THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
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Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
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Edition of 01 March 2004
Editorial
The Diesel Gala held at the Llangollen Railway on 28-29 February
coincided with a period of sunny weather with snow on the ground,
prompting two of our regular contributors to send some particularly
attractive picture collections. So impressive, in fact, that as well as
putting them all in this text-based report in the usual format, I've
also taken the liberty of putting the original larger format versions
on to one of those really useful Fotopic sites so readers can savour
them as a slide show.
The address to visit is:
... but read the stories below first. - Charlie
Saturday 28 February -
report by John Myers
I spent a most pleasant Saturday at the Llangollen Railway Diesel Gala,
where the weather was sunny and complemented the blanket of snow
covering most of the Dee Valley.
First away from Llangollen, at 10:00, was D1566 (47 449)
bearing the Orion name of its scrapped WR sister loco D1668
/ 47083 / 47633. The electric heating that this loco is able to
provide was, I expect, appreciated by the passengers, some of whom
joined it from the inward
Class 104 DMU on the 09:30 working from Carrog. Following the
Type 4's
departure, the DMU was worked ECS to the yard.
An hour later, D8142 led 37 240 with a formation
of stock
that had been preheated by the ex GWR 2-6-2T no. 5199.
A number of us those present, including me, were keen to sample the
newly-restored and now unique D. Wickham & Co. DMU (latterly Class
109) scheduled to depart at 11:30.
We weren't disappointed as the
standard of restoration, both inside and out, is truly magnificent and
has to be
seen to
be appreciated. One passenger was heard to remark that it was
like travelling upon a brand new train! The pictures show
the Class 109 DMBS's smart passenger accommodation (above)...
... and driving cab (above and below.)
I rode to Carrog in the leading Motor Brake Second and travelled back
in the Trailer Composite, it having been some time since I'd
experienced the comparative quiet of a DMU trailer of any description.
I decided
to alight at Berwyn (above) and make a positioning move with 37240 to
Carrog ...
... in order to take more photographs of the DMU's arrival on 13:35
service
from Llangollen (with 03 162 and 37 240 visible
in the
background).
I then was able to return aboard the unit and photograph its final ECS
working of the day back to covered accommodation.
The Class 104 set then returned to the station to make its return
journey to Carrog
and
back to the sidings at Glyndyfrdwy. Much of the snow that had
greeted my arrival was disappearing rapidly by this point in the
afternoon.
By choosing to concentrate on the magnificence of the Wickham set, it
was impossible to sample everything else but many others seemed to be
enjoying the very efficient loco-hauled services worked by D1566,
D8142, 25 313,
37 240
and 46 010, with locomotive changes effected at the Carrog
terminus on
each round trip. Diesel shunter fans were treated to a couple of
top-and-tailed brake van trips between Llangollen station and Goods
Junction.
In summary, a great day and I really appreciate the efforts by
volunteers, in all sections of the railway, for helping to make it
happen.
Sunday 29 February - by Eryl Crump
The star was the newly restored Class 109
"Wickham" DMU. The unit gleamed in the bright sunshine and the
snow-covered fields reflected gloriously on its sides.
The Wickham ran two services each day along the eight mile line.
Just five of these units were built as part of the 'Modernisation
Plan' by Wickham of Ware in 1957. The construction of these
railcars was most unusual for its time:
the body was built around a stress-bearing frame welded together from
square section steel tube. Essentially it was a very early
integral structure: there was no
separate underframe or chassis, and enabled the vehicles to be lighter
than any of the others built at the time. This type of DMU had two
other notable features: an 'art deco' interior, and an almost complete
absence of visible fasteners to give surfaces that were very easy to
clean. Unfortunately the design was not perpetuated, and they
were
declared surplus soon after introduction, and were early targets for
withdrawal being non-standard.
Two sets were exported in 1961, and one was equipped in 1967 at
Doncaster for use as the Eastern Region general manager's saloon. The
final two sets were withdrawn in 1971 and later scrapped, leaving only
the inspection saloon. This final set fell out of use during
1980, and was offered for
sale in 1981. The fledgling Chasewater Light Railway bought the pair,
with them being delivered later that year. The power car was mainly
used as a static buffet car, and the trailer as loco-hauled stock.
Eventually both vehicles were declared surplus, and were bought
by members of the Llangollen Railcar Group in 1994.
The original intention was to fund restoration privately, and
this was the option pursued initially; however progress was slow and
the bills escalated. Asbestos removal had left both vehicles as gutted
shells, and an entire new interior would have to be fabricated. Doors
had been plated over and windows altered during the 1967 conversion,
and those had to be restored. A complete mechanical overhaul was also
required.
After a number of years, an application was made to the Heritage
Lottery Fund, and a grant of £129,000 was made towards
restoration. This was undertaken at the Midland Railway Centre near
Derby, including substantial volunteer input from the Railcar group's
volunteers. (thanks to George Jones for the above notes)
Another undoubted star of the event was 37 240 which showed off
its 'Dutch' colours to good effect in the snowy conditions.
Its first run of the day was in tandem with the railway's Class
20, D8142.
The double headed movement was a cunning ploy by the
Llangollen Railway to have a spare loco at Carrog so that the following
incoming services were returned with a different loco.
Other locos taking part were D1866 Orion ...
46 010 and ....
25 313 which
carried 'Sulzer Symphony' headboards.
The railway's Class 104 DMU got
proceedings going each day. Sadly the 'Slug', Mirrlees-engined 37
901, was not well enough to take part.
At Llangollen the two shunters made shuttle runs between the
station and the goods yard in "top and tail" mode with three brake vans
sandwiched in between. These runs looked great fun for the passengers!
A final view of the Class 37 at the terminus at Carrog, and a final
chance to express our appreciation to everyone at the Llangollen
Railway.