THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
37 606 is seen about to depart Valley on 25 November; a
single loco on this train is a very unusual sight. The eastbound flask
depared after the passage of the 14:35 passenger from Holyhead.
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Edition of 27 November 2004
Community
Rail
There's been much comment in the press about the Government's
'community railway' idea, and much of the comment seems to have been
negative, suggesting some kind of 'New Beeching' era. For example, the
Shropshire Star tells us: 'One of Shropshire's major rail routes is in
danger of being scrapped as part of a nationwide review to cut
expensive-to run rural services, it emerged today. The Shrewsbury to
Swansea service is one of several flagging routes in the
area facing the axe unless running costs are reduced and user numbers
soar. Transport Secretary Alistair Darling, who launched the
initiative, said: "We can't be in the business of carting fresh air
around the country".'
However, we hear that a reporter and photographer from the Sunday
Express travelled on the Chester - Shrewsbury line to have a look
for themselves, accompanies by a representative of the local rail
partnership. They spent some time at Gobowen, very interested in the
Moreton Hall School link, and then travelled up to Chester and came
back on the 15:30 train which was nice and busy with shoppers, students
etc. They interviewed many of the passengers and took photographs, all
very positive and complimentary about the service, some of the people
it was vital to. There was an excellent conductor on board who really
helped. It will be interesting to see how such a positive day will be
interpreted. Sunday Express readers please tell us... - 27
November
The Rail Head Treatment Train arrived at Holyhead on 25
November, running into platform 3. Locos are 37 706 & 37 893. Love
that weathering - Carr's weathering powder, maybe?
No 37s after all?
Contrary to our report in the previous update, it would now
appear that although the idea has been discussed and some arrangements
made for driver training, the Arriva Trains board has now
ruled out the idea of using Class 37s are the Arriva-liveried coaches,
allgedly due to the expense involved. However, the coaches themselves
were present in the sidings by the closed Crewe Diesel Depot on 24
November, as Ian Bowland's picture above shows. - 27
November
Holyhead thunderbird -
by Mark Lloyd Davies
Whilst passing Holyhead station at lunchtime on 24 I noted that a Class
57 was stood in one of the sidings for a change.
I was unable to establish whether it was on standby or had failed on a
previous working.
Here's a close-up of the loco, 57 309 Brains. - 27
November
A Network Rail HST set, comprising 43 062 leading 43
013, arrived at Crewe on 24 November just before 47853 Rail
Express entered platform 11 with the 12:41 Holyhead-Crewe
service. (Ian Bowland)
Charlie's Chariot
67 005 at the rear of the Royal Train passing Bagillt on 23
November. (Picture by Dave Sallery.) Whatever you might think
about the Prince of Wales, he does clearly enjoy travelling by train
.... The Prince arrived at Bangor station and was greeted at the
station by dignitaries and 200 local schoolchildren. he then headed off
to unveil a statue
of heroic lifeboatman Dic Evans at Moelfre, Angelsey, visited
Dolbelydr House, a 16th century Grade II listed building in Trefnant,
Denbighshire, which is managed by the Landmark Trust, of which The
Prince is Patron, and also called at the Welsh College of
Horticulture where he viewed the college's 5,000-strong Christmas
Poinsettia crop. - 27 November
23 November in pictures
- by Larry Goddard
The Santa Fe 'Warbonnet' colours of red, yellow and silver stand
out on a dull day as the Voyager-worked 10:52 Crewe-Holyhead speeds
through the outskirts of Abergele (on time) on 23 November.
The Penmaenmawr ballast lost its morning paths to the Royal Train and a
Serco train returning from Bangor. The ballast was photographed at
Llandulas en route to Crewe at 12:11. - 27 November
Middlewich diversions
Three Virgin trains between Crewe and Holyhead were diverted via
Middlewich and Northwich on Sunday 21 November. Vernon Perkins'
picture above 12:06 Holyhead to Euston passing through the site of
Middlewich station, at about 14:50. The unit is 221 108, Sir
Ernest Shackleton. Vernon writes: 'To the left of the line you can
see the new housing development which is consuming the old railway
yard. The plans were modified to include room for the new station,
which, with all new housing, is needed desperately.'
Here's 221 108 approaching Sandbach (Mark Watson) ...
... and passing the Albion chemical works on the Middlewich branch
(whose track looks decidedly dodgy in places, writes photographer Mark
Watson)
The same train passing through Sandbach on the platform loop line.
(Mark Watson) - 27 November
The old faithful loco-hauled 10:17 Crewe-Holyhead speeds through
the November murk at Abergele behind 47839 on 14 November. (Larry
Goddard)
Down South -
by Gary Thomas
While nothing to do with North Wales (though I am!) attached is a
picture of GB Railfreights 73206+73204 having just arrived at London
Victoria at the end of 20 November's "JB Jamboree" tour which covered
lines in Kent, Sussex then on to Chichester. - 27 November
Even further south - by
Charlie Hulme
For those who have been wondering what's happened to updates in the
last week, let's indulge in some views of our adventures in Carinthia,
south Austria, a paradise for fans of loco haulage, and indeed also for
those who enjoy swimming in outdoor pools heated by themal
springs! Main reason for the trip was to have a final run behind
a Class 2043 diesel-hydraulic, the type being slated to lose its last
few remaining passenger diagrams at the 12 December timetable change.
Above, 2043 008 waits at Rosenbach prior to working the
three-coach 15:30 local to Klagenfurt on 22 November. In the
background, the line continues through the Karawanken Tunnel into
Slovenia.
The other surviving 2043 diagram in Carinthia (there are a couple also
left in Upper Austria) is harder to photograph as it comprises a very
early morning run from Kötschach-Mauthen to Villach and the 16:21
return, seen above making a claggy start from Warmbad Villach station
near our hotel as the sun sets on 23 November, with 2043 070 in
charge.
We also visited the Villach - St Veit an der Glan line along the shores
of the Ossiacher See, whose stopping passenger services are all
entrusted to a variety of high-powered electric locomotives, each
hauling just two coaches. Furthermore, a quiet road follows the line
along the lake for several miles making a fine walk. Here's 1116 070,
one of the latest 6400 kW 'Taurus' dual-voltage (15 / 25 kV AC)
loco,built in 2002. Note that the line is completely unfenced; heavy
freight trains also pass this way en route from Italy and Slovenia
towards eastern Austria, one might add.
Also used in local traffic here are the 1044 class, the previous
generation of OBB high-power locos. This is St Urban am Ossiachersee
station, whose station building is now a cosy little pub in which to
warm up whilst awaiting one's train.
A look inside one of the ÖBB's modern InterCity trains, in this
case a
Salzburg - Klagenfurt express after arrival at Klagenfurt, shows a
considerable contrast with the cramped conditions aboard the new wave
of British stock. The 'airline' seats have so much legroom I was able
to put our suitcase in front of me and still have plenty of room. This
is a second-class coach, by the way! - 27 November