Bangor, 26 October: see story below (Aaron Taylor)
Third run of the water-cannon leaf clearing train planned for Thursday 30 October. Expected traction 2 x Class 37: Outward and return run as 4Z99 (Times are passing times except where shown) Wigan Springs branch dep 11:00; WBQ pass 11:22; Frodsham 11:36; Chester 11:56; Shotton 12:11; Flint 12:24; Prestatyn 12:42; Rhyl 12:51; Abergele 12:57; Colwyn Bay 12:05; Llandudno Jn 13:11; Penmaenmawr 13:25; Bangor 13:39; Holyhead arr 14:09.
Holyhead 14:13; Bangor 14:51; Penmaenmawr 15:03; Llandudno Jn 15:20; Colwyn Bay 15:26; Rhyl 15:37; Prestatyn 15:46 ; Chester 16:27; WBQ 16:58; Wigan SP 17:18.
Tales from Bangor, No. 1 - Sunday 26 October, by Aaron Taylor
Sunday 26 October saw the line closed between Bangor and Holyhead due to engineering work, meaning that trains had to be terminated and stabled at Bangor.
43 121 is seen at the rear of the 14:30 from Bangor, which would later decant its passengers to a bus at Northampton due to even more engineering works.
Wales and Borders units 158 826 and 158 831 from the South Wales service were stabled in the outer road of the former Platform 4 at Bangor: I haven't seen this siding used for years.
Above, the stock for the 16:42 Bangor - "Euston" after a late arrival at 16:45 from the Llandudno Junction direction. Where had it been during the afternoon as it should have arrived from Stafford at 13:50? You might think it could have traversed from the Bangor tunnel to Platform 1, but there is no crossover in the tunnel. The train came into the middle Holyhead road and paused briefly at the signals, then performed a very entertaining full-throttle take-off into the Belmont tunnel for a reversing move. This is the first time I have seen an HST doing this for many years, and certainly never in North Wales. It disappeared well into the tunnel before easing off and returned about five minutes later, again crossing the points across the signalbox at an unusually brisk speed. Why the acceleration? - 27 October
Tales from Bangor No.2, -27 October, by Alan Crawshaw
A surprise awaited me on my customary visit to Bangor station on the morning of Monday 27 October, in the shape of the 07:20 Holyhead to London Virgin HST which was still in platform 1 at 08:15. It was fairly busy, many of the passengers having stepped out onto the platform. From overheard conversations I learned that there was a problem with leading power car 43 123. Purple luggage seems to be in fashion!
The picture above shows the problem power car as 175 106 brings the 07:05 Chester to Bangor into platform 2. Note the green signal on the up centre road...
... a couple of minutes later at 08:30, the 08:17 departure (1K57 07:35 Holyhead to Crewe) passes through non-stop behind 47 778 Duke of Edinburgh's Award. When's the last time this happened on a loco-hauled service train? Normally this service unloads hordes of schoolchildren at Bangor but luckily it's half term week. Did Bangor passengers have to wait for the next service back from Llandudno Junction?
The Virgin crew took the HST back to Holyhead. Unseen 43 121 is leading.
Compiler's note: these stories illustrate the fact that Bangor has only one crossover road between up and down lines, the one shown in the picture above. In the past there was a complex layout of crossover and double slips at the east end of the station, partially inside Bangor Tunnel, controlled by another signalbox called Bangor No. 1, the one at the other end being known as Bangor No.2. Even then, though, the desire to minimise the number facing points meant that trains from the east could not arrive directly in what is now Platform 1. This is the second time recently that a train has had to run through a station using a non-platform road - see our story of the events at Chester on 6 October, also the result of problems with a Virgin HST: are these trains getting proper maintenance? - 27 October
Last of the Summer Wine - by Charlie Hulme
The last picture in the light this year, and perhaps forever, of a Class 47 arrived at Manchester Oxford Road with the 17:20 Manchester Piccadilly - Holyhead on 24 October, as passengers, suprised to see the train arrive at Plaform 1 as advertised, battle to get the few remaining seats, and the driver wonders why there's always some annoying nerd popping up to take his picture. The loco is a very shabby 47 733 Eastern Star, not by any means a common performer on the Coast line.
So British readers, don't forget to put your clocks back an hour at 02:00 on Sunday 26 October, and ponder that eternal puzzle: if a train departs from some place at 01:30 this Sunday, is that the first 01:30 or the second 01:30? (Not that there is such a train on our line at the present time.) - 24 October
Virgin loco-hauled encore - by Rowan Crawshaw
I rode from Bangor to Holyhead and back behind ex-Great Western loco 47 816 subsititing for an HST on the 1D87 08:40 London to Holyhead and back on 24 October.
Running ahead of the Virgin train, 47 778 Duke's of Edinburgh's Award calls at Bangor with the 10:30 Crewe - Holyhead.
47 816 runs round at Holyhead after working 1D87 08:40 from Euston. The turnround was very quick because it was 20 minutes late.
47 816 departs from Bangor. - 24 October
On another part of what will be Arriva Trains Wales, 158 848 calls at Porthmadog with the 14.56 Pwllheli-Machynlleth on a warm and sunny 23 October 2003. The substantial Cambrian Railways station buildings on the Up platform are well kept and are home to the 'Station Inn', billed as "The Pub On The Platform". This line, along the train and its crew, will see out 2003 under their third operating company since privatisation in 1997, although the train livery is lagging behind somewhat ... (Picture by Larry Goddard) - 24 October
23 October may be George Watson Buck's birthday, as the rising sun was shining directly into Manchester Piccadilly trainshed as 101 680 prepared to depart as the 08:21 to Marple. It looks as though the end of 2003 will really be the end for the last six First North Western Class 101s: not only do they not have Central Door Locking, but also their fire extuishers contain Halon gas, which is banned from use after 31 December, and the Strategic Rail Authority are not willing to pay for replacement with a permitted system. (See HSE statement on the excellent Railcar Association website.) 24 December will probably be the last day of normal operation, as after the normal Christmas closure there is an 'enginnering blockade' in the Longsight area.
On this basis, First North Western are planning a farewell trip, which will, we believe, take the form of a 'relief train' from Buxton to Barrow-in-Furness and back, operated by two or possibly three sets in multiple. We believe this is scheduled for Sunday 21 December, although some confusion has been caused by an email sent out by someone at FNW to various enquirers stating it will be Friday 12 December.
Here's amore sensible angle on 101 680: the leading car, 51511, has the distinction of being the last (non-preserved) vehicle ever to be repainted in the wonderful Regional Railways colour scheme, complete with branding in Joanna typeface. It was stored at Glasgow works until a mishap in Summer 2002 caused one of the cars of 101 680 to catch fire while being towed back from Glasgow to Manchester after overhaul. To replace it, 51511 was repainted from Strathclyde orange in a very pleasant gesture by owners Angel Trains. By contrast, the other car in the set, rather older 53204, looks distinctly unwell, with signs of much corrosion under its worn paintwork. - 24 October
Dispatched to South Wales on 18 October by the Daily Post to compare rail facilities around the capital with those on offer to North Wales Coast residents, Eryl Crump took the opportunity to take some pictures for us of theClass 37/4 workings on the Rhymey branch. Below is a selection for your entertainment.
37 402 Bont Y Bermo in its unique 'mushroom' livery...
... the run-round at Rhymney ...
... and Cardiff Queen Street station.
37 417 drops down the ramp from Queen Street into Cardiff Central.
The pride of Canton Depot (Soon to be closed, see item below) 37 422 Cardiff Canton, ex- Robert F.Fairlie, and a Western Region lower-quadrant, at Bargoed.
And here's Eryl's article:
Rail passengers are able to watch television and enjoy a coffee while waiting for their train. Further down the line, bus passengers have a short stroll from the combined rail-bus interchange or the secure car park adjacent to the rail platform. All are able to take advantage of cheap, frequent and comfortable rail services. This is not the dream that many North Wales rail passengers have, but the reality for South Wales travellers.Your comments on how all this compares with North Wales are very welcome. Does anyone interviewed by a reporter ever refuse to give their age? - 24 OctoberMany of the passengers on the 1.42pm train from Bargoed, in the Rhymney Valley, to Cardiff, on Saturday were shoppers.Charlene Williams, 44, and her daughters Maria, 15, and Melissa, 13, had caught a bus to the station and were waiting on the platform. The mother-of-four was sipping coffee bought from a machine in the small, cosy waiting room while her daughters were eating chocolate from the vending machine. A television set near the ticket booth was showing children's cartoons.
The Williams family planned returning to the village after a combined shopping trip and evening out. "We'll have a look around the shops and go to the cinema this evening. It's a very safe service. There are television cameras and everything here and there are taxis waiting outside." A return ticket for the 35-minute journey cost the family just £4 in total. The station's waiting room is unstaffed by Valley Lines but is run by the local taxi company.
A spokesman said: "We've done all we can to make people comfortable while they wait. It seems to be working, there are always plenty of people using the trains." By the time the train stopped at Caerphilly 20 minutes later, it was nearly full having picked up passengers at six small, intermediate stations. Several of these stations had closed-circuit television systems and real-time train information on the platforms. At Radyr station, a busy commuter station on the Cardiff to Pontypridd line, passengers were taking advantage of the Park and Ride facility. A frequent service to Cardiff operates throughout the day.
Pat and Lesley Parkin were travelling to Bristol via Cardiff Central station on Saturday. "Its quicker and cheaper to park here and take the train. I'm sure the train fare is cheaper than driving across the Severn Bridge and parking the car in a multi-storey somewhere in Bristol," said Pat, 49. They were full of praise for the safety measures implemented. "You don't really think about it but I know that the CCTV cameras are watching the platforms and that help is close at hand. I think every station should be like Radyr," said Lesley.
During the Daily Post's tour of the Valley Lines network there was little evidence of graffiti and all the stations were clean and tidy with litter bins being used, and, more importantly, regularly emptied. Many of these improve-ments have been paid for from funding provided by the Welsh Assembly. Last March the then Transport Minister Sue Essex unveiled a £2.5m grant which has allowed Wales & Borders Trains to roll out a 12-month programme to modernise station facilities and enhance safety. These improvements will include upgraded toilets, refurbished waiting rooms, new shelters and ticket booths, CCTV and improved lighting and car parking. Transport Minister Andrew Davies has already pledged that cash will be made available to the new All-Wales rail franchise operator. Part of Wales & Borders Trains, Valley Lines operates an extensive network of services in Cardiff and the South Wales valleys. The network covers nearly 110 miles with 373 weekday services operating to 67 stations, 66 of which are managed by Valley Lines. A spokeswoman said "We operate 66 of the 67 stations we serve, the one that's left out is Cardiff Central station, which is owned by our parent company, Wales & Borders Trains, and 15 of which are staffed. We clean the stations, and carry out maintenance."
Measures have been taken in recent months to tackle vandalism and trespass on the network. She added: "Our first priority is always the safety of our passengers and staff."
It seemed essential to have a ride on Arriva Trains Northern's new loco-hauled train from Leeds to Carlisle, so here we are at Leeds City station on 22 October admiring the legendary 37 408 Loch Rannoch, on the rear of the 09:47 (SX) to Carlisle. The train is formed of four ex-Virgin trains coaches, with a Class 37/4 each end, perm any two from 37 405 / 408/ 411.
Over Ais Gill summit, and arrived at Appleby in the autumn sunshine: the picture shows the train departing north with 37 405 on the front. The coaches have been fitted with the conections and air pipes to allow the driver to control both locomotives, although starts from stations on this run were decidedly jerky! All stations on the Settle - Carlisle line are in fine condition, and Appleby and Settle feature souvenir shops run by the Friends of the line.
Another EWS presence in the market square at Appleby is this World War II 'Emergency Water Supply' sign: in Stockport back in your compiler's childhood there were a number of these still to be seen, and although they are now rare, the sight of an EWS loco can still stir a tiny memory in those of a certain age...
The loco-worked train does not stop at the smaller stations, but I caught a 156-worked service back to visit Garsdale, one of England's more remote stations, and call at the Moorcock Inn for a pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord. Seen from the old 'coal road' to Ribblehead, 66 106 heads north with coal empties for Scotland. - 24 October
EWS Canton to close - by Steve Morris
I have just heard that EWS will be closing their portion of Cardiff Canton depot, home of numerous 37s over the years including 37/4s and the experimental 37/9 as well as several other classes. The "Main Shed" closes on 1 November with the Servicing Shed to follow on 1 January 2004.
This is sad news indeed and a real blow for the staff, past and present, who have had a reputation for providing a first class product over many years.
My pictures, taken in the "Main Shed", on my last day as one of the Shift Production Managers there in July 1988, are a reminder of the days when it was a major depot handling a large number of locomotives per week. - 24 October