A day of contrast…

Sunday was the first ‘nice day’ for some time. That wasn’t the reason I was heading out the door shortly after 8 though, no, that was much bigger, and noisier…

A few weeks ago I visited Penmaenmawr for the first time in 30 years to watch a Colas Class 70 on the quarry train. On Saturday night I spotted a photo on Facebook of a DC Railfreight 60 loading that morning… checking Real Time Trains it seemed its patch south was Sunday morning…

In all the years if my life I had never witnessed a 60 in motion. Consulting my spotters book shows I saw a few, either I suspect, at Crewe or on my travels, these beasts, these exciting animals, the last British built heavy freight locomotive, the real life Christmas Present from Lima, these machines had evaded my attention, my first hand experience.

The news GBRf had stood down their 10, and the future was uncertain for the remaining examples was good enough to get me on the road. In a lovely twist, my partner Janey decided to join me… 

We left the valley blanketed in the usual cloud we’ve experienced most days this winter - but things worsened as we headed along the A5 towards Eryri… drizzle, thick drizzle. More than intermittent, less than constant wiper weather. Warm conversation and heated seats, a welcome and unexpected shared experience.

As we pulled into Penmaenmawr my partner says, is that it? Winding down the window to hear 60055 make an early departure we turned and retraced our steps quickly to Conwy… captured on the same straight as the Class 70, making easy work of the 15 loads (the back 5 or so wagons were empty)… a cheerful toot from the driver was a lovely touch and made up, slightly, for missing the departure up close.

Back home in the valley and steam was running in the valley and another childhood favourite, my Bachmann (ex Mainline) Pannier, saved up for from Birthday money, was on four Mk1s and I had an invitation to join fellow Dee Valley News editor (the Llangollen Railway magazine) in the box at Glyndyfrdwy for a catch up. A lovely way to spend an hour…

It feels as if the worst of the dark days of winter are once more behind me - and experiences like this go some way to rebuilding my resilience to the every day. It was wonderful to share my passion for railways with my partner and then later, a good friend, and now, with you. 

Until next time, more soon…

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