THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
43 122 / 43 094 on 1A49 Holyhead - London, Saturday
morning 13 March. Picture by Deiniol Williams
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Edition of 15 March 2004
Pointless
Platforms and
Missing Trains
BBC Radio 4 'You and Yours' has been at it again on 15 March, this
time sending reporter Mark Holdstock (accompanied by our
contributor Tony Miles, but not by C. Hulme this time!) to have
a look at the new 'fifth platform' (actually the sixth) at Stockport
station, and the farcical story of how it comes not to be connected to
the rest of the railway. Well worth a listen: the sound file's on the You and
Yours website until 21 March. - 15 March
Life of Grime?
The 14:00 Virgin train from Holyhead on Sunday 14 March is reported as
having had a late start or cancellation (anyone know which?) due to
Central Door Locking difficulties. We also have received a
bizarre report that an early evening down Virgin train had the buffet
car locked up alledgedly due to insect infiltration. It is said that it
was locked between the gangway connections and had flies swarming
inside it. Presumably the train would not be allowed to run
without access through the two halves, so presumably the first class
would need to be locked out of use as well. Does anyone have any more
information about this? - 15 March
Mid-Cheshire safari
The rural scenery of the Altrincham - Chester line has been
attrtacting our contributors due to the loco-hauled workings which
travel that way at present. Let's take a look back with some pictures
received recently.
First up is Richard Boyd: Richard writes: '47 790 is
seen at Ashley on 15 January with 5K44 Manchester-Crewe ECS. An
interesting story is attached to this picture in that as soon as I had
taken it, I was stopped by the police who were investigating a report
of someone acting suspiciously on the road bridge. What happened in
fact was that I hid my camera inside my jacket, not wishing to be
readily identified as a crank. However, it seems as if a passing
motorist had thought I was suicidal and about to jump and so had called
the police on his/her mobile. The police were very pleasant but I was
forced to admit to being a railway enthusiast (something most people
leave off their CV's nowadays) and really regret not having a digital
camera with which to offer the Cheshire Constabulary instant proof that
I was still intending to be on the planet for lunch.'
Two wintry views of the much-missed 47 635 The Lass
O'Ballochmyle from the same bridge at Ashley. Above, 5K44 on
26 January ...
... and here's the same train on 28 January. 'The weather was such",
says Richard, 'that the train was substantially delayed and I was
nearly as blue as the loco by the time it arrived.'
31 602 Chimaera (leading) and 31 468 Hydra
on the 06:40 St Annes-Greenbank on the inaugural day of loco haulage, 3
February.
47 776 Respected passing through Ashley station at speed
on 5K44, also on 3 February.
31 468 and 31 602 at Hale station on the 15.49 Chester-Blackpool on 18
February.
And over to Vince Chadwick, who sends two views from 10
March.
67 009 was on a westbound SERCO 'Railtest' train that stopped at
a signal in Mobberley station.
The other picture is 31 468 Hydra approaching Mobberley
Station from the Northwich direction on the evening Blackpool North
train. - 15 March
47 776 Respected arrives at Bangor with the 1D65
10:30 Crewe - Holyhead on 11 March. It looks like these loco-hauled
trains will now cease at the end of March: see story below. Picture by Rowan
Crawshaw
Branch line charm
The newly restored Pannier Tank 6430 will operate a series of
trains for photo charters and driver experience courses at Llangollen
during a short season in the spring of 2004 when the maroon Auto Coach
W228W will be on hire to complement the locomotive. The Llangollen
Railway GW Locomotive Group has arranged to hire the combination of
Pannier Tank and coach for the evening of Friday, 2 April 2004. A
return journey from Llangollen to Carrog will operate, departing
Llangollen at 18:00 and returning for 20:00 to make best use of
available daylight.
The trip will feature the usual arrangements with a photo stop, the
selection by raffle of the chance to have a footplate ride for one
stage of the journey, or to join the driver in the Auto Coach's
driver's compartment. Refreshments at Carrog where the '5532 shop' will
be open. Cost is £12 per seat (All classes). With just 64 seats
in the coach availability is limited and early booking is essential if
you wish to take part in this re-creation of a branch line train of
bygone years. Note that the nature of the coach is such that seat
numbers will not be allocated to tickets. If the coach is full it may
be a bit of a squeeze - that's all part of the intended charm! An
itinerary and special ticket will be provided. The booking form is
available on the Wrexham
Railway Society site. - 12 March
Chester freight 12 March
- pictures by Dave Bramley
56 078 Doncaster Enterprise in its heritage 'large logo'
put in an appearance on 6E39 Mostyn to Healey Mills steel empties, this
is a solid '56' turn and will be sad when they no longer will appear
next month as EWS have stated their intention to take all remaining
Class 56 locos out of service by 31 March. The April issue of Traction
magazine, now on sale, has a very interesting article by Phil Chilton
on the history of this fine livery and all the locomotives that have
carried it over the years.
37 670 (above) worked the Dee Marsh and 37 689 worked
the morning Chirk logs.
'Newcomer' is old friend
- but the end is nigh
Following the withdrawal of 47 749 Atlantic College
from the small remaining fleet of EWS 47s, 47 732 Restormel,
which was standing at Temple Mills yard in east London, was elected to
be switched back on and sent for a turn of duty in North Wales.
The newcomer was rostered for 1H44 Bangor - Manchester on the morning
of 11 March, but this was terminated at Warrington Bank Quay with what
is reported as a 'TPWS problem.' The train then ran empty to
Crewe via its booked route via Earlestown, Manchester Piccadilly,
Stockport and Chester. Why it couldn't have run round the train and
run direct via the West Coast Main Line to Crewe is not known:
perhaps no shunting staff were available. The train was pictured at
Chester (above and below) by Dave Bramley.
At some point, the London crews have adorned 732 with the 'Cockney
Sparrow' emblem which was first created in the 1980s at the now-closed
Stratford depot as a counterpart to the West Highland Terriers and
other animals which were appearing elsewhere. The number of
'casualties' suffered by these Class 47 locos has recently become quite
embarrassing, especially since the closure of Crewe Diesel Depot - EWS
are now telling the railway press that they will definitely all be
switched off on March 31 when their current contract with Arriva ends.
What happens next is not certain, but sadly we have a suspicion that in
view of the low subsidy with which Arriva have won the franchise, and
the supposed improvement in Class 175 availablity, an attempt will be
made to manage without the loco-hauled Coast fleet. - 12 March
Chester Gateway plan
reviewed - by Laurence Wheeler
I have been studying the documents on the Cheshire
County Council website (see previous Notice Board). The
report consists of 72 detailed pages, 39 pages of appendices and 16
diagrams/drawings. In all, there is not a lot to disagree with and very
much to praise, despite much use of pretentious language. Starting with
comments like "The condition of the fabric of the building and its
environs is well below modern standards ... and do not do justice to
the station's role in the rail network or with the City of Chester as a
premier tourism/visitor destination", few would argue. Following on by
describing the "obvious magnificence", qualified with the killer "In
terms of visual impression the site manages to perform the
extraordinary trick of appearing both imposing and windswept at the
same time". There is similar and justified critical phrases describing
the "low quality townscape" in the environs, particularly the bus
garage/Anfields site and the mess at the junction of Station Road and
Brook Street (by the post boxes).
The report points out the stumbling blocks to progress. The most
difficult is that the building is in multiple ownership, the west
(Mold) wing has no fewer than three owners, and Spacia (Network Rail's
property agents) come in for some criticism. The problem of finance is
raised, particularly in the context of the suspension of Rail Passenger
Partnership grants. The whole scheme is costed at £10 million,
but some of the individual costings look light at first glance.
The report is not negative in the potential that it sees for the site.
It enthuses in great architectural and commercial detail about the
possibilities, in both the potential role as a transport interchange
and a 'retail environment'. It picks up the very smallest detail
"ticket machines should be installed for Merseyrail, which would cut
booking office queues at a stroke as 50% of ticket sales are to
Merseyrail destinations" as well as the grand designs of the forecourt
with its bus 'superstop' and landscaping, although there is little on
how this would be policed in an age when everyone is late, and no one
can walk more than ten yards from their car. The open expanse of
concourse with the lift-shafts, cafe and other "hindrances" swept away,
and the footbridge with a glass roof is most impressive.
The most interesting part of the report is buried away in the
appendices. Appendix F (near the end) is a detailed 'Summary of the
Heritage significance of the Building....'. Here is a very detailed
look, item by item at the fabric of the station, its history,
condition, repair potential and so on. Needless to say some of the
1960s 'improvements' are attacked with venom, but it is surprisingly
complimentary about the (albeit piecemeal) work of the 1990s. It has
made me look afresh at items we have all taken for granted.
So do as I did this week, dodge the traffic, cross the road, and look
at what we have and what we are in danger of losing. The magnificant
frontage is of national importance, surely one of the most impressive
stations in Britain. Then look up at the broken window panes, leaking
gutters, damaged stonework and general arrears of maintenance. Then
look to either side at the West and East wings with their clumsy
alterations, unsuitable uses and untidy parking. Something must be
done, and let's hope this report is the catalyst. - 12 March
[Compiler's note: There is an odd air of illiteracy about parts
of the report ...: we like the description of the west car park as an
'eye saw' - very painful...]