THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
Fortunately for North Wales fans, 37 408, one of the two
Class 37 locos repainted in Arriva colours to match stock sent to
Rhymney for loco-hauled services, worked a 'Northern Belle' to Blaneau
Ffestiniog recently. This popular loco is to be renamed Frail Pool
after a local beauty spot in Rhymney. (Larry Goddard)
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Edition of 01 April 2005
Coupling
problem solved
A spirit of co-operation between model manufacturers and railway
operators continues with Bachmann agreeing a new licence arrangement
with Virgin following consultation on a new coupler to replace the
Delner coupling. An test run took place amid secrecy between Chester
and Holyhead recently, and is seen passing Bodorgan in this unique
picture by Larry Goddard. Apparently the results of the test
are due for publication on 1 April.
Well, all right, those items above are spoofs, but by a coincidence we
recently came across a genuine article in an 1887 supplement to Scientific
American courtesy of Project
Gutenberg. The text includes the following:
'The new automatic railway coupling illustrated ... is the invention of
Mr. Richard Hill, and has been practically developed by Mr. B.H.
Thwaite, of Liverpool. It will be seen that the system is somewhat
similar to the parallel motion when in action.The catch and peculiarly
shaped hooks slide over the cross and catch bars. These latter turn
horizontally on a central pivot attached to the jaw end of the drawbar.
The cross catch bars adjust themselves to the direction of the line of
pull in the drawbar. The cranking of the drawbar allows for the
deflection of the buffer springs....The trial was a success. The new
automatic coupling satisfactorily underwent the various conditions, and
it was proved that: 1. It can be lifted out of action with one hand and
quite easily. 2. It can be coupled and uncoupled six times as fast as
with the pole hook in the daytime. At night this advantage would be
considerably increased.' - 1 April
In the real world part 1
It gets quite difficult to invent odd things to put on the 1 April
page, when such odd things happen on the real world of the railways.
For example, think back to the days when Stephen Byers MP closed down
Railtrack. Regulator Tom Winsor saved his notes of the meeting between
himself and Mr Byers on 6 October 2001, and these notes have not been
released following a request under the Freedom of Information Act and
can be read (PDF format) on the ORR
website.
'It was a very stiff and formal meeting' writes Mr Winsor. He even
makes footnotes to his notes! For example 'I wondered how they thought
they could do that.' Even more bizarrely, it's also possible to
find the official Department
of Transport minutes of the same meeting, with 'Confidential and
Market Sensitive' written on every page. An insight into the workings
Whitehall indeed. -1 April.
In the real world part 2
On a much happier note, and this too is genuine information, a very
special charter train will be running from Crewe to Crewe on Saturday
afternoon 2 April. Rumour has it that it is part of the celebration of
someone's wedding. LNWR staff at Crewe have been giving 'very special
preparation' to two DRS Class 37s, and we understand the 'Queen of
Scots' luxury stock will be used. (Acknowledgements to the Rail-Gen
mailing list for the following.)
1Z37 15:00 CREWE - CREWE 2 April
Crewe Plat 12 Dep 15:00
Plat 1 Line SL
Crewe Steel Works 15/04
Beeston Castle & T.S.B. 15/14
Chester Arr 15:26
Chester South Jn. 16/02
Saltney Jn 16/07
Wrexham General Arr 16:25 Dep 16:35
Gobowen 16/50
Shrewsbury 17/12
Wellington (Shropshire) 17/25
Madeley Jn (Shropshire) 17/32
Cosford 17/38 Plat 12
Stafford Rd Jn 17/48
Bushbury Jn 18/07
Stafford No4 18/22
Stafford 18/23
Norton Bridge 18/28
Madeley 18/37
Crewe Basford Hall Jn 18/44
Crewe Arr 18:48
Well, we can only wish the passengers a happy day! - 1 April
Footnote
And owd codger writes: 'I was amused by Concrete Bob's reference (last Notice Board)
to a 'very co-operative layout owner' - Oldham King Street.
Oldham Co-operative store was on King Street ... I still
remember my divi (dividend) number!' - 1 April
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