This month has seen me out and about far more than for a very long time, and along with other happenings here, I'm feeling much happier and more positive due to my regular trips. I hadn't planned to be out today, but a check mid-week remarkably saw cheap tickets still available for Easter services. Took the opportunity to follow up on a gensheet posting about diversions via Middlewich and headed for the north west. So, after a freezing early start, settled into fully reliveried 220001 for the journey to Birmingham, noting FGW's reformed 158950 on it's first day in service at Bristol. After that, a quiet, rather sleepy journey up to New Street.

Changed at Birmingham for a Liverpool service operated by one of London Midland's Class 350. Bit of a livery cavalcade today, with a variety of versions of their green in evidence at New Street. Another quiet and quick run up to Crewe in cold but bright weather. On arrival, greeted by 67003 manoeuvring in the station. Otherwise a very quiet, very cold and windy morning. Had well over an hour to kill with very little happening except for a parade of Pendolino's, not going all the way today due to the much-publicised weekend of WCML closures. Finally the quiet was broken by 60076 appearing from Basford Hall with a ballast train. Wandered off to find my next service.

In fact, finding the 12:26 to Llandudno was far from easy. The departure boards failed to mention the train at all, and an enquiry with Virgin staff met with an equally blank response. I showed my reservation, at which the staff-member's eye's brightened: "Ah, yes - you need to catch a bus for Chester. Over there on the Horse Landing". I wandered off in despair and semi-concerned my journey had been wasted. Having checked the journey planner before leaving I noted that the service was due to leave platform 1 so I made my way over. Soon enough, a Voyager appeared from the Derby line and the screens advertised the service, although it still failed to show on the departure boards. Once onboard, noted I was the only passenger in First aside from a railwayman learning the road. After checking I knew it would take nearly an hour to Chester, the Train Manager kindly fetched tea and biscuits, and we were soon off! Took the branch at Sandbach onto what appeared to be freshly maintained track. Middlewich was, I recall, once a fairly common diversionary route - but the controversial and botched resignalling here has left it out of use for some years. Once past the Hays Chemicals plant, little to see until the salt works with it's strangely lunar landscape. A flurry of snow as we passed Middlewich loop, the site of the station and a fairly sizeable settlement. After a slow crawl onwards, we reached Northwich South Junction, with the chord leading out to the station in very poor repair. We took the curve towards Mouldsworth and were soon making somewhat faster progress towards Mickle Trafford Junction and then Chester.

Greeted by 67029 at Chester, for the first time in it's history in a photographable position as far as I'm concerned! Decent light due to a break in the clouds, so got some shots before wandering out of the station. Soon got cold and returned for coffee and a sandwich before heading for the Holyhead-Cardiff service I was planning to catch home. Very busy on arrival with passengers from the ferry, we left a few minutes down due to the unloading time. Via Wrexham and onto the Marches at Shrewsbury. A little south of here the steel-grey clouds closed in and we found ourselves heading into a blizzard. Quite stunning views of the hills capped with snow as we passed. Arrived at Newport on time, to find that once again FGW had cancelled my train onwards. Resigned myself to an hour's cold wait. Glad to have finally achieved this unusual diversionary route though.