THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
Warrington Bank Quay is a location not often featured here: this
picture by Martin Weeks shows the morning Bangor - Manchester
'Club Train' arriving behind 47 732 Restormel on 24
March.
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Edition of 27 March 2004
The
end of the 47s is nigh (for now)
It looks as though Arriva Trains Wales are going to allow their Class
47 contract with EWS to expire in 31 March as threatened. Our
information (with acknowldgement to www.sulzerpower.com)
is that after the two diagrams run as normal on Monday 29 March,
Tuesday 30 March will see the all-day Crewe diagram plus the morning
Bangor-Manchester. The latter loco and set will run empty to Crewe and
not return to Manchester in the evening. On the last day 31 March, the
only loco-hauled ATW train will be the morning Bangor - Manchester,
this loco and stock then head for Crewe and oblivion. See our railfan
guide for the full timings. - 26 March
Picture parade
Pictures galore arrive in our email - there follows a selection for
your approval and delight.
There's been a locomotive change on the First North Western loco-hauled
diagram, with 31 459 Cerberus taking over from 31
468 Hydra. Tony Miles' pictures show the last
tun of 468 on the morning St Annes - Greenbank service on 23 March at
Salford Crescent station.
'It was making a very unhealthy banging noises from somewhere within'
writes Tony.
Next morning, 24 March, and 37 602 is on the rear of the same train as
it heads out of Manchester Piccadilly towards Greenbank, with 31 468 on
the front.
The nameplate of 468, with Cerberus
the three-headed dog in attendance.
The 06:52 Chester - Llandudno via Northwich, Manchester and Helsby
arrives at Manchester Piccadilly on 24 March, formed of 175 005.
This through train changes operating companies at Piccadilly from First
North Western to Arriva.
The same evening, 24 March, at Manchester Oxford Road, and 31 459 is on
the rear of the 15:49 Chester - Blackpool as it heads into the sunset.
The 'green' apartment building nears completion on the left: the wind
turbine and frames for the solar panels can now be seen in position on
the roof.
A few minutes later, on the same platform, the evening Holyhead 'club
train' departs at 17:22 with 47 732 Restormel. (Charlie
Hulme)
Yet again on the following morning, 25 March, Alstom could not provide
a working class 175 for
the 07:27 Chester-Manchester Piccadilly so a class 156 was hired from
First North Western, and that stayed in diagram until 175 114
came off the depot (only six hours late!) to take over on the run to
Manchester, seen at the swap over at Chester. The same 156 then worked
the Crewe shuttles as the Arriva 153 was required in Llandudno Junction
after their spare had to go to Bidston to replace 153 312 which
failed.
A surprising sight at Chester on 25 March was West Coast Railway
Company's 57 601 turning up on a Network Rail officers saloon
from Carlisle to Manchester Piccadilly via the Settle & Carlisle
line, Warrington, Chester and Stafford. The train turned via the
triangle at Chester, running round at Stafford. (Dave Bramley)
Virgin had no HST again on 24 March, so a very ill sounding 47 830
in green was thrown out for a run to Holyhead, returning next day, 25
March on 1A77 13:41 Holyhead - London. John Myers' picture shows
this train at Rhyl.
A track defect at Stockport on 25 March led to the diversion of the
07:51 Manchester-Chester via Warrington, so to compensate, the Class
31's were extended through to Chester, seen here in Dave Bramley's
picture arriving with 31 459 Cerberus leading (31 602 on rear,
still smoking)
47 732 Restormel makes the slow approach to Rhyl station
in Rhyl on 25 March with 1D65 10:30 Crewe - Holyhead. (John Myers)
Rowan Crawshaw was riding the trains on the afternoon of 25
March: in this view 47 732 awaits departure at Crewe with the 1D75
15:27 to Holyhead.
... 47 732 awaits departure at Holyhead with the 1G79 18:22 to
Birmingham ....
... and darkness falls at 18:49 as 47 732 calls at Bangor with the
18:22 Holyhead to Birmingham. (Rowan Crawshaw.) - 26 March