THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE BOARD

Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd hysbyseb



Leeds station on 13 December, with 156 451, the first train to be repainted in the Northern Rail company's colours. Special thanks to Tony Miles for  this picture.
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Edition of 14 December 2004

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The 09:50 Holyhead-Crewe Voyager passes Colwyn Bay on the fine morning of 4 December. Picture by Larry Goddard: here's a bigger version to do it full justice.


Stop press ...



47 839 was indeed in use on the Coast on 11 December: and hauling a set of coaches in InterCity colours. Thanks to people who took the time to let us know and to  Gwyn Williams for the picture above. We're all off now to catch the 15:17 from Crewe.... more about this very soon!

No Loco Friday

Just a quick update to note that the Arriva loco diagram was worked by a Class 158 on Friday 10 December: whether any 47 will be available to work the final Satirday loco-hauled Crewe - Holyhead diagram on 11 December we cannot say: it might be worth watching the 'gen lists' before travelling. Presumably the 158 will work the early morning run from Holyeag at least. If anyone can tell us what's on the 10:17 from Crewe it would be much appreciated.  - 11 December
Arriva stock - the facts

Our earlier report that the Arriva coaches had been used on a Virgin service train turned out to be just as mythical as our spoof electrification to Holyhead (below) - the train seen by the person who reported this turns out to have been an EWS driver training run. Thanks to Mike Stone for this rectification. - 9 December
Level Crossing mania

A lorry driver is being treated for head injuries on 8 December after his lorry was hit by an Arriva Trains Wales standard gauge train, the 14:27 Machynlleth to Pwllheli, on the level crossing leading to the Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog) works just south of Porthmadog station.The lorry driver was leaving the WHR(P) works after making a delivery.  The site of the crossing, known as Gelert's Farm User Worked Crossing, is a few hundred yards from where a man was killed on a (public road) level crossing in 2000.

James Hewett, Chairman of the Welsh Highland Railway Limited, writes: 'This incident happened at 16:10 on 8 December on the level crossing over the main Network Rail line into our works.  The road access is a private crossing used to get in and out of our site only. We are shocked by what has happened, but until we know more details about the incident, it wouldn't be appropriate to comment further. The injured man did not work for the Welsh Highland Railway, but our staff were first on the scene, and one of our first aiders was praised by the Ambulance crew for the way he dealt with the situation. We will of course be co-operating with the authorities investigating this incident. It is standard practice that all our staff are briefed regularly on the safety regulations for using this crossing.'

This incident comes just days after a similar, but more serious, accident a user-worked private crossing in Lincolnshire in which two people were killed when their van was in collision with a Central Trains Class 153 driven, as it happens, by a stalwart member of the uk.railway newsgroup who is well-known to many of our readers. Fortunately, the train crew and passengers were non injured, but were treated in hospital for shock. Without pre-judging the enquiries into these accidents,  it is well-known that the gates at these type of crossings are often left open, especially by people who expect to returning soon and don't want to bother getting out of their cabs again; this of course invites the next user to drive across the line without checking.

These events are of course receiving more publicity than might be normal, following on from the recent disaster on the Great Western Main Line, but even so it seems that people everywhere have developed a death wish - not just at railway crossings but at road traffic lights, and not just road drivers either: why do people feel they can walk around in the middle of a busy road in darkness while wearing all black clothing? - 8 December
In the bleak mid-Winter - with Gwyn Williams



Whilst waiting in vain for a water cannon train to appear on  Monday 6 December, I took the attached view of the rear of the afternoon Voyager from Holyhead to Euston leaving the outskirts of Llandudno Junction. I think it was 221 102 John Cabot, although I'd be glad of a confirmation if anyone else was around. Taken on a simple digital camera in abysmal light, I know the photo is no masterpiece, but with the train seemingly hanging in midair, and with that bare tree against the overcast sky, I think it has a nice, wintery atmosphere to it. Anyway, we're going to have to get used to making the most of slim pickings from next week, so might as well start now. - 8 December
April 1st has come early - official



On Friday 3 December, which was clearly April 1st, the truth behind the Arriva stock was revealed, writes our correspondent 'Raving' of Crewe who writes: 'Allegedly, somehow, the North Wales Line had been electrified overnight
and the first test train was sent out of Crewe comprising the Arriva stock, recently seen parked in the Diesel Depot yard, headed by 92 027 George Eliot.  (George Eliot?). The first shot shows the train leaving the station heading north ...



... while the second shot reveals that the consist did not join the WCML but did, in fact, head off on the Chester line.  The LNWR workshops and familiar church tower are clearly visible in the background. Thus I suggest that the 37/4 stories were just a (diesel) smoke screen to hide this welcome surprise.  We should now be able to witness unaided
Pendolino workings to Holyhead!. - 8 December
By Class 37 to Pwllheli

It seems that Network Rail have finally agreed that if 100-tonne ballast trains can cross Barmouth Bridge then so can a few loco-hauled charters. Past Time Rail's website states: 'First Train to traverse the Cambrian Line to Pwllheli - Saturday 29 January 2005. Ex Northampton calling at Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton & Telford. Powered by a Class 37. Fares: £48.00 Standard, £68.00 First & £138.00 Premier Class! Full details to be announced shortly.'  Definitely a case of 'watch this space' we think.

And from Pathfinder Tours: 'Saturday 2nd April 2005 - to the scenic Cambrian Coast Line, over Barmouth Bridge to the end of the line at Pwllheli. From Sheffield, Chesterfield, Derby, Burton on Trent, Tamworth, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton and Telford. Fares to be announced in December when booking open.'

Excellent news all round. Let's hope it all happens. - 8 December
 
Loco hauled futures - and engineering confusion

More information, tentative as it is, is to hand regarding the future of the loco-hauled Holyhead diagrams. The loco hauled set should run the same Manchester diagram mentioned in the last Notice Board diagram on Saturdays as well from the new timetable.  However the Manchester - Chester line is blocked by engineering works on 18 December, and no trains run on 25 December 25th. If Arriva keep the set beyond the end of the year (which we are told is likely, but no promises) then the first Saturday run will be on New Year's Day.
 
The set is being reduced from 6 back to 4 coaches so that it can stable in the bay platform at Chester. The reason it went up to six is reportedly excessive brake block wear on the class 47. If this occurs again then perhaps it go back to 6 coaches, although there is also a problem it it gets run into Platform 1 at Manchester Oxford Road which can only take four coaches.

If you have paid £12 for the new National Rail Timetable at your local fiction supplier you will read that the Manchester - Llandudno service on Saturdays is cut back to run Runcorn East - Llandudno until April 2005.  However, we have been told (unofficially - can anyone confirm?) that this is an error and full Saturday services start again on 1 January. Just as well, since the only alternative on offer to Manchester passengers recently has been the stopping service from Manchester to Chester via Northwich, worked by an overcrowded two-car 142 and with a long wait at Chester for connections to the Coast. - 8 January
Something for the weekend

There's a couple of Model Railway exhibitions coming along that may be of interest to readers. The Rhyl & District Model Railway Club hold its 3rd Annual Show on Saturday 11 December, 10.30am - 5.00pm at the Presbyterian Church Hall, Nant Hall road, Prestatyn (200 yards from the station along the High Street).Featured are British, European and American outline layouts large and small in all the popular scales.  Trade/Sales stands, displays, light refreshments. Admission:  £1.50, children/OAP £1.00, Family  £4.00.

For those who prefer the more grandiose type of event, there's the Wigan MRS show on Saturday 11 December (10:00 -17:30) and Sunday 12 December (10:00 - 17:00) at the Robin Park Arena, which is apparently opposite the JJB stadium in Wigan.

On the preserved railway front,  Class 40 fans should note that on Saturday 11 September  40 135 will be working on the East Lancashire Railway providing Ramsbottom - Rawtenstall shuttles, hopefully with its steam heating working for the true atmosphere.  'Santa Special' trains will be running  Bury to Ramsbottom, and there's also a feeder shuttle running Heywood - Bury. we think the Santas are top n' tailed steam & 47 769. These specials seemingly require advanced booking but the Rawtenstall shuttle is a normal 'walk-on' service.  - 8 December

WW2 destroyer lookalike - by Terry Eyres



47 839 about to give up the ghost as it nears Abergele on Saturday 4 December half an hour late; still travelling at speed, but sounding like a bag of spanners as it passed on convoy PQ 38 ... sorry, the10:17 Crewe –Holyhead and, as we now know, the train only got to Llandudno Junction. - 8 December

That Brotherhood again - by Rob Lorton

Speaking of Class 40s, I was having a browse around the North Wales site, and came across a query about the headboards adorning 40 145 on her return to mainline tour. The Class 40 Brotherhood was a group of north
west & Yorkshire lads who used to turn out regularly for such trains as 18:00 SuO Manchester - Newcastle c1977-79. Several of the 'usual suspects' from the Class 40 bashing mob formed it and were in it. They had a badge with a design similar to that headboard. I seem to recall reading a newsgroup posting that someone kept the rear of the headboard updated with all the Class 40's it had headed up. Unless I'm mistaken, I think the latter day entrance qualification to the brotherhood was having over 100 40's for haulage, each for over 100 miles.

I think the first tour headboard was auctioned through the Class Forty Preservation Society  magazine directly with Pathfinder, but I never got to hear what happened to it. None of those other headboards were raffled. The brotherhood headboard is still cherished (not sure who the owner is) , and so is "the Bangor". I have a short note about that on the CFPS site:

"One nice anecdote was the reappearance of the most legendary of the home-made headboards, "THE BANGOR". According to a message posted on the Dreadful site discussion forum, the headboard's last trip was adorning 40 004
on the last 'Bangor' (see Class 40 story part 3). In all the excitement, the owner forgot to retrieve the headboard, and it ended up in the offices above Manchester Victoria station. Some eight years later, it was taken to lost property when the station offices were demolished. Thankfully, it was spotted by a Class 40 enthusiast, who kept it safely. He brought it along on the 'Christmas Cracker 4' tour, and it was fitted to D345 for a trip down the Coast once again. Not surprisingly, the chap who originally made the headboard was also on the tour, and so it was duly returned to the rightful owner after twenty years!"

The "East Lancs Venturer" was made for ELR-based steam locos to fly the flag for the ELR when they go on the mainline - so we borrowed it for 40 145 that day!  The next mainline outing for 40 145 is on 22 January with  a Pathfinder Tour from  York to London Liverpool Street, Norwich and return. In the meantime, why not buy a CFPS calendar? - 8 December
Holyhead depot - with Mark Lloyd Davies



Some pictures at Holyhead on Sunday 5 December at 09:30. Unfortunately there was no loco hauled set on this morning due to the previous day's loco problem; the units in view include a very clean 158 840 in Arriva colours minus branding. This unit was exceptionally clean in particular the bogies being in workshop black paint. Units 175 110 and 115 also present.



A previous Notice Board asked what the new facility at Holyhead was for; on 5 December a Voyager 220 unit was parked in the shed. I am told this facility is for servicing the 221s and includes a new fuelling point, pit, and gantry hoist.



Another view ....



 ... and finally this view from the side of the A55 of the facility showing fuel tanks. - 8 December

'Security' strikes again

Tom Hayes writes: 'On Friday 3 December I decided a trip down the Coast to film the Holyhead RHTT  would be a nice way to spend my day off;  I stopped off at Frodsham to film the outward working from Wigan. I had only been on the station ten minutes when along came two members of the British Transport Police. I was asked if I was intending to travel by train. When I answered "No" I was then asked what I was doing there. I informed them that I was a train enthusiast and that I was waiting to film a particular train.They didn't seem convinced and asked me to rewind the tape so they could view it and that if I refused they would consider confiscating either the tape or the camera or both. Of course I allowed them to view the tape after which I was ejected from the platform with a warning not to go there again unless I was travelling by train. On the one hand its reassuring to know that the BTP give some priority to security at stations, but at this level and at Frodsham?'

If we might venture an editorial comment, we'd suggest that the correct response from the Officers might have been something like 'Fine, carry on, if you see any suspicious activity be sure to film it and let us know.'  Perhaps they should visit the viewing park at Manchester Airport, where notices welcome plane spotters and ask them to keep and eye open for anyone not  behaving in a normal enthusiasts' manner and help keep the airport secure. - 7 December
Nostalgia time



The 1960s, from the camera of Dave Sallery - the theme of Dave's latest website Steaming through the 60s which features many of Dave's steam loco pictures including one of your complier's favourite locos, 41220, on Stockport Edgeley shed. The example here shows ex-GWR 0-6-2T 6697 looking especially scruffy at Croes Newydd shed, Wrexham,  August 1965. Well worth a visit. - 8 December
That strange wagon again



The article that went with these pictures went walkabout from the previous issue: sorry ... here it is now! The Network Rail Structure Gauging Train made an appearance on the Coast line on 1 December, as seen stabled at Bangor in these views by Alan Crawshaw.  31 233 was at the west end of the train....



... proving that yellow is not the most hard-wearing of colour schemes. Consist of the train was: 31 233,  DB977986,    DB977985,  DC460000,  DB975081,  DB975280,  31 285.



A close-up of intriguing vehicle DC460000. This optical gauging vehicle, which uses optical equipment during night-time runs to measure to distance to tunnel walls, etc. was specially built in the mid-1980s; also in this train are the two vehicles which were specially modified to work with it. RDB975081 - formerly Test Coach Hermes which was converted to a driving trailer vehicle, although it is no longer used in this role, and RDB975280 - formerly Test Coach Mercury  houses computer data collection and staff facilities. Some fine pictures of the train in its original form can be seen on that fine website www.old-dalby.com to which many thanks for the information.



And at the other end 31 285. Note the video cameras and lights. The SGT last came to our attention in February 2003, and can be seen in some different colours on our Notice Board of 26 February 03 with a follow-up item with technical information the following week. Serco's website has some more about this, and modellers can apparently find details in the March 1994 Railway Modeller. - 7 December



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