Quick plug for my new book From Chester to Holyhead - The Branch
Lines. Ian Allan tell me publication date is 24 March but I'll
believe
it when I see it! (It should have been last October).
Query: Apart from special workings, did Class 50 locomotives
have any diagrams to work regular services on the North Wales coast?
Any
information would be appreciated.
Lastly, the North Wales and West Cheshire Gauge '0' Group meet on
Saturday
8 March at Llanbedr Church Hall, (on the Mold road out of Ruthin) from
11:00 until about 15:00. All are welcome but one might be press-ganged
to donate a couple of quid for the privilege of seeing geriatrics
running
7mm scale locomotives. Lots of fun and the pub nearby caters for those
with a thirst and pangs of hunger. Unless ill-health intervenes, I hope
to attend, and expect to take my recent acquisition - 72009 Clan
Stewart for a couple of circuits. It is not necessary to be a
modeller,
just to enjoy seeing decent scale models of engines and stock lapping a
double oval of track. - 6 March
Traveller's Tale - by Alec Fuller
Tuesday and Wednesday (4 - 5 March) saw me on the 07:49 from Holyhead towards Liverpool and returning on the 15:45 ex Chester. All trains on time ... but on 5 March I noticed the 13:41 HST to London at 15:20 in Chester. The station announcer said 'First Class at the front etc'., only it wasn't, the 1st was at the back. I wondered how the set got turned, and whether anyone would bother seeing that it was corrected? Also I am not sure that passengers had realised, the back was quite full. - 6 March
66516 on the Penmaenmawr stone train unusually, passes through Crewe station en route to Basford Hall virtual quarry, 5 March. (Ian Bowland)
That missing centre car
We are assured that 175 113, which has been running as a two-car unit, is being reformed this week as a 3-car following the repairs to the electrical cubicle wiring of the centre car which were damaged by a small fire some time ago. Picture, anyone? - 6 March
Lack of updates this week is blamed by the Strategic Website Authority on the compiler's commitment to give an illustrated talk on 5 March to the Manchester Branch of the Swiss Railways Society, so just for fun here's one of the slides from the programme. Taken in July 2002 from the Kornhaus at Rorschach on Lake Constance, a local train to Romanshorn (hauled by a 1960s RBe 4/4 motorcoach) calls at Rorschach Hafen station, while the motor vessel Rhynegg waits to ply its local route to Rheineck. Notice the hotels and cafés on the station platform, and the crossing which has to be protected for each train by the staff hanging a chain between two posts.
The SRS Manchester branch meets monthly at the Friends' Meeting House not far from Manchester Oxford Road station; new members and visitors are very welcome, espcially if you have any slides! See the SRS website for more details.- 6 March
37 on the Coast, 6 March?
Any comments on the following note by Colin Meredith from 6 March welcome: 'Just before 06.00 this morning at least one class 37 was heard heading west out of Rhyl, through Kinmel Bay. This was followed, a short time later, by what could possibly have been the ballast empties to Penmaenmawr. - 6 March
The football match between Manchester United and Liverpool in Cardiff on 2 March produced some interesting traction, and Tim J. Rogers positioned himself at Whitchurch on the Crewe - Shrewsbury line to watch the parade.
Wales and Borders Trains took their usual opportunity for some loco haulage, and two trains ran (as service trains, although bookings had been strictly controlled, with tickets only on sale in Manchester to prevent any mingling of rival supporters) from Manchester Piccadilly. 1Z57 08:30 Manchester - Cardiff featured 47 853 Rail Express, and a rake of ex-Virgin coaches, all now part of the Riviera Trains fleet.
The second Manchester train, 1Z48 08:50 from Manchester, was double-headed by Ian Riley's locos 37 038 and 37 197.
Another view of the 37s and their train of Riviera coaches.
Central Trains provided relief trains on the Liverpool - Cardiff axis, but as they don't have any normal loco-hauled services all they could offer were two 6-car DMU rakes. However, ttwo loco-hauled Charter trains ran from Liverpool in addition: above is 1Z38 09:42 Liverpool-Cardiff with 47 798 Prince William...
... followed soon after by 1Z39 Liverpool-Cardiff with 47 799 Prince Henry with the 'Northern Belle' pullman-style train.
It's now light enough in the mornings to photograph the 06:33 Bangor - Manchester at Abergele, as Richard Osborne proved by getting up early on 27 February. Locomotive is 47 798 Prince William.