'North Wales Coast Express' at Wilmslow and Mobberley

We fired up the little bikes early (for us on a Sunday!) this morning to see a steam locomotive in our area. The 'North Wales Coast Express' originated at Crewe hauled by a class 47 diesel locomotive, with Black Five 45231 'The Sherwood Forester' on the rear, calling at Wilmslow at 10:00 en route for Manchester Piccadilly. At Piccadilly, the train reversed and the Black Five became the train engine with the 47 on the rear. The route from Manchester was back to Stockport, then on to the Mid Cheshire Line via Altrincham and Mobberley to Chester, and then via the North Wales coast line to Holyhead.

We (me, Malc, Ivan; the usual suspects) were at Wilmslow in plenty of time to see it.

'The Sherwood Forester' on the rear of 'The North Wales Coast Express' at Wilmslow this morning

On the journey into Manchester the loco had little work to do as the Class 47 diesel at the front of the train took the strain

Black Fives were not usually named in BR steam days. This one acquired its name when it was preserved following its years as a BR workhorse. 842 Black Fives  were built, and 45231, built in 1936, was one of 227built by Armstrong Whitworth.

45231's crew can relax for now, but they will be working hard once the train leaves Manchester

After a hearty breakfast at 'The Bollin Fee' we rode the little bikes through Morley Green to Mobberley, where we caught 45231 again, this time heading the train along the Mid Cheshire Line to North Wales

We also saw this 175 unit, not a type normally seen on this line. Presumably it was a diversion from the Chat Moss line during Sunday electrification work there.

Malc's Yamaha Townmate, Malc, my Honda C90, Ivan's Honda SS50, and Ivan by the stile where we took the Mobberley lineside pictures

Time for a lunchtime pint at the appropriately named pub in Mobberley, complete with a home signal by the bowling green!

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