13 December: 37 401 Mary Queen of Scots is about to come off shed at Crewe to collect the empty stock for 1T50 15:30 to Holyhead, flanked by a 325 and 66 125, spotted on the Penmaenmawr ballast earlier in the day. (Alan Crawshaw)

Regular Contributors: Dave Sallery , Alan Crawshaw, Rowan Crawshaw, Dave Skipsey, John Lewis,  John Murray,  Tony Flusk,  John Dawson , Derick Norman, Tony Miles, Ian Bowland, Tim Rogers, Ivor Bufton, Alastair Graham, Mike Stone, Chris Pelling, Tim Proudman, 'Concrete Bob'  and Steve Vaughan.

LAST UPDATE: 14 December 2000

To the North Wales Coast main page : To The previous Noticeboard
Current Class 37/4 diagrams - our best estimate

Apparently drivers are not the only members of First North Western staff to be tempted away by better-paid jobs with other train companies. Tony Miles writes:  'David Franks, Managing Director of First North Western, is to be the MD of the GoVia South Central franchise  - from when it takes over from Connex South Central. I don't know when he'll be leaving FNW but has received a very good offer and basically GoVia wanted him at all costs. He has 11 months to run on his contract with First Group, but probably won't see it all out.

'Also Dave Kaye, another FNW Operations Director,  is to become MD of First Great Eastern from the Spring, as current MD Bob Breakwell is retiring. 'In a sense they are doing the right thing - the TransPennine, Northern and WalesRail TOCs will change everything anyway - and it will give the new companies a new start, whoever gets them.' - 14 December

66 125 speeds through Prestatyn with empty ballast wagons for Penmaenmawr, 13 December. (Rowan Crawshaw.)

We are pleased to announce that the inaugural meeting has been arranged for the afternoon of Saturday 16 December to be held at the The Anchor Pub, 308 Bradford Street, Digbeth, Birmingham. It is intended to start at around 14:00 and all of the committee will be in attendance so you can ask all those difficult questions!

Instructions on how to reach the location are below and also posted on the website and I am assured it is only a ten minute walk from Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Moor Street stations. If you would like to attend will you please email me ASAP so we can get a rough idea of how many to expect - this is so the landlord knows how many to prepare for!

Instructions on how to reach the Anchor pub are as follows from Birmingham New Street station:

Leave the station by the main glass doors by WH Smith. Pass the taxi rank on your right and at the end of the access road turn left towards the Rotunda. Follow the main footpath around until you reach a path through the building site on your right (the old Bull Ring) follow the path to the old Market and head accross the old market towards the church (I think it is sign posted for Digbeth High Street. Behind the church (St Martin's Church?) proceed along Moat Lane and at the end of Moat Lane follow the road to the right and cross Mill Lane into Bradford Street. The pub is on the corner of the next crossroads with Rea Street behind Digbeth Coach Station.

This area is undergoing large scale rebuilding at the moment so the route may differ a bit from what is described above!

Look forward to seeing you all there! - Matt Kitchin, Project Co-ordinator. Email matt@class37.free-online.co.uk Website: http://www.class37project.org.uk

The 01:53 Holyhead - Birmingham terminated Wolverhampton due to an AWS fault early on 13 December and was stabled in Wolverhampton's bay platform 4 for a time.

With reference to the notes about Saturday 9 December, Stafford - Stoke locals have not run for some weeks, allegedly due to the emergency speed restrictions, but I suspect actually to release units for Snow Hill line trains. Same applies to Trent Valley locals. The Virgin 158 units on 9 December were subsititing for buses! - 13 December

Video News

Runfurrow Video are advertising a new video of a cab ride from Crewe to Holyhead, featuring footage of the Britannia Bridge anniversary steam special including shots from the air. Go to the Runfurrow Website for more details. - 14 December

37 426 calls at Chester with the 12:07 Birmingham - Holyhead on 13 December. (Rowan Crawshaw)

[Earlier stories are on the previous Notice Board]

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