THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
Some enthusiasts seem to dislike Class 57s, but why this should
be when they are such striking machines? Weekend engineering works
north of Crewe at the moment mean there are plenty of them to be seen.
In this 27 February view of Crewe station by Tim J. Rogers 57
308 Tin Tin pulls across the crossover from Platform 6
hauling 390 052 Virgin Knight in the foreground, as 57
307 Lady Penelope (note the pink nameplate background)
approaches from the Manchester line with 390 005 City of Wolverhampton.
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Edition of 03 March 2005
Timber!
The several-times-postponed first timber train from Aberystwyth to
Chirk took to the rails on Thursday 3 March., and we are very grateful
to Mike Honeyman for sending along some pictures of the working.
Here's the train during the loading procedure in the run-round loop at
Aberystwyth station; we hear that some of the delay was due to further
preparation of this loading area being required. The train shunted to
the platform line before departure at 11:50, following the 11:40
Aberystwyth - Birmingham passenger train as soon as the latter reached
the end of the token section at Borth.
The formation of 6Z21 11:50 Aberystwyth - Chirk Kronospan was Network
Rail MPV, seven OTA timber wagons, a second MPV (controlled
remotely from the front cab using a
cable strung down the train, we believe) carrying timber on its load
bed in a Kronospan blue-liveried swapbody, and on the rear, star of the
recent passenger train 37 427. Apparently the 37 was there for
'insurance' in case the MPVs had trouble on the gradients to Talerddig;
we have also heard that it was required for its radio electronic token
fitting, but surely there is a portable set available? In any event, it
was removed at Shrewsbury. Note that the leading MPV is carrying its
water
tank, presumably as extra weight for adhesion.
Another view of the train, crossing the river bridge north of
Borth station. It arrived at Wrexham General station at 15:30
where it reversed in platform 3 then went into Croes Newydd loop to
await the passing of a passenger train before heading back to Chirk the
Kronospan siding which can only be shunted by southbound trains. The
train crew reported that everything had gone OK; they had booked on at
Bescot at 04:00.
There's a newspaper report (which also seems confused about the date)
on the Rhyl
and Prestatyn Visitor website.
We are not sure when the next run will be, possibly 4 March or 7 March:
a weekly service is intended. Special thanks to George Jones and
the good folks at uk.railway for information used in this report - 3
March
Loco Haulage alive in
North Wales - report by Darryl Thomas
The Llangollen
Railway held a very interesting diesel gala over the weekend of
26/27 February, based on what the line would have been like if it had
not closed at the end of the steam era.
Here's Class 47 D1566 Orion at Llangollen station.
D1566 crosses a double-header featuring 37 340 and D8142
at Deeside Loop.
25 323 and D1566 at Llangollen.
25 313 and 46 010.... note, not a 'face' in sight! -
3 March
Flasks at Bangor
37 612 and 37
259 liven up Alan Crawshaw's lunchtime on 22
February. - 2 March
Staffing at Llandudno Junction: a query from a Librarian
The following enquiry has been received at the Library of the
University of Swansea. Does anyone have an answer or suggestions for
lines that the researcher could follow up?
'I am researching the history of Llandudno Junction, Conwy, for a
university project. My question is:how many people were employed at
Llandudno Junction station and loco/carriage sheds at their post-war
peak (say, the 1950s)and pre-war (say, the 1920s)? Sources tried so
far: umpteen North Wales rail "history" books which all turn out to be
more interested in engine data and pix than in staffing. ' - 1 March
Dave Sallery's archive
special
As a change from the end of the 47s, here are some pictures from the
golden age of the 37s in North Wales.
With a cheery thumbs up from the cab, 37 175 approaches
Prestatyn on an up service on 10 June 1998.
37 401 Mary Queen of Scots on a down service on 11 July
1999.
37 407 Blackpool Tower on another up service, 23 June
1995. On the left, the sleepers are from the former down slow
line and await removal.
37 421 The Kingsman and 37 425 Concrete Bob
head west on the evening of 2 June 1996. - 1 March
Bangor 31s - by Alan
Crawshaw
On 24 February Network Rail decided to stable a pair of 31s at Bangor
station for our entertainment. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you... 31
128 Charybdis and 31 106 Spalding Town. A more
disparate pair of names would be hard to find. The vehicles between
them are 977969, looking very fetching in yellow, 62482 and 99666. -
1 March
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