 : Crewe to Holyhead
1Z58 : Holyhead to North Llanrwst
1Z59 :  North Llanrwst to Crewe

Loco(s) Route
57302 (1) Crewe - Gresty Green
37682 + 37419 (2) Gresty Green - Salop Goods Jn - Crewe North Jn - Sydney Bridge Jn - Sandbach - Middlewich - Northwich South Jn - Northwich West Jn - Greenbank - Mouldsworth - Mickle Trafford - Chester - Prestatyn - Rhyl - Colwyn Bay - Llandudno Junction - Bangor - Holyhead
57302 (1) Holyhead - Bangor - Llandudno Junction - Tal-y-Cafn - North Llanrwst
37682 + 37419 (2) North Llanrwst - Tal-y-Cafn - Llandudno Junction
37419 (2) Llandudno Junction - Deganwy - Llandudno
57302 (3) Llandudno - Deganwy - Llandudno Junction
57302 (1) Llandudno Junction - Colwyn Bay - Rhyl - Prestatyn - Chester
37682 + 37419 (2) Chester - Wrexham General - Ruabon - Gobowen - Shrewsbury - Wellington - Telford Central - Madeley Jn - Cosford - Stafford Road Jn - [Oxley Chord] - Bushbury Jn - Stafford - Norton Bridge - Madeley - Basford Hall Jn - Crewe

Notes : 
(1) 37682 + 37419 on rear.
(2) 57302 on rear.
(3) 37419 on rear.
(4) This tour was a farewell special for the Virgin Trains Mk III set, also known as the 'Pretendolino', and raised money for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Source : Joe Loughlin (on the tour throughout)

Photo Review


37682 & 37419 are seen here at Crewe in the morning (photo: Joe Loughlin)


57302 in bright early-afternoon sunshine at Holyhead (photo: Joe Loughlin)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Realtime Trains)

Location Booked Actual
Crewe 08.26d [P11] 08.26 [P11]
Gresty Lane 08/28 08/28
Gresty Green [Up Loop] 08.32 ~ 08.42 ?
Gresty Lane 08/46 08/42
Salop Goods Jn 08/49 [IL] ?
Crewe North Jn 08/51 ?
Sydney Bridge Jn 08/55 [DS] 08/53
Sandbach 09/01 [P3] 09/00
Middlewich 09/14 09/15
Northwich South Jn 09/30 ?
Northwich West Jn 09/32 ?
Hartford East Jn 09/34½ ?
Greenbank 09/36 09/41
Hartford C.L. Jn 09/37½ ?
Mouldsworth 09/50 09/52
Mickle Trafford 09/55 09/59
Chester 10.01a ~ 10.10d [P3] [DM] 10.05 ~ 10.11
Chester South Jn 10/11 ?
Saltney Jn 10/13 10/14
Shotton LL 10/18 10/19
Rockcliffe Hall 10/20 10/21
Holywell Jn 10/26 10/27
Prestatyn 10/35½ ?
Rhyl 10/39 10/45
Colwyn Bay 10/49 ?
Llandudno Junction 10/54 [P4] 11/01
Penmaenmawr 11/01 ?
Bangor 11.12a ~ 11.15d [P2] 11.19 ~ 11.22
Menai Bridge 11/19 ?
Llanfairpwll 11/22 ?
Gaerwen 11/25 ?
Valley 11/38 ?
Holyhead 11.45a ~ 12.52d [P1] 11.46 ~ 12.52
Valley 12/59 13/01
Gaerwen 13/12 13/15
Llanfairpwll 13/14½ ?
Menai Bridge 13/16½ ?
Bangor 13.21a ~ 13.23d [P1] 13.25 ~ 13.27
Penmaenmawr 13/34 13/37
Llandudno Junction 13.42a ~ 13.54d [P3] 13.45 ~ 13.56
Tal-y-Cafn 14.02 ~ 14.03 ?
North Llanrwst 14.15a ~ 14.35d 14.25 ~ 14.35
Tal-y-Cafn 14/48 ?
Llandudno Junction 14.57a ~ 15.07d [P3] 14.59 ~ 15.09
Deganwy 15/10½ ?
Llandudno 15.15a ~ 16.58d [P3] 15.19 ~ 17.04
Deganwy 17/02½ ?
Llandudno Junction 17.06a ~ 17.22d [P1] 17.12 ~ 17.23
Colwyn Bay 17/28 ?
Rhyl 17/37 [P1] 17/38
Prestatyn 17/40 ?
Holywell Jn 17/48 17/48
Rockcliffe Hall 17/54 17/53
Shotton LL 17/56½ 17/54
Saltney Jn 18/03 17/59
Chester South Jn 18/05 [UF] ?
Chester 18.07a ~ 18.15d [P4] 18.03 ~ 18.18 [P4]
Chester South Jn 18/16½ ?
Saltney Jn 18/19 18/22
Wrexham General 18/32 [P1] 18/36
Ruabon 18/37 ?
Gobowen 18/45 18/49
Shrewsbury 19/07 [UM] 19/10
Abbey Foregate Jn 19/07½ ?
Wellington 19/21 [UM] 19/22
Telford Central 19/26½ 19/26
Madeley Jn 19/28 19/27
Cosford 19/33 19/35
Stafford Road Jn 19/42 19/50
Bushbury Jn 19/57 20/03
Trent Valley Jn 20/10 20/15
Stafford 20.12a ~ 20.14d [P5] [DS] 20.16 ~ 20.19
Stafford North Jn 20/15 [DS-DF] ?
Norton Bridge 20/21 [DF] 20/25
Madeley 20/30 [DF] 20/33
Basford Hall Jn 20/35 20/39
Crewe 20.39a [P12] 20.44 [P12]


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