THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
Warning: a lot of pictures of 47 847 approaching! Picture from
5 February at Llanfairfechan by Phil Chilton.
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Edition of 21 February 2005
A week in pictures
Apologies to those readers who like our political and historical items:
there follows a round-up of the events of the final week of Arriva
Trains Wales loco-haulage - except for the final day which has
generated so many pictures they will appear in the next update.
Saturday 12 February
47 847 Railway World Magazine / Brian Morrison
at Rhosneigr with the 13:35 Holyhead-Manchester, on 12 February.
Fortunately Angelsey was the only place in North Wales where the sun
shone ... just! The first part of this diagram had been covered by a
Class 175 but 47 847 took over the diagram at Chester on
the outward run.
The week began with a
concerted attack on our area by Mother Nature - first we had storms and
gales, with waves crashing over the line, and then to enhane people's
Valentine's Day experiences, a earth
tremor measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale and centred on Colwyn
Bay. However, the railway seems to have emerged unscathed, and
our reportes were soo back in action again.
Tuesday 15 February
Tuesday 15 February, and 47 812 made an appearance on the Arriva
loco-hauked diagram, seen first arriving at Manchester Oxford Road with
the 07:41 from Chester.
Later, the 13:35 Holyhead - Manchester calls at Bangor. Picture
by Alan Crawshaw, who writes: 'It arrived Bangor at 14:07; the driver
popped into the mess room on the platform, returned a few minutes later
and it left 10 minutes down at 14:12.' Ceraly an omen of some kind, as
the train failed at Astley between Warrington and Manchester and stayed
there for three hours before it was rescued by 47 843 sent from Crewe.
Wednesday 16 February
The 10:03 Manchester - Holyhead at Llandygai
on the approach to
Bangor with trusty old 47 847 back in charge.
The return trains at Abergele with the 13.35 Holyhead-Manchester, while
refurbishment of the signalbox continues. (Larry Goddard)
"Oh look, a Voyager" said Mr.Duck, as he and his pals watched the 10.52
Crewe-Holyhead pass by Conwy Castle on the same day. (Larry Goddard.)
Thursday 17 February
It's a misty morning at Manchester Piccadilly as 47 847 stands at
Manchester Piccadilly after working the 07:41 from Chester.
47 847 departs:
wmv video,
500 KB
The 10:03 Manchester - Holyhead crosses the Dee after leaving
Chester (Darryl Thomas)
Westbound past the improvised semaphore junction signal at Abergele
with the 10:03 Manchester - Holyhead.
Later the same day, 847 comes off the Britannia Bridge with the
Holyhead - Manchester. (Alan Crawshaw)
At Bangor station. (Rowan Crawshaw)
Conwy Castle looms large over 847. (Larry
Goddard)
Hippos meet at Abergele as 175 105 rolls in with the 10:16 Manchester -
Llandudno while sister 175 106 enters the station with the
11.45 Llandudno - Manchester. (Larry Goddard)
Our contributor John Murray was heading south on the early morning
Holyhead - London train with 390 038 City of London
which was dragged from Chester to Crewe by 57 312 The Hood.
Here the Pendolino stands at the buffers at Euston. Our friends
at www.railhead.org.uk have calculated that, including the empty
returns to Crewe and back overnight, the coast 390s travel 30% more
miles disel-hauled than they do under their own power.
Pictures of these 'drags' are rare due to being all in darkness, but
here's one by Darryl Thomas showing the evening London - Holyhead at
Chester the same day, with 57 303 Alan Tracy attached.
Friday 18 February
Friday 18 February, and 847 is again on duty, but the weather showed no
signs of improvement. In Alan Crawshaw's picture it
storms through Frodsham with the Manchester to Holyhead.
1D37 again amid some signs of spring at Llandulas (where the heavens
duly opened in honour of Darryl Thomas being there to take the
picture)
The return working passes Penmaenmawr .... (Alan Crawshaw)
... where 66 506 was 'in jail' while pausing between ballast
trains. (Alan Crawshaw)
Another view of 1H52, the return working to Manchester, taken by Darryl
Thomas at Broughton - just behind the Aerospace factory.
At the same location, 20 311 (we think, please correct us if
this is wrong) and 37 602 with the Flask at the same location.
Darryl Thomas's picture brings to an end our survey of most of the
train times to be found on the North Wales line in the final week of
regular Class 47 working.
Now for the task of collating and editing all the pictures (phew!) from
the final day, Saturday 19 February. Keep watching ...
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