THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
A class 87 reaches Chester on 3 May 2004 - see story below. Picture by Dave
Bramley
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Edition of 03 May 2004
A lot of pictures today - hope they don't cause your PC
indigestion ... Charlie
A Class 87 at Chester!
After the booked HST failed at Euston on Bank Holiday Monday 3 May,
the 08:40 from London to Holyhead was cancelled and restarted at Crewe
using a 175 hired from Arriva Trains Wales. This worked to Holyhead and
back to Chester. The question was then, what to do for passengers
from Chester to Euston? Virgin rang and said an empty stock train was
nearing Crewe and would work forward from Chester to London, but may
have delay whilst they swap locos at Crewe.
Chester station staff suggested to Virgin 'Control' that they keep
the 87 on, as they have historically been down to Chester on 'drags' in
past years (any idea when last one was?) - and surprisingly they
agreed. At 14:20, 47 830 rounded the corner with 87 007
City of Manchester dead in tow behind and a rake of now rare
Virgin Mark 2's and DVT. It's 2004 and there is a 47 and an 87 at
Chester - bizarre!
Rather overshadowed by the above events, a 'Northern Belle'
operated from Newcastle to Chester and return the same day, hauled by 67
006, still with silver buffers after a Royal Train duty. All
pictures by Dave Bramley. - 3 May
Virgin unbranded Class 43 No. 43 065 leads the 09:21
Holyhead-Euston High Speed Train through Abergele on a sunny May Day, 3
May 2004. (Larry Goddard)
Mid-Cheshire steam
The Mid-Cheshire Rail Day event on Sunday 2 May, including
steam trains stopping at all stations between Altrincham and Chester
hauled by Ian Riley's 2-6-0 76079, was a huge success, helped
by some very pleasant weather. Two return trains from Chester to
Altrincham were operated: Altrincham has no way to turn a loco round,
so eastbound runs were tender-first, for which this loco is
well-suited.
76079 runs round at Chester having brought the empty stock from Crewe. (Laurence
Wheeler)
Ready to depart from Chester. A fantastic spread was put on by the Mid
Cheshire Rail Users Group at Chester, with a brass band accompanying
the steam train. (Dave Bramley)
76079 powers up through Delamere Forest with the
morning run. In this chimney-first direction, running was exceptionally
sprightly even with eight coaches. The loco certainly deserves its
nickname 'Pocket Rocket' (Laurence Wheeler)
Chris Mills writes: 'I managed a rather nice shot as the train
drifted into Greenbank (Exactly on time) There
were around 50 people of all ages on the station waiting/watching for
its arrival, certainly the most I’ve ever seen on the platforms here.'
Crossing the Weaver Navigation at Hunts Lock. (Chris Taylor)
Was there ever a more unlikely place to see a steam- hauled
stopping passenger train than Altrincham? (Laurence Wheeler.)
The 13:30 Altrincham - Chester rolls in to Ashley station, with Charlie
& Joanna's bikes posing on the left.
Crossing Northwich Viaduct (Chris Taylor)
In the background, the colourful liveries of the Arriva 158s
awaiting their turn on the Chester - Manchester Piccadilly services.
(Another variation, Ginsters red and black could be seen earlier) 76079
is made ready for the afternoon return trip. (Laurence Wheeler)
The train drifts down the straight track towards its on-time arrival at
17:45 at Ashley station (Charlie Hulme)
The final run departs at 19:10 from Altrincham, with a
Metrolink tram in the new livery looking on. Picture by Greg Mape,
who writes: 'It was topped up with water at Skelton Junction from a
fire hydrant; the hose was a bit short so it was routed through
someone's garden backing onto the line.'
Congratulations to everyone who was involved in the organisation of
this excellent day. Everyone who uses this line should consider joining
the MCRUA, one of
the most active user groups around. - 3 May
Rail Passengers' Committee news
There's a public meeting of the Rail
Passengers Committee Wales in Wrexham on 11
May, 09:00 - 12:30, at the Council Chambers, Guildhall, Wrexham. This
is a 'Railway Route Crime meeting', with speakers from British
Transport Police, Network Rail and Train Operating Companies Arriva
Trains Wales, Virgin and First Great Western. - 1 May
Red Green Express to Bath
It was the West Coast Railway top 'n' tail 57-47 combo again on 1 May
for the Green Express railtour from Llandudno Junction to Bath, with
our contributors Alan and Rowan Crawshaw among the passengers.
Here's 1Z59 at the head of the train at Llandudno Junction preparing
for its 06:00 departure. (Rowan Crawshaw)
47 854 at the rear (Rowan Crawshaw). One of the GE staff
told Rowan and Alan that every one of the 650 seats was taken and that
300 had to be turned away. The train consisted of 57 601 leading on the
outward journey, coach M was 5487,
then 5032, 4905, 4984, 4951, 99311, 21266, 99127, 3136, 3143, 99121,
Pullman car Bassenthwaite and 47 854 dead on the rear.
Calling at Chester (Dave Bramley). Locos at both ends, with the
rear loco being towed 'dead', seems to be the new fashion for
these charter trains, and one can understand why: no shunting is needed
at the terminus, but if any problem does occur the 'spare' loco can be
used to get the train moving again on today's railway when locomotives
are few and far between. On the down side, though, a Class 47 weighs as
much as three coaches.
After arrival at Bath (Rowan Crawshaw)
Here's 57 601 after the train arrived safely back at Llandudno
Junction. (Alan Crawshaw) Visit the Green
Express web pages for more about future tours. - 3 May
Bank Holiday Saturday
blues
A shortage of 175s again led to First North Western units working
into Wales again. The usual 158 was on the Manchester - Holyhead, and
the 150 149 was on the Chester to Crewe shuttles (above, at
Chester, picture by Dave Bramley) but the worst choice of the
day goes to 142 005 working the first Bangor-Manchester then
the 09:17 Manchester-Llandudno, a train which might have been expected
to be well-filled with seaside trippers. Not the best choice.
However the problem was solved in an unfortunate way. On its return
from Llandudno it suffered at the hands of stone-pelting youths and
sustained a broken window to the rear vehicle. The passengers on board
were saved yet again from the effects of this attempted murder by the
layer of plastic that holds all fragments together and stops the glass
smashing completely; these vehicles do not have double glazing unlike
most modern coaches. 142005 is seen above stabled in the parcels bay at
Chester
with a close up of the window. Anyone with information about this
incident should ring British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40.
To replace the wounded 142, a 175 was sent from Chester depot but that
was not without hitches as the first one that was selected wouldn't
start ... - 3 May
Conwy Valley to reopen
with new timetable
'Trains will once again run along the Conwy Valley on May 22 after
£4m repairs. But rail watchdogs are concerned the
re-opening will be a muted affair. The line, from Blaenau
Ffestiniog to Llandudno Junction, has been closed since early February
after flood water washed away large sections of line. The Rail
Passenger Committee Wales is urging Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) to
organise a major event to commemorate the occasion. It fears a low-key
re-opening event is planned, with just a new type of ticket launched.
'ATW has said it welcomes suggestions on how to mark the
re-opening. RPC director Clive Williams suggested a special train
could run along the line. Mr Williams told ATW: "Here is a golden
opportunity to draw attention to your rail presence in North Wales by
staging a formal event that will also be eye-catching, popular and
memorable. At present we hear that it will be a low-key non-event with
just the launch of a Red Rover ticket [what's that? - CH] , which sadly
is not seen as much of a carrot to win back former and new passengers.
'"Why not run a Reopening Special from Cardiff. "There would be
tremendous support locally and it would certainly be an excellent PR
exercise for ATW with local councils, the local population and
supporters from far and wide."'
Why not indeed? And how free travel for the day? - 3 May
Something Completely
Different
33 103 Swordfish and 33 202 Meteor climb
to Peak Forest Summit with the return charter from Buxton to Yeovil, 1
May. Picture by Charlie Hulme. - 3 May