Photo: © UD.
Dispite being booked for haulage by Class 47/4 locos, the dual braked/ dual heat Mark I stock used on the four diagrams between Manchester and North Wales were oftan in the hands of Class 40 locos during the summer of 1982. Here, 40025 arrives at Prestatyn with the 1D34 0745 Manchester Victoria - Bangor service, image dated 4th Sept 1982.
Photo: © UD.
40106 was the only member of Class 40 never to carry the standard BR Blue livery, and as such gained something of a cult following. Dispite its lack of air brake equipment it was a reqular on passinger turns until its withdrawl. Here we see 40106 departing Warrington Bank Quay and onwards towards North Wales hauling the 1D29 1045 Manchester Victoria - Holyhead service on 1st Sept 1982. This loco is now preserved.
Photo: © UD.
Some of the summer dated holiday trains were still booked for Class 40 haulage at this time. One such duty was the 1E86 0900 SO Llandudno - York. On the 4th of Sept 1982, this service is seen at Prestatyn in the hands of 40035, the former Apapa.
Photo: © UD.
Besides the Class 40, all varieties of Class 47 could also be found at work over the route. Here 47151 enters Flint with the 1V33 1417 Bangor - Cardiff service on the 19/8/85. By this date, Class 33s were making daily visits to the route and 1V33 was one turn booked for such a engine. 47151 was soon to be fitted with ETH equipment and renumbered as 47648 and later, with the addition of twin fuel tanks, renumbered yet again to 47850, since withdrawn.