Here is a shot from 25 Septmber of the much-photographed 47 785 Fiona Castle which must be one of the locos with the highest mileage on the coast recently, as the dark evenings draw in, the top end of Platform 3B at Chester is the location for this latest shot, it seems to be a regular thing now to have a 156 in Platform 3A and for 1D82 (17:21 Birmingham - Holyhead) to enter 3B via the goods loop and crossover.
Noted at Crewe on 25 September, the latest shade of Mk2 stock: four Arriva corporate liveried coaches plus 37 408 Loch Rannoch and 37 411 The Scottish Railway Preservation Society heading for their new duties on the Settle - Carlisle line. [Compiler's note: although the 'club train' from Knaresborough to Leeds will start running on Monday 29 September, the run from Leeds to Carlisle and back is postpones for two weeks due to engineering work.] - 26 September
This bizarre report reaches us: surely it cannot be true: 'a Holyhead bound service was seriously delayed on the evening of 24 September after a horse got onto the train at Chester. The horse apparently wouldn't budge and was taken to Llandudno Junction but the train was two hours late.' - 26 September
"Furthermore, we may also have to postpone our farewell "celebration" for the 142's on the Wrexham-Bidston line for a few months. There's talk (but not definite) of W&B borrowing stock off FNW in the short-term to cover at Chester and you only get one guess as to what might be available." - from a recent Notice BoardCan I just ask why it is that Rail Enthusiasts are so dismissive of anything which is not 'loco and stock'? I fully accept that the attempts by Virgin to use 'units' for their intercity services is totally unacceptable as would be a journey from Crewe to Penzance by a 158 for myself, but I do feel that Sprinters have a great deal to offer in terms of both speed, economy of operation and even comfort to the general fare paying passenger, for whom the railway is their means of conveyance, especially if we consider the likes of the third generation 175s. Surely, if we are really interested in 'The Railway' as an item then we have to be realistic in what is feasible operationally, practically and economically. While I would love to see a loco and stock on the 'Borderlands Line' it hardly makes economic sense, unfortunately! So we have to look at what is best for the line and we get the sarcastic comment above.
I use the Borderlands line on a number of occasions each week, not for a "Jolly" but to get somewhere and back again. I personally will be very sorry to see the end of the 142's on the line as I think, after the 101's they are the best that is on offer. For those who do insist on dragging a bike or a buggy (with or without occupying child!) onto the train on that line I think the majority would opt for the 142 anytime. I also know that the majority of the guards seem to prefer them on this route too. You also have some chance of the thing keeping to time as well because even though the 153 and the 142 both have a Cummins engine per car the 153 is rated 213 KW (285 h.p.) but the 142 only 172 KW (230h.p.) and despite this the 142 is much more capable of coping with the gradients either side of Buckley. So as someone who actually uses the line rather than just comments about it off the top of his/their head I would say on behalf of the other passengers on the line that I am extremely pleased to hear that we may keep the afore mentioned 'Nodding Donkeys' for a little longer. It has been good for over a month now as the service has seen at least one 'Donkey' most days and quite often both sets have been a 142. Yes, the heating is not brilliant in winter but at least the windows are big, offering good views, there are wide doors without narrow vestibules allowing bikes and buggies to be got on board without being a contortionist. They also allow space for about six of each. Ten bikes on a 153 makes for a tight fit - I think eight is the most I have seen! - 26 September
[Compiler's note: In our defence, we did put "celebration" in quotes to suggest that perhaps they actually would be missed by Borderlands passengers! Your Compiler and Mrs Compiler often travel on the Mid-Cheshire line between Stockport and Altrincham with our bikes, and we're certainly pleased to see a 142 turn up, whereas we dread a 158 as their bike-carrying facilites are abysmal. Not so sure about the recent appearances on Manchester - Llandudno trains chronicled below, though. All comments welcome as always - Charlie]
Here's the text of a leaflet published by Wales and Borders Trains:
Important news about your rail service
From 28 September Wales and Borders Trains will be operating services previously provided by First North Western in North Wales and parts of Cheshire and Merseyside. This includes services along the North Wales coast from Holyhead and Llandudno to Manchester, Crewe and Birmingham and local services on the Borderlands Line and Conwy Valley Line. All stations in North Wales and several in Cheshire and Merseyside (Chester, Runcorn East, Helsby, Frodsham, Upton, Heswall and Neston) will also be operated by Wales & Borders Trains.Thanks to George Jones for transcribing this for us: George writes: 'This comes with a map of the system from north to south and east to west. The leaflet is bi-lingual and on the cover features an Alphaline 158 coupled to a 153 at Crewe station. It is interesting that the note says display until June 2004 given they will shortly hand over to Arriva. - 26 SeptemberWe are working hard to improve the quality of the services we offer our customers. We are currently installing state of the art customer information system across our network and are working closely with partners to make improvements to station facilities. We also have a great range of special fares which offer huge discounts, as well as great savings for groups. Tickets can be purchased from our website on www.walesandborderstrains.co.uk , where you will also find lots more useful and interesting information.
We hope that you enjoy your journey with us.
In the dying days of the North Western franchise, which has served North Wales since privatisation, 156 452 has visited the line for the first [and last?] time in its new 'Barbie Doll' livery, passing Abergele with the 11:28 Bangor-Birmingham on 24 September .
Who knows if 'Nodding Donkeys' will be around here for much longer?
This one (142 061) is working the 11.47 Llandudno-Manchester at
Abergele on 24 September. I wouldn't fancy doing my knitting on one of
these for over 2 hours...
Signals and Windmills, the new skyline at Abergele: picture also taken
on 24 September. - 26 September
On 23 September I made what is last trip along the North Wales Coast on a First North Western train. I wanted to catch the 47 on the Birmingham diagram, but also to take a few photos of how the coast was faring before handover to Wales & Borders on Sunday 28 September. I took 158 753 on the 10:03 Holyhead service from Manchester Piccadilly getting off at Rhyl, firstly to grab a bag of chips, and secondly as I had never actually got off a train there. Between Warrington and Chester, we passed a Merseytravel refurbished class 142 working the 09:47 Llandudno to Manchester Piccadilly service.
On making it back to the station, I captured 175 006, which was working the 10:33 Manchester Piccadilly to Llandudno (above) service. This train left Rhyl on time at 11:54.
Next up was 175 009 (above) working the 1128 Bangor to Crewe train, followed by the 1147 Llandudno to Manchester Piccadilly service ...
.... another class 142 working on the coast (above.) Is this one of the last photos of a FNW blue 142 west of Chester? Will W&B 142s make it up to the coast?
I had expected to miss the Euston to Holyhead HST while I was getting my chips, so I was suprised to see that the train was delayed and next in on the down platform, so here's an unexpected photo of 43 080 leading the 08:40 Euston to Holyhead. Note the 43 080 has buffers fitted to the front of the power car, this power car was one of the ones used by InterCity East Coast as a temporary DVT while the Class 91 and Mk 4 sets were entering service.
I decided to take this train to Llandudno Junction where I would be able to take some more photos as a change of scene, and on arriving at Llandudno Jn, I saw 175107 (above) waiting with the 1241 Bangor service ...
... and just managed to capture 153 324 from Blaenau Ffestiniog before it made its way to Llandudno.
The 1232 service from Birmingham was nowhere to be seen, I found out that it had been delayed at Chester, but was running through to Llandudno Jn first stop, then Bangor and Holyhead, 55 minutes late. Good job I made the move from Rhyl then, I thought, until 175005 turned up. So here's a photo to remind you all of the sight of "progress" (above) 2 car DMU 175 005 substituting for a Class 47 and 4 coaches at Llandudno Junction, 23 September 2003. I had enough after that, took 175 107 back from Llandudno to Crewe, and noticed that the Customer Information Screens were still faulty.
A delayed Cornish Pasty got me back to Manchester. No photo, I'm sure there'll be plenty of those to come! - 26 September