THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
Mostyn, 26 March (Picture by Tim J. Rogers)
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supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Edition of 06 April 2005
Picture special - Saturday 26 March
We've fallen behind with our pictures, thanks to all the unusual event
that have been going on, so this page harks back to the 'old days' of
Saturday 26 March, whren Arriva Trains Wales decided to run a relief
train for the throngs of Northern Ireland football supporters which
they expected to come over on the ferry to Holyhead for the match
against England at Old Trafford, Manchester. They do not appear to have
told the football fans, and in any case Northern Ireland lost, but at
least the 'railwayacs' had a good day.
From the lineside - by John Myers
Reasonable weather and some useful web-based information combined to
allow a little more railway photography in Rhyl last Saturday. Service
1Z47, the ATW 09:30 Holyhead-Manchester Piccadilly additional service,
entered Rhyl on time and still travelling at quite a pace.
Putting in another coastal appearance, 47 815 was leading the
six-coach formation of former VT MkIIs ...
... whilst 47 843 - carrying its original 1960s name of Vulcan
as acquired in October 1965 and when it was D1676 - was attached to
the rear.
A little later, EWS pioneer 66 001 worked the 10:47 SO
Penmaenmawr - Acton Yard stone train, deputising for a Class 60 and was
checked briefly in the station whilst Super Voyager set 221 136
Yuri Gagarin, forming 09:50 Virgin Trains Holyhead-Crewe,
cleared the section.
W'd recommend a visit to the 47 815 page of the excellent www.class47.com
site, where readers might be interested to see a photo of 47 815,
apparently taken at Llandudno Junction on 3 July 1971, displaying
headcode 1D01, wearing what probably was its original two-tone green
paint and still with its pre-TOPS D1748 identity. On the same
page,
another shows it as 47 155 and minus bogies, when it was in use as a
temporary generator set at West Thurrock Power Station, Essex in early
1976.
Seaside selection - by Larry Goddard
First a rugby extra and now a Footex. The 09.30 Holyhead-Manchester
Piccadilly football special speeds past a murky Abergele headed by 47
815 and tailed by 47 843.
47 843 complete with Freightliner banners hangs onto the rear of the
football extra at Abergele.
First born... celebrity 66 001 worked Saturdays Penmaenmawr
'Hanson'
train, pictured at Abergele after a signal-check. It was following
close on the heels of the 09.50 Holyhead-Crewe 'Voyager'. 66 001 has a
definite hump. I wonder if this is a design weakness that will
eventually afflict all the 66s, or perhaps 001 has had a bout of rough
shunting?
Another view of the Hanson train, taken by Tim J. Rogers
at Mostyn. This loco featured on this site when it was brand new and
featured in an exhibition at Chester station.
Travellers' tale - by
Alan and Rowan Crawshaw
We rode the special to Manchester and back; first we see it
leaving Belmont tunnel as a Holyhead bound 175 reflects its yellow end
panel off the Mark IIs.
Rolling into the platform at Bangor.
47 843 on the rear.
The six coaches were very sparsely populated so we were surprised when
two British Ttransport Police officers boarded at Chester and walked
down the train surveying the passengers. It wasn't until we arrived at
Manchester Oxford Road and saw a large police presence that I realised
that England were playing Northern Ireland at Old Trafford and
presumably the expectation was that many Irish fans would be travelling
via the Holyhead ferry. We didn't see one single fan, but appreciated
the class 47 haulage.
We were held by signals on the approach, allowing me to photograph the
line of four sentinel shunters outsise the Creative Logistics depot at
Ordasll Lane (shame about the fence) ....
... and 47 815 on the viaduct approaching Castlefield Junction as
a 175 passed in the opposite direction.
We spent most of the afternoon at the art gallery then wandered the
streets and returned to Piccadilly. The final photo shows 815 again,
this time at the rear. The return journey was again very quiet with
only six passengers occupying the rear two coaches, including us and
two BTP officers. - 3 April
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