101 680 at Chester on the Branch Line Society charter train, 10 November. (Mike Dunning)
As promised, a Class 101, 101 680, made an appearance at Chester on Sunday 10 November with the Branch Line Society's charter train. Note the difference in appearance between the two cars, after one caught fre a few months ago while being returned from Glasgow works and was replaced by one from a Strathclyde-liveried set which was given a full repaint in Regional Railways colours to make it match..
Above is a picture of the track on the entrance to Chester bay platform 6. One of the enthusiasts there to see the 101 reported it and Railtrack were there in a few minutes and immediately closed the line. Unfortunately there was a 150 waiting to depart at the time and the people were taken off and told to move to platform 7a. Report and pictures by Mike Dunning. - 10 November.
The consist of the Penmaenmawr ballast trains will be 30 PMA four-wheel open minderal wagons,commencing Monday 11 November. The morning train will follow the usual path and the afternoon train is due in Penmaenmawr at between 13:00 and 15:00. Then there is of course the occasional Tuesday/Thursday afternoon ballasts to Manchester. Combine these with the loco-hauled passenger trains and new freight flows from Blaenau, and things are looking up again for enthusiasts. Low points are always followed by something new and exciting. - 10 November
Early riser Steve Morris photographed 37 197 and 37 038 at Crewe on the 07.57 Rugby Special to Cardiff. Steve writes: ' Interesting to note that right up until time the station announcer was saying "the train on platform 5 is not for public use" ! Of course, those who knew what was going on were on board anyway. Finally with a minute to go it was "any passenger wishing to travel to Cardiff please cross over to platform 5 for an additional service operated by Wales & West." Whether any of the "non enthusiast" customers made it across in time is debatable given that it departed a minute or so later. Lack of communication all round once more.'
Sunshine in North Wales as 43 122 awaits to leave Prestatyn on the 09:21 Service to Crewe from Holyhead (1A39.) The power-car on the front is 43 158. (Deiniol Williams)
The 10:21 Birmingham - Holyhead calls at Bangor with 47 790 Saint David / Dewi Sant in charge. (Alan Crawshaw)
The day's other set at Llandudno Junction on 1A62 13:35 Holyhead-Stafford. The power cars are 43 154 InterCity and 43 101 on the rear. (Deiniol Williams)
The same train arrives at Crewe on time at 15:48. (Charlie Hulme)
47 790 again with the 14:00 Holyhead - Birmingham half an hour late at Crewe, frustrating your compiler's attempt to have a ride to Stafford and home for tea. A good proportion of the sparse passenger load seemed to be railfans, one of whom managed to pop up with his tripod right in front of our camera, so let's immortalise him here. Crewe station seemed a very sad sight, with very few trains (mostly running late) about, and what trains there were through this major junction carrying very few passengers. The south steps down to platform 12 are closed due to roof damage, as can be seen in the picture, and the gents toilets on all platforms except number 12 are out of service, except for one single 'portaloo' on Platform 1. Even the few rail enthusiasts seemed to have a miserable and solitary look about them.
A final view by Deiniol Williams at Llandudno Junction in the gathering gloom. In the forground is 175 113, currently running without its centre car, but at least it's running ... - 10 November
In a major exclusive article the development of Holyhead is reported in the 9 November Welsh edition of the Daily Post under the heading '£100m breathes new life into port.' The following aspects may be of interest to railfans.
Railway tracks, most of them disused, are to be taken up so that a
new
road can be built into Holyhead port alongside Victoria Road. The new
road,
which will be used by cars and coaches, will run from the
Kingsland roundabout at the end of the A55, past the station bridge
junction to a new port entrance roundabout which will also give
vehicles
access to the town centre.A short-stay coach and taxi area will also be
provided close to the new roundabout. Lorries entering the port will
continue
to use the existing entrances, crossing station bridge to the east of
the
dock. All vehicles leaving the port, including HGVs, will use a new
road
from the west side of the port.The new exit road will give access to
the
town centre from the new roundabout.
The new "port boulevard" entrance and exit route will be able to handle predicted growth in traffic volumes at the port until 2025. Existing non-passenger rail facilities, including a new fuelling facility, will move to a new maintenance and stabling depot at Penrhos, north of the Anglesey Aluminium sidings at Ty Mawr. Cheshire-based consultants Mott MacDonald said the proposed relocation of rail facilities will not significantly affect their efficiency or the operation of other rail services in the Holyhead area. They added that the new depot will be a big improvement over existing facilities and will present an opportunity to create additional jobs. This new depot, built to modern standards, will significantly increase the train servicing capability of Holyhead. "This increased capability is an integral part of Virgin's plans to introduce new Voyager rolling stock and additional services to Holyhead." Land is being reserved for a rail corridor into Salt Island area of the port for the development of new freight handling facilities.
The revamp is to do with the provision of a new Terminal 5 to be built on Salt Island. Passenger throughput is expected to reach 3 million per annum. A new Stena ferry Stena Adventurer is due to come into service next may. It will replace Stena Forwarder. Future phases, it says, could see the return of freight ships to the port and integration between port and rail as well as port and road. This and plans to provide civil air terminal facilities at RAF Valley (as mentioned on this site before) will see major opportunities for tourists on Anglesey. - 10 November
Friday's failure - 8 November
In pouring rain and with nearly every train running late, 47 725Bristol Barton Hill is 'only' 15 minutes late on 8 November as it arrives at Manchester Piccadilly with the 06:33 Bangor - Manchester. (Picture by Charlie Hulme) The Deansgate-bound Class 323 in the left is 40 minutes late...
Unfortunately, 47 725 failed at Sandbach while working the empty coaches back to Crewe, and had to be assisted home by 66 139 (Picture by Ian Bowland.) The 66 later pushed the dead 47 into the diesel depot yard. Does anyone know the vehicle numbers of the ex-Virgin coaches being used on the Coast?
The 10.21 Birmingham-Holyhead entered Crewe on time with 47 790Saint David/Dewi Sant at the head. -10 November
More problems on the 'Top Line'. On Friday 1 November with problems with 'adhesion' (allegedly) services were delayed and the MPV cleaning/de-icing/sandite/whatever unit eventually ran towards Wrexham at after 09:00 and services only managed to reach Shotton before FNW saw fit to turn them back (Oh just send any passengers for Liverpool on the 10:19 to Chester and then to Liverpool that way - they get there by 11:30 instead of the desired 10:00!) The weekend (2-3 November) was as bad, as there was a rail replacement bus service which took 2hours 20 mins to cover Bidston to Wrexham and vice versa instead of one hour by train. Maybe the plan was to make people appreciate how good the train actually is?
Despite the engineering being planned months ago it was only late on Friday that posters advertising bus times were received at Shotton and the ticket office supervisor had to go to the shop on the High Street to do some photocopies to put up. Nothing was put up at other stations on the line. Of course there was no engineering on the line but it was between Chester and Wrexham so FNW were unable to get two units from Chester to Wrexham to run a service. Would it have been too difficult to leave two sets at Wrexham on Friday night? Even if it meant having to employ some security that would have been cheaper than the fleet of coaches employed. Surely the units would have had enough fuel for a couple of days? As for water, they often have empty tanks even when they have been to the depot the previous night.
So to Wednesday 06 November. Awaiting the 08:54 from Buckley and with no sign of the 08:53 the other way either, I rung retail control to be told very curtly that both units left on time so he had no idea why they were late (phone goes dead!) They arrived some 10 mins late and we head off towards Bidston only to find the distant at Dee Marsh Junction at caution, then we stopped at the starter. The driver, having been on the phone, said there was a reported broken rail and we would probably go back to Shotton so the unit could return to Wrexham. We used the trailing crossover at Dee Marsh and got off at the up platform and again had to use the 10:19 to Chester. The 'bit missing from the line' near to Neston was replaced and services resumed about 13:00. Why, when there is only ever one train in section between Dee Marsh and Bidston could single line working on the clear line not have been implemented? It is surely time someone started thinking about running a service for the passengers before yet even more regular commuters desert the line, something which has happened over the past few weeks. - 10 November
47 790 Saint David / Dewi Saint about
to
leave Manchester Oxford Road on 7 November with the 17:19 Manchester
Piccadilly
- Holyhead. Are you tired of these night shots yet? (Charlie Hulme)
No, not the Bern - Lotschberg - Simplon, but the Branch Line Society Class 101-worked special booked for Sunday 10 November (which is fully booked by the way.) Thanks to Andrew Macfarlane for sending on the following info and times. Unfortunately due to the engineering-work diversions which require the Middlewich - Sandbach line to be available for service trains, the train will not be able to go into the British Salt and Albion Chemicals connecting lines. It is hoped that a proposed re-run of the tour for people on a waiting list will do these lines on 15 December. Timings for the 10 November tour involving the Middlewich line are:
Sandbach arrive 12.35 (from Manchester), depart (towards
Northwich)
12.40
Middlewich 12.53
Northwich West Jn 13.09
Oakleigh Sidings 13.18 to 13.48
Chester 14.26 to 15.07
Northwich down goods loop 15.32
Lostock Works 15.39 to 15.59
Northwich South Jn 16.09
Middlewich 16.23
Sandbach arrive 16.37, depart (towards Manchester) 16.42.
Pictures of this train would be welcome. - 7 November
Thanks to all who have written about the proposed slate waste test train. It does seem that the portents are good for the service, as we hear that A.M.P.L (Alfred McAlpine Plant Ltd) are at present replacing many items of their Caterpillar fleet of quarry machines, in readiness for the trials, and hopefully a fully working service soon, perhaps by Summer 2003. There is even a report on hand that a test train with Freightliner 66s will be run over the weekend of 9/10 November: any more info very welcome. - 7 November
Mike Stone writes: 'Further to the statement here recently the Birmingham cross-city service is still six trains per hour - except that one diagram has been knocked out, but that is not at the times the loco hauled train is there. They appear to be routed in via Bescot and out as booked - possibly paths are available via Aston because despite the suggestion in a recent magazine that all Walsall trains now run via Aston the inwards fasts appear to still be via Soho Road and they were booked in at xx:09.'
Well, however this is supposed to be done, when your compiler waited, camera poised for the 06:33 Holyhead - Birmingham to arrive at New Street on 6 December, what did we find? '10:07 to Holyhead cancelled - starting from Crewe.' - 7 November
Larry Goddard's picture above shows 66 603 passing Hen Wrych Bridge near Abergele with the Railtrack ballast train to Crewe on 6 November. These Railtrack bogie 'gondola' wagons are planned to be replaced from 12 November by another type (does anyone have details?) running twice a day instead of once.
Hansons who own the quarry at Penmaenmawr are also hoping to increase the output if the quarry by mid 2003 to cope with the demand from the Crewe Gresty Lane 'virtual quarry.' At present all the reclaimed ballast displaced by the new stuff from Penmaenmawr is being used in the Shavington by-pass - which when up and running will be a fantastic vantage point for the lower end of Crewe south. While there on a breakdown approx, 2-3 weeks ago in a period of time from 14:30 - 18:00 I witnessed in between 30 - 40 different freight movements - most being 'red- death' (cl 66) hauled, but also a good mixed bag of classes 37,56 & 60. - 7 November
Mike Dunning writes: 'My locos and some stock from the 0 gauge Talacre garden railway (I can't take the railway as you can imagine!) will be part of a model railway exhibition taking place at Bishops High School, Heath Lane, Great Boughton, Chester, on Saturday 9 November. It opens 10:00 till 16:00, and there are some traders present and approx 6 layouts ranging from 009 to OO plus my 7mm Stock. I believe admission is £2.50 for adults and £1.50 for children and Pensioners (can you still use that phrase?)' - 7 November
Here's an unusual angle on 47 725 Bristol Barton Hill, taken by the locomotive driver while held at a signal outside Crewe.
Franchise developments
Following the new on 6 April that Arriva Trains have been ruled out of the bidding for the new 'Trans-Pennine' rail franchise, First North Western have released the following press statement:
First North Western is pleased to announce that it has been shortlisted as one of the preferred bidders for the new Transpennine Express franchise, as the final stage of the bidding process begins. The franchise, which will serve the regions of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Tyne & Wear, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, will commence in late 2003. An announcement regarding the final choice of bidder is expected early next year.First North Western have already withdrawn from the bidding for the Welsh lines including the North Wales Coast, so hopes must be high that they can beat Connex for at least one of the others. We'll leave readers to decide whether they agree with Mr Barker's opinions... - 7 NovemberFirst North Western also welcomes the SRA's proposals that are being developed for a Northern Rail franchise, and hopes that things are moved forward promptly, so as to bring the benefits of the franchise to passengers as soon as possible. Managing director, Vernon Barker, says, "We look forward to developing a bid for the Northern Rail franchise that will build on our experience and achievements to date to bring passengers in the North the service that they deserve. "We understand that the SRA is looking for an operator who is passionate about delivering to customers, and believe that we are the people to do just
that."
Regarding the report of Virgin trains 1D87/A75 being worked by a 5-coach HST on Sunday 3 November. This was not a 'Challenger' HST and the first 'Challenger' on the Coast is still awaited. The set was in fact a 'Pioneer' with Power Cars 43 092/154 and as such was the first 'Pioneer' on The Coast. What the hell is a 'Pioneer' I hear you say?
The Virgin HST fleet is split into two very distinct groups. Firstly there is the Challengers. These are 2+5 sets for Cross Country and are going to be in use with Virgin long term. This fleet is allocated to Manchester Longsight. Secondly there is the Pioneer fleet and West Coast fleet. This fleet consists of 4 x 8 coach West Coast sets and a number of 5 coach 'Pioneer' sets which operate on Voyager diagrams as cover for delayed delivery and continuing technical problems. This fleet is allocated to Plymouth, Laira.
Even though the two fleets are all Virgin-operated the are distinctly different. They are maintained by different companies under different contracts and as such it should be unusual to get a Power Car from one fleet working in the other. Cross-fleet borrowing does occasionally occur as demonstrated by 43 197 (a Challenger Power Car) working on West Coast recently. I think this just goes to show what a crazy world we live in! - 7 November
Yes, this is a First North Western train! Larry Goddard's picture from 5 November shows 47 853/D1733 Rail Express, now operated by Riviera Trains and on hire to First North Western, hauling the 14.00 Holyhead-Birmingham through Abergele on 5 November.
The same train at Crewe (Ian Bowland.) the locomotive is carrying a non-standard figure "1" transfer. The Virgin-liveried coaches are ex-Cross Country ones displaced by Voyagers, and now also part of the Rivera fleet. It is thought that these will be replaced by First Great Western ones when those have had their tyres turned. Why not also replace the FGW first class vehicles, especially the one with the space-wasting trolley space, with standard class now that FGW have apparently finished with all daytime 47-hauled workings?
47 790 Saint David/Dewi Sant leaves Crewe carriage sheds en route for Manchester to form the 17.19 Manchester Piccadilly-Holyhead. (Ian Bowland)
The 13.43 Holyhead-London HST comprised 43 154 leading 43 101. (Ian Bowland)
175 108 arrived in platform 10 at Crewe to form the 16.31 Crewe-Holyhead. - 7 November
Permission has been granted to First North Western to allow operation of the old Class 101 railcars until the end of 2003. The units will all have TPWS fitted. Out of the six running at present, 101 685 (shame!)and 101 678 will probably cease operations at the end of 2002 with the other four continuing until the end of 2003. Remarkable indeed. - 7 November
On Monday 4 November the 09:17 Manchester Piccadilly - Llandudno was 142 013 as far as Chester, where passengers were transferred to 150 225 - not the first time since the new timetable that Pacers have been seen on this train. Unfortunately the 10:21 Birmingham New St - Holyhead was 158 756, but the real "fun" started on my return from Chester to Earlestown with the 15:53 ex-Chester which starts from Llandudno. On arrival at Frodsham, a mob of kids from Frodsham High School boarded and one of them managed to vandalise the door mechanism - apparently tampering somehow with the open and close door buttons which damaged the interlock circuits. 100 minutes later, after arrival of a fitter from Chester, and a lady Transport Police Officer, the train eventually managed to restart and continued to Manchester with one door locked out of use.
Of course, the vandal had disappeared or could not be identified by the time the PC arrived ... perhaps a circuit modification should be desirable to protect against such occurrences? - 7 November
Two celebrity 47s wait at Crewe station on 31 October, not a common sight any longer. (Mike Sheridan)
Lineside Notes - by Alastair Graham
Monday 4 November: Ballast was at Penmaenmawr ready to depart at 09:40 hauled by 66 603. 20 314 and another with two flasks at 17:20 through Abergele (judging by the speed they are now definitely OK to go above 40mph!) This is not the first Monday that they have run either. Still many delays to services along the coast apparently due to a broken/cracked rail at Mold Junction and not helped by a signal failure at Llanfair PG around lunchtime delaying the 12:29 Bangor to Crewe by some 45 minutes - it was packed when it left and the following 13:15 was almost empty, that running late also.
Tuesday 5 November: The Ballast ran quite late, passing Abergele towards Pen at 08:37 with 66 511 which seems to work the train more than any other loco. The flask train ran again, with just one flask this time with 20 309/312 at 09:02 through Abergele. It does beg the question why not run just one train with three flasks, but it does seem to take a long time to load the train. The flasks are transported by a low loader some ten miles from Wylfa power station at a low speed which does take some time. Do they they have two low loaders? If they only have one that may explain why they are only able to move two flasks in one shift.
They ran in the path of 1D33 the 08:22 Chester to Llandudno which was delayed by 35 minutes due to lack of a driver (the same service was cancelled on Monday the week before for the same reason.) Interestingly on both Monday and Tuesday 1D33 ran with a three car 175 instead of the more usual 158. I would have thought it more appropriate to use the three cars on the Holyhead route but, what do I know, I only travel on them...
As for the Conwy Valley Line?I know training of new guards has to be done but on the 10:37 Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog on Tuesday 5 November were an 'instructor' and at least five recruits. (the proper guard was left to do the tickets while these looked after the stops. We stopped at every halt even though no-one was getting on or off, received an announcement as to where we were and arrived at Blaenau almost ten minutes late.
The afternoon trip reached Blaenau some 5 minutess early (no trainees this time) but was struggling to create enough air to get the brakes off. The journey down was slow and with stops to allow the creation of air. The junction was reached some 17 minutes late where the rest of the diagram was cancelled, travellers presumably having to use the bus service.
Finally the 06:33 Bangor to Manchester Piccadilly loco-hauled train seems to be struggling to leave on time. It was late on 4 November and very late the next day calling at Abergele at 08:25 instead of the booked 07:09, predictably almost empty! It did not seem to be a problem with the loco, as in the evening 47 790 Saint David / Dewi Sant left Bangor with 2 passengers just one minute late at 19:42 and reached Holyhead 5 early at 20:07, mind you 31 minutes is allowed for the 25 mile journey. - 7 November
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