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LAST UPDATE: 08 January 2001
To the North Wales Coast main page : To The previous Noticeboard
37 421 worked as promised on 8 January (picture above by Ian
Bowland), and there's a good chance of 37 429 for Tuesday 9 January
as Virgin continue to offer no trains at all. - 8 January
There are lots of people each day standing on the end of platform 12 at Crewe gazing longingly down the tracks seeking the sight and sound of a 37 on the Birmingham-Holyhead runs - all in total denial of the reality of the situation. I am one of them and called in on Saturday 6 January to check 1G96 to find Hippo 175 106 turned out (heading picture) while 37 421 sat dead in the depot yard. As can be seen on the photo the station was completely deserted apart from enthusiasts and, for the best part of half an hour, there were no trains in the station except for the Hippo. Outside there were traffic jams caused by buses waiting to depart for Wales. I am now convinced more than ever that this nation has gone completely barking - it wasn't like this when I was a lad. Oh no, in my day they cut up steam engines that were barely 7 years old in the name of economy or something - I'm going to the pub!
Determined to get 37 haulage in during the 21st century, I sampled 1K73 from Rhyl into Chester last night and took this (enhanced) record shot on arrival.
The service was on time, the stock was clean, tidy, comfortably populated
and the few 'bashers' in the know and aboard were behaving themselves.
A couple of good-quality winter beers in The Mill hotel preceded the journey
back on the Manchester-Llandudno with 175 110 and I was content
with having
been able to ride another loco-hauled along the coast and in traditional
comfort. - 7 January
On June 29 1993, 37 421 was moved to the derelict Freightliner Terminal at Holyhead for attention to its brake blocks. It is seen here over the wheelpit surrounded by encroaching weeds. The cranes in the background were about to be dismantled to be re erected in Dublin Port.
Dave's latest website - The Conwy Valley Line - is now ready, and very much worth a bookmark. - 7 January
The February issue of Traction magazine, out now, has an interesting photo feature on the Class 40s performing on the North Wales Coast twenty years ago. The magazine has also launched its rather interesting Website, which includes a 'form' on which readers can post their questions and read replies - unless they use Netscape that is, in which case they see some blank screens ... - 7 January
The Christmas Quiz revisited
Thanks to those who had a go at our Christmas Quiz, especially the two people who sent in answers! Here's a reprise if you missed it - and a link to the answers.
1. What connects Linlithgow with the Coast line?
2. Where could Salisbury Cathedral be seen between Crewe and Holyhead?
3. What are Ffon Torn and Tyn-y-Morfa?
4. Where did the Lady of Mann share a room with Billy?
5. Where is Tamper Siding Ground Frame?
6. Name a new station opened in North Wales in 2000.
7. Tinky Winky and Fred Elliott were suggested for what?
8. What are banned from the south end of Platform 12 at Crewe?
9. What exactly was the original name of 37 402?
10. 'Desilux' is the brand name of what?
11. What has a 'fine Egyptian-style portico'?
12. Which signalbox celebrated 100 years of operation in 2000?
13. Which 37/4 has carried four different names?
14. Which station name starts and ends with the same letter?
15. 'The inhabitants have lately been complaining of the name ... and
a
movement has been started to change its name to "Tremarl"' - Railway
Magazine, 1936. Which station?
A reminder that loco haulage still rules on narrow gauge. We followed 30 December's wake with a run from Caernarfon to Waunfawr on Sunday 31 December, our ex-South African Railways Garratt making light of the raging blizzard. The short walk through the snow from the temporary terminus to the Snowdonia Parc Hotel felt like a polar expedition, but one that ended with immaculate Marstons bitter, one of my favourite beers.
This picture shows our loco running round to form the first train of the day, the 11:00 from Caernarfon.
On arrival at Waunfawr.
This looks like a Russian winter but is the Waunfawr run-round. - 5 January
Crewe, 3 January - report by Ian Bowland
175 010 was on the Manchester Airport - Chester shuttle.
37 421 was on 1D57, 1G96 and 1D71 - good to see the 37/4's back.
37 710, a past performer on the Coast and part star of the "Basher" programme, shunted 47 536, 47 576 and 47 328 in the Diesel Depot yard and then took them up the West Coast Main Line, presumably to Wigan. - 5 January
Wednesday 3 January saw a revival of 37/4 haulage along the coast, as the 'standby' train was activated by First North Western: not so much, they assure us, because of a shortage of 175s, but more because of Virgin Trains' decision yet again to cancel its entire Coast service, and abandon the crowds of boat passengers from Ireland. The standby diagram (Monday - Saturday only) comprises:
05.25 Birmingham - Holyhead from Chester only, 08.53 Holyhead - Birmingham, 12.07 Birmingham - Holyhead, 15.58 Holyhead - Crewe.This train looks like running until 21 January, after which Virgin have said they will resume service. An HST was noted working the 17:30 Manchester - London on 3 January, normally an electric loco turn, but of course if your trains are taking up to over 4 hours to get to London from Manchester, you need more trains to maintain a service. - 3 January
On 2 January, 37 401 Mary Queen of Scots and 37 426 double-headed 6S72 Warrington - Mossend Enterprise freight train as a way to get to their new allocation at Motherwell depot. Fare thee well! - 3 January
A North Wales train operator came under fire last night over plans to further reduce the number of staff at its Holyhead booking office. Local politicians accused First North Western of failing the region, claiming the company had reduced the number of staff from seven to just four over recent years. The company last night described the move as a roster change which would benefit customers, with no redundancies. But North Wales AM Peter Rogers said the move was bound to lead to longer queues, as well as leaving remaining staff unable to find time for breaks.
First North Western intends doing away with the full-time post of customer liaison officer at Holyhead, changing the post to that of general purposes relief, covering both Holyhead and Bangor railway stations. Mr Rogers and Anglesey councillor William Williams, who chairs the North Wales Economic Strategic Transport Committee, described the move to reduce the full-time booking office team from five to four as "a disaster". Both have been told that up to two years ago there were seven people employed in the Holyhead booking office, but two posts - a chief clerk and customer liaison officer - were abolished, leaving the office to be run day and night by a team of five.
The first the staff knew about the proposed reduction, coming into effect on January 9, was on December 23. Coun Williams branded the notice as "highly unsatisfactory in terms of staff consultation". He and Mr Rogers have visited the station to see for themselves how busy the booking office is. Coun Williams said: "First North Western intend applying for the new franchise for North Wales, yet they are already cutting staff at Holyhead.
"I visited Holyhead station last Friday afternoon and saw for myself the chaos there, with a long queue waiting to be dealt with by a clearly overworked member of staff. This is not the service passengers expect, and I am also concerned that at times members of staff cannot find time to eat and have to delay going to the toilet." - 3 January
Picture by Ian Bowland
[Earlier stories are on the previous Notice Board]
Created by Charlie Hulme, Comments welcome to charlie@dweb.u-net.com