Arriva Trains Wales began operations on 7 December, and already by 8 December had 158 818 ready in Arriva colours to work the 08:33 Manchester - Cardiff, seen here at Manchester Piccadilly before departure. This train later worked the 17:45 Cardiff - Holyhead, so will presumably return with the 05:38 Holyhead - Cardiff on 9 December. (Charlie Hulme)
Well, it looks like a sea of turquoise and stone on both buses and trains in North Wales for the next 15 years now, as Arriva start their management of the Wales franchise. One interesting fact is that the Arriva Group now finds itself in charge of all three of the remaining daytime diesel loco-hauled passenger operations in the UK: the Rhymney line, the North Wales 47s and the Settle - Carlisle line diagram. It's nice to see that their website contains a section for rail enthusiasts; it will be interesting to see how this develops and how good a relationship our website, which may well contain the occasional criticism of their operation, can develop with them. If it's as good as the rapport we had with First North Western, we'll be doing well. - 8 January
Northern Belle in the Conwy Valley - with Larry Goddard
66 048 stands just clear of the shadows at a frosty North Llanrwst with the 'Northern Belle' on 8 December, while waiting for a meet with the 12.45 from Blaenau Ffestiniog.
66 048 heads the 1Z64 'Northern Belle' 10.42 Chester-Blaenau Ffestiniog over the River Conwy near Betws-y-Coed at 12:30
Royal 47 No.47 798 Prince William at the other end of the train opens up after a speed restriction near Pont-y-Pant with the return working at 13:40. - 8 December
Saturday was not a great day for the rail staff in the Chester area. Main failure of the day was 43 097 + 43 121 at Holyhead when neither would start for the 1A39 09:48 Holyhead - Euston. The train was cancelled and the HST set was dragged to Longsight depot empty later in the afternoon, seen above passing through Chester with 47 757.
47 830 and 47 786 Roy Castle OBE worked the 07:49 Holyhead - Crewe together, seen above calling at Chester. 47 786 returned alone on 1D65 Crewe- Holyhead.
Shortage of Class 175's meant Wales and Borders 158s were again out, but in a more diverse manner than usual. In the end they ended up with: A FNW 156, 156 425 on the Crewe - Chester shuttles, A W&B Canton set 158 840 on the Llandudno - Manchesters (above), an FNW 150, 150 203 on the Wrexham - Bidston line (a 153 a failed at Bidston)
... and most spectacular of the lot, a W&B Cambrian 158, 158852 on the First North Western Chester - Manchester via Cheshire Lines service, starting off with the 2H87 10:57 departure. This unit, working the 14:55 Chester - Manchester, picked up many fans heading for Stockport County football ground, and also your actual website compiler himself returning from Mr Walton's fine model railway shop at Altrincham - above is a view of the Central Trains-liveried unit from the Wales and Borders fleet calling at Altrincham working the First North Western service! Thanks to Dave Bramley for help with this item.- 8 December
Chester Scenes
67 024 at Chester on a 'Northern Belle',1Z67 11:48 Birmingham International circular, out via Wrexham and return via the West Coast Main Line, 5 December (Dave Bramley)
20 307 + 20 314 as 0K40 Valley to Crewe light engines, Chester, 5 December. (Dave Bramley)
On Sunday 7 December, Wales and Borders (National Express Group)
becomes
Arriva Trains Wales / Trenau Arriva
Cymru. Staff are being issued with new blue uniforms to replace the
W & B red jackets which staff on the North Wales Coast have only
had
since 28 September 2003, a total of just 70 days. We hear a rumour that
there may also be a change in colour of the coaches used on the Coast
loco-hauled
services some time soon too, with ex-Virgin vehicles replacing the
current
First Great Western ones.
While on the subject of Franchise Follies, we now hear that the whole of the 175 fleet is to remain on lease to First North Western for the time being, at least until March 2004. FNW will be required to supply an agreed number each day to Arriva Trains Wales, and from February 2004 to Trans Pennine Express, leaving any that remain in working order for use on the Blackpool - Manchester Airport route. The theory seems to be that the two new franchises have to be seen to start off well, whereas FNW is now just a contractor to the Strategic Rail Authority, any cancelled trains there will simply lead to the SRA charging a penalty payment to itself!
However, faced with this and the requirement to hand over two 158 units to the Trans Pennine company in February, FNW are now considering very seriously a revival of the 'Blackpool Club Train' using an EWS Class 67 working push-pull with ex-Virgin coaches. EWS are reportedly checking over a Driving Van Trailer (these are being displaced by the introduction of Pendolinos) to see if it can be modified to work with the diesel 67 rather than the electric locos on the West Coast line for which it was designed. - 5 December
47 355 to Wales - by Kevin Melia
Confirmed timings are available for our Compass Tours 13 December Heart of Wales Line shopping special to Cardiff. To help anybody who wants to film, photograph or travel on it, I enclose the timings. We have 47 355 confirmed by Fragonset as the booked loco, 47 854 will also be in the consist to keep the train warm! I believe 355 has only done one passenger train in about five years and doubt it has worked one via that route before. As a consequence I know some people may wish to 'have it for haulage' and would like to pass the information on.
Although our train is sold out there are few people who may be unable to make it so anybody turning up on the day who hasn't booked should not be guaranteed a seat but is welcome to do so. Part fares available for short journeys also.
Saturday 13 December: Fragonset 47 355 + 13 coaches (Max speed 75 mph). Empty stock 5Z29 03:45 Carnforth - Blackburn (arr 06:00). 1Z29 06:40 Blackburn - Cardiff Central. Blackburn (pick up) dep 06:40, Bamber Bridge (pick up) dep 06:53, Euxon Balshaw Lane (pick up) dep 07:10, Wigan NW dep 07:24 (pick up), Warrington BQ dep 07:38 (pick up), Hartford dep 07:56 (pick up), Winsford dep. 08:02 (pick up), Crewe dep. 08:22 (pick up), Nantwich dep. 08:32 (pick up), Shrewsbury pass 09:20, Craven Arms 09:55-09:58, Knighton 10:10-10:26, Llandrindod Crossing 10:58-11:00, Llandrindod 11:03-11:30, Llanwrtyd 11:56-11:59, Llandovery North LC 12:25-12:28, Llandeilo 12:30-12:53, Hendy Jc pass 13:25, Morlais East Junction pass 13:26, Briton Ferry 14:05, Port Talbot pass 14:05, Bridgend pass 14:21, Pontyclun pass 14:30, Cardiff Central arr. 14:46.
1Z30 Cardiff - Blackburn. Cardiff Central dep. 18:10, Newport pass 18:35, Hereford pass 19:13, Leominster pass 19:35, Craven Arms pass 19:41, Shrewsbury 20:03, Crewe arr 20:48 (set down) set down at all stations as outward, arr. Blackburn 22:26.
Empty stock workings: 5Z30 22:52 Blackburn-Preston (23:13), and on Sunday, 5Z30 14:59 Preston - Carnforth. - 5 December
Ivor Bufton writes to remind us of two events along the Coast which many readers may wish to visit. On Saturday 13 December there is Model Railway Exhibition in the Presbyterian Church Hall, Nant Hall Road, Prestatyn (10:30 - 17:30). Up to ten layouts and Reverend Alan Cliffe will be signing copies of his Jack the Station Cat series of children's books, which would make an ideal Christmas present for someone! Admission Adults £1.50 Children & OAP 50p. Family ticket available at £3.50: Proceeds to the local branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Secondly, on Saturday 27 December, there is a Toy and Train Fair at the Conference Centre, Llandudno Promenade, open from 10:30 - 1530. - 5 December
The week ending 5 November was a problematical one for Virgin Trains: a fracture bolt was found in the transmission of a Voyager disel train, with the result that the whole fleet had to be checked, leading to a lot of cutbacks, and brief return of HSTs on some Cross-Country workings. Perhaps as a knock-on from this, 47 851 Traction Magazine put in an appearance on 1D87/1A77 London - Holyhead and return, and seen here on the latter. (Alan Crawshaw)
A scene at Manchester Piccadilly the same evening: with 43 121 on the left having brought in a Virgin service, and 221 113 Sir Walter Raleigh on the left. Note that the Voyager appears to have lost its nose-end mascot. Souvernir hunters? - 5 December
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HST for Christmas - by Steve Vaughan
In partnership with Porterbrook, The 125 Group have produced a 2004 calendar. These calendars are very limited in number and the group has less than 30 now left for sale available at £6.95 each. They are available by sending a cheque, payable to '125 Group' to 125 Group (Calendars), 10 Windermere Road, Reading, Berks. RG2 7HP. We would recommend that you check availability by email before sending any money. Email to news@125group.org.uk. |
47 798 Prince William calls at Bangor with the 1D65 10:30 Crewe - Holyhead on 3 December. (Rowan Crawshaw)
43 094 calls at Bangor with the 1D87 08:40 Euston - Holyhead on 3 December (Rowan Crawshaw) - 5 December
Ian Bowland writes: 'I attach a compilation shot of 47 732 Restormel at Crewe on 2 December 2003. It is sporting a yellow square on each cab - can anyone offer an explanation?' - 5 December
It seems we got quite a scoop with our picture (repeated above) of 142 069 at Manchester Piccadilly on 28 November. The picture catches it in the act of being moved on that afternoon as a 5Z42 from Cardiff Carriage Sidings to Crewe. About an hour later it continued to Piccadilly, where it was still reported the next day, and has since moved to Newton Heath depot 142 069 is one of the "Cardiff 4" - the four units contriversially transferred in May 2001 from First North Western to the Cardiff Valley Lines, an event which led to the return to traffic of celebrity 101 685. It appears that this is National Express transferring it to First before handing over the Wales & Borders franchise next weekend to Arriva - reports suggest that it is in reurn for the 153s which have gone the other way. This would certainly explain the removal of the lettering from the sides.
But, do First actually want 142 069? It has non-standard seating, (a real pain for spares), does not have the significant number of modifications made to the FNW fleet (but does have much nicer two-a-side seats) and will be a problem running on the Bolton corridor since it does not have the minimum amount of seating required by GMPTE for services on that route. - 5 December