Report For The Trip On Friday 4th April 2003
Some six years on from the first recorded day
trip to Bangor and here we are again!
It seems an absolute age since the 37/4s plied the North Wales Coast as well as
an equally absolute age since they finished along the route.
Their replacements, the 175s, have never really been a shining example of
reliability, so much so that the 31st March saw the reintroduction of locomotive
hauled trains along the coast (again!).
As time has gone on the rest of the railway scene has been somewhat decimated
with the demise of diesel hauled trains just about everywhere else as Virgin
introduced their nice new "shops".
So, we are somewhat restricted in light of this as to how to reach the Coast
services.
Fortunately the 08:57 off Derby is HST powered and easily makes the 10:21
Birmingham - Holyhead (1D67).
Today sees a solo outing with Mr Bennett in attendance. Indeed due entirely to
the woeful inadequacies of the local omnibus concern said 08:57 was missed.
Faced with the 09:08 for Cardiff (a 156) or the 09:20 for Bournemouth (a shop)
156408 was duly boarded for the run to Birmingham.
Before long 1D67 appeared with the rather excellent 47746 in charge. Needless to
say the locomotive was hardly strained with just four vehicles in tow!! (Horrid
memories of Edinburgh - Dundee moves when a 47/0 would appear instead of a
27!!).
47746 leaving Bangor
On the subject of Scotland today's other hauled turn is in the hands of 47773. Previously 47541, which was a dual heat device, based at Edinburgh Haymarket. It was in this guise (xd HA) the last time Mr B travelled behind it! The other notable item about 541 is that it was the first 47 to carry the name "The Queen Mother". The name was transferred to 47722 which lost them when it went on hire from EWS to Virgin Trains receiving the latter's livery in the process. 47773 has now been reunited with its name.
The dead line at Crewe has altered considerably; that one time guardian 47547
has actually moved away having occupied the area for a very long time. 547 is
now at Tyseley. The Scottish Hosser (or 37420) presented a somewhat forlorn
sight, its Coast days well and truly over. Indeed, on a slightly related note,
the one time "Chester Spare" (37415) is to be withdrawn imminently.
One minor disaster is that 1D67 does not call at Bae Colwyn meaning a minor
re-think where the Wings Club is concerned.
On arrival in Bangor the traditional fast Tacsi was promptly taken to the Tap
& Spile. A fairly standard range of beers (Bass, Greene King Abbot and IPA),
evidently the monthly guest beer order had failed at the office end of
proceedings.
From here a swift visit to the Eryn Mor Hotel where a most uninspiring range of,
erm, beer was available including Theakston "Cool Cask". The pump clip
proclaims this is chilled to 10 degrees. Said quantity of therms was not
offensive although the taste left rather a lot to be desired. Somehow chilled
chips sprang readily to mind as said "Cool Cask" displayed a hint of
"Cool Vinegar".
Back to normality with the next venue, the famed Union which is still in the
care of John plus wife. Proper pies are still the order of the day as the sign
suggests!!!!
The Burtonwood bitter is still on very top form at £1.80 per Imperial Pint.
Charles Wells Bombardier was also available as guest ale.
A disturbing report suggests The Harp is closed due (at least) to structural
difficulties. We say it is more due to Wetherspoons being across the road. How
on earth can a proper licensee compete with these supermarkets??????? Still, the
highly rateable Space Invaders device is still in traffic in The Union and it is
still 10p per game!!!!!
Next on the agenda was the Hogshead which stands opposite Bangor Cathedral
(47849 was named Bangor Cathedral at one point). The mighty really have fallen
given the most uninspiring range of beers available in the history of
uninspiring beers! It would appear that the once credible guest ale policy is no
more.
Next is The Albion which stands opposite The Fat Cat, one time head office of
that chain until they acquired a site in Derby (!). Only Burtonwood bitter
available here. Although drinkable the quality was far removed from the
excellence of The Union. One impressive (?) item was Ethel trying to double her
pension on the Thunderbirds fruit machine.
Next came the sheer horror of the JD Wetherspoon "empire". The Harp is
closed and also happens to be FOR SALE. Said empire occupies the former chapel
across the road which has been knocked into some equally former shops.
In short The Harp has become nothing more than a MURDER VICTIM of this once
admirable chain. We say 'admirable' as Wetherspoons started out on a quest to
provide real ale outlets in places where such ales would have been unavailable.
The Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) quite naturally loved this move as indeed did
many drinkers.
Profit et al have become the order of the day now insofar as Wetherspoons are
concerned. Rather than continuing to provide real ale in areas where it wouldn't
otherwise be available the chain are opening their retail outlets (they can
hardly be called pubs) just about everywhere thus killing off true pubs.
Purchasing beers in mass volume allows them to push it out at very low prices.
Indeed in the Bangor branch Courage Directors was on sale at £1.35 per pint.
Fine for the plebs but an unmitigated disaster for the true publican who simply
cannot compete and real public houses simply wither away - just as The Harp
seems to have done. We have to commend Betty for having the foresight to retire
from the business when she did nearly 2 years ago.
Next time you see CAMRA crying about the demise of real pubs you would do well
to put them firmly in their place as to one of the real reasons why.
Serious mode off now!
The 16:16 off Bangor was in the rather capable hands of 47773 (or even 47541!).
The last thing Mr B remembers is leaving Bae Colwyn - the next stumbling off the
train at Crewe!
Here 156416 was found on a service to Nottingham thus becoming the final leap of
the day.
Nominated Words & Phrases Of The Day
Brechdanau = Sandwiches
Talu i mewn = Paying In
Arian Cyfriflenni = Cash Statements
Return to the Day Trip To Bangor Index
Click here to see the report for the trip of 18th April 2003
Click here for the report archive (1998 - 2001)