THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
Picture by Gwyn Williams
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Edition of 24 February 2005
Well, as Churchill never said, never in the field of railway websites
have so many pictures of the same train been sent ... the combination
of another 'last train' and so many digital cameras has brought a
profusion of views of the final day of Arriva Trains Wales's 47-hauled
service, Saturday 19 February. So many, in fact, that we'll have to
split them across two pages. Thanks to everyone who recorded this
memorable occasion - it forms an interesting record of the line itself
as well as celebrating a favourite locomotive. As readers have pointed
out, this same machine was involved in the final loco-hauled train for
Virgin Cross-Country, so this was its second 'last.'
Our day starts at dawn in the parcels bay at Chester, where the train
stables for the night. (Dave Bramley)
The train shunted to Platform 1 and started 1H43, the 07:41 to
Manchester from there, for the one and only time. (Dave Bramley)
After the run to Manchester and a sojourn at Longsight, the train runs
in to platform 14 at Manchester Piccadilly to collect the passengers
for 1D37 10:06 Manchester - Holyhead (Ralf Edge)
Heading west, the train crosses the Weaver on Frodsham viaduct (John
Eyres)
Arriving at Chester, Platform 4 (Dave Bramley)
Psssing under the Wrexham - Bidston line at Shotton's two-level station
(Tim E. Rogers)
Intersecting the A55 'expressway' at Llysfaen (Larry Goddard)
Running along the shore near Penmaenmawr ('Bushcutter')
And into Bangor station (Alan Crawshaw)
Down the bank past Holyhead signalbox and an outgoing 175 (Eryl Crump)
...
... over the station throat points (Eryl Crump) ...
... and past the train servicing area (Eryl Crump) ...
... and into Platform 1 at the terminus to pose for photos. (Alan
Crawshaw)
The loco runs into the short shunting neck as the shunter prepares to
operate the ground frame (Alan Crawshaw)
Saturday 26 February:
the High Peaks Hustler
A remarkable railtour is being run by Pathfinder Tours
on Saturday 26
February. The route is as follows:
Birmingham International - Birmingham
New St. - Galton Junc. - Dudley
Port - Wolverhampton - Bushbury Junc. - Stafford -
Crewe (09:50) - Chester - Chester South Junc. (reverse) - Chester
North Junc. (reverse) - Chester - Helsby - Frodsham Junc. - Halton
Junc. - Runcorn - Edge Hill - Liverpool
Lime St. (reverse) - Edge Hill - Huyton
- Earlestown - Manchester Victoria - Philips Park No1 to No2 -
Ashburys - Romiley - Marple Wharf Junc. - Rose Hill Marple (reverse) -
Marple Wharf Junc - Woodley - Hyde Junc. - Guide Bridge - Ashburys
- Philips Park No2 - Baguley Fold Junc. - Ashton Moss North Junc.
- Denton Junc. - Stockport - Davenport - Disley - Buxton (15:55 to
16:55 - break /
reverse) - Buxton XYZ Sidings (reverse) - Great Rocks Junc.
- Chinley East Junc.- Chinley North Junc. - New Mills South Junc.
- Hazel Grove High Level Junc. - Northenden Junc. - Altrincham
- Northwich - Middlewich - Sandbach - Crewe - Stafford -
Bushbury Junc. - Wolverhampton - Dudley Port - Galton Junc.
- Birmingham New St. - Birmingham International.
Expected power is a pair of EWS Class 37s: any pictures of this train
will be welcome. Note the trip round the Chester triangle, the run
down the Frodsham Junction - Runcorn line, and the very rare
loco-worked trip up the Rose Hill Marple branch - 24 February
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