THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
71000 Duke of Gloucester passing Treborth, 7 May. (Alan
Crawshaw)
The Duke rides again: Picture Special
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Edition of 08 May 2005
One of this site's favourite locomotives, 71000 Duke of
Gloucester, worked the Crewe - Holyhead - Crewe leg of an 'Irish
Mail' charter which originated from St Albans. Here she (he?) is
speeding through sunny Rhyl on time with the 1Z74 westbound working.
Picture by Larry Goddard.
The train was, as usual, booked to stop for water at Llandudno
Junction, giving Larry Goddard chance to race the train to Penmaenmawr.
Larry writes: 'Sun, sand, sea and the wrong kind of smoke at as 71000
passes Penmaenmawr ... Some photographers got a right soaking at
Mochdre so mustn't complain!'
Rowan Crawshaw's view shows the train just west of Bangor. Were
some coaches removed at Bangor, as one report states?
Passing the unusual signalbox at Ty Croes station (Eryl Crump)
Floral signs of late spring as the return working passes Valley
(Picture by Corrie)
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch ...
now, what's this funny yellow line for? (Picture by Eryl Crump)
Returning through Abergele. 'A last-minute change to exposure was
necessary when the sun suddenly lit up the foreground.' writes Larry
Goddard.
A final view of the train passing through Chester station on the
through lines (Laurence Wheeler)
Appendix
The Duke has recently been in service on the East Lancashire Railway:
here we see it entering Ramsbottom on 16 April with a Rawtenstall -
Heywood service. Those big BR tenders were definitely not designed for
tender-first running...
Taken on the same day, a close-up of the connections to the British
Caprotti valve gear which is distinctive feature of 71000. The
valves are operated by rotating shafts, which require universal joints
to allow for the movement of the suspension. www.dukeofgloucester.co.uk
has some very interesting information about this equipment as well as
many other aspects of the locomotive.
The pacific left the ELR on 22 April, and Paul Braddock was in position
at the level crossing near the ELR-Network Rail boundary to capture
this striking view for us.
The Duke of Gloucester's next outing on the main line appears
to be a Kings Cross - Scarborough - Doncaster run on 11 June organised
by the Railway
Touring Company. Thanks as always to everyone involved in restoring
this magnificent machine and in operating this train. - 8 May