THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
NORTHERN BELLE
PICTURE SPECIAL: 18 FEBRUARY 2004
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Edition of 19 February 2004
Intro....
The 'Northern Belle' run to Holyhead on Friday 13 February
attracted so many picture contributions, despite the poor weather, that
we have put them on this special page. Regular readers will recall that
the train was intended to run from Chester to Blaenau Ffestiniog and
back, but the flooding in the Conwy Valley put paid to that, so it was
decided to to Holyhead, back to Llandudno Junction, and then to
Holyhead again before returning to Chester, to give the passengers time
to eat their gourmet meal. The train was 'topped 'n tailed' by EWS
locos, 67 012 at the west end and 66 124 at the east,
natutally giving all our photographers two shots for the price of one
...
Outbound through Llandudno Junction (This and the heading picture by Eryl
Crump)
Holyhead - pictures by John Lewis. The 67 stands in the gloom
at the end of platform 1...
At the other end, 66 124 prepares to depart...
... the view from the bridge....
... as the train tackles the hill out of Holyhead.
Bangor, by Alan Crawshaw (above and below)
Alan writes: 'It started raining as 66 124 emerged from Belmont
tunnel, proving that GM products affect the weather.'
The end of the journey for the diners, back at Chester,
photographed by Laurence Wheeler.
The train then went empty stock to Crewe, although as Laurence points
out, the train has so many staff that the term 'empty stock' is hardly
appropriate!
Thanks to all the contributors, to 'Yellowcake UF6' who kindly sent us
the times ofthe train, and of course to all the rail staff of the Coast
line. Oh, and if you fancy treating someone to a meal on one of
these luxury workings, check your credit card balance and have a look
at the Northern Belle website.