THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
57 314 Firefly and 390 035 City of
Lancaster, Mostyn, 11 May (Tim J. Rogers)
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Edition of 19 May 2005
Up for the cup
Here are outline times for the Arriva Trains Wales loco-hauled reliefe
trains which will be running on 21 May to carry Manchester United
supporters to the FA Cup Final.
1Z50: Manchester Piccadilly 07:53, Stockport pass 08:02, Crewe
08:36 - 08:41, Wem pass 09:03, Shrewsbury 09:15 - 09:19
Cardiff Central 11:32.
1Z51: Manchester Piccadilly 08:33, Stockport 08:42 - 08:44, Crewe
09:16 - 09:21, Wem pass 09:43, Shrewsbury 09:55 - 09:59
Cardiff Central 12:11.
1Z52: Cardiff Central 18:10, Shrewsbury pass 20:06, Crewe
20:51 - 20:54 Stockport pass 21:19 Manchester Piccadilly 21:33.
1Z52: Cardiff Central 18:34, Shrewsbury pass 20:32, Crewe
21:08 - 21:11, Stockport 21:46 - 21:49, Manchester Piccadilly
21:59.
Two trains does not seem many for the size of crowed expected, but no
dount it's all the railway industry can manage. - 19 May
The early 60s - an appeal by Brian Roberts
My interest in railways began late in 1959 and remains to date.
What frustrates me, however, is the fact that most of my early notes
were discarded so I don’t have a full record of what I saw during the
latter years of BR standard gauge steam.
I know I walked around Llandudno Junction MPD on 16 August 1963 but
have no idea what I saw. Can anyone assist or put me in touch
with anyone who might be able to provide a list of locomotive numbers
present on the day, please? Similarly I know I had days out to
Chester on 11 June 1960, 25 and 29 July 1961, 5 September 1961, 11 as
well as possibly 12 April 1962, and 24 October 1962. Once again no
notes of significance remain to beef up the fading memories. Any
suggestions?
I was further prompted to write after looking at some of my books over
the Easter weekend. Steam in West Cheshire and the North
Wales Border (SD Wainwright) includes a picture at Shrewsbury on 11
June 1960 so presumably the photographer noted something of the trains
I saw operating between Salop and Chester. How might Mr.
Wainwright’s notes be accessed I am bound to wonder?
Norman Kneale’s book North Wales Steam (1927 – 1968) contains
plenty of photographs but little in terms of dates. Steam on
the North Wales Coast by Michael Jones suggests that relevant
information could be out there somewhere if only I knew where to
look. For example the whole of page 38 is taken up with a copy of
the train register compiled on 29 July 1961 at Colwyn Bay No.2 Signal
Box. However, unfortunately there’s not a loco number to be seen!
- 19 May
A North Wales Coast classic scene: 220 111 Roald Amundsen
passes the seafront at Llanfairfechan with a late-running
09:50 Holyhead-Euston at 10:47 on 14 May.
Coupling - report by Ian Bowland
I went to Crewe on 17 May to witness 57 308 Tin Tin
attaching to Pendolino 390 019 Virgin Warrior on
Virgin's "Welsh Dragon" service to Holyhead. The photo shows the
shunter inching the locomotive to initiate the Dellner automatic
coupling. Unlike the days when a locomotive had to be removed from the
train, the 57 parked at the head of platform 12 to await the
Pendolino's arrival.
Everything was on time and the attachment process, although appearing
to be heavy going and complicated, was carried out quickly and without
a hitch. The full sequence of operations in pictures can be seen on www.rail37.com.
Whilst one can discuss forever the efficacy of dragging electrically
powered sets off to Wales, the connection was a fascinating process and
gathered quite an audience of railway staff. The stock was
impressive in the bright evening sunshine and, importantly, the train
was ready for the booked departure time. The 57 received the road and
left on time for Holyhead - a credit to all concerned. - 18 May
North Wales freight notes
We've collected the following observations together with a view to
updating the freight timings on our railfan information page - any
comments, corrections or additions are very welcome.
Freightliner-hauled Ballast Trains Penmaenmawr to Crewe: A morning
train, 6D21, runs most Mondays - Fridays at present. The westbound
empties can be seen at Llandudno Junction by early birds mostly between
06:15 and 07:00. The customary slot is for the eastbound loaded train,
6J22, to depart Penmaenmawr around 10:45, but, annoyingly for
observers, many are currently running earlier or later.
About a couple of times each week; most likely from Wednesday onwards,
a second Freightliner-hauled train operates, 6D23 11:15 Crewe to
Penmaenmawr, which can be seen at The Junction any time after 12:20.
The loaded train returns in the late afternoon - more details welcome.
Unlikely to pass Llandudno Junction before 15:45, we believe.
An EWS-hauled working to Penmaenmawr, using Hanson-liveried wagons and
taking stone to the south of England for construction purposes,
runs on most Saturdays, using the same path as the Monday - Friday
morning ballast train. Larry Goddard's picture of 66 002
on this train (above) is from 14 May.
DRS Flasks: Tuesday and Thursday seem to be the best days at
present, with Friday less reliable.Outward to Valley 6D41 will usually
pass Llandudno Junction between 06:30 and 07:15. They tend to run after
the ballast trains, although occasionally they appear first. The return
working, 6K41 Valley - Crewe, is very elusive; the earliest the
train has been noted at Llandudno Junction is 13:45. One 'hopeful' slot
is a few minutes either side of 16:00. - 18 May
Pendolino vs. Cows
On 13 May the morning Holyhead - London Pendolino became peripherally
involved in a most unpleasant and dangerous incident when a number of
cows managed to get themselves on to the West Coast Main Line between
Rugby and Nuneaton, and were struck at full speed by train 1R16, 07:15
Manchester - London, the Pendolino suffering nosecone and hatch damage,
with some damage under the train, which will put it out of action for
several weeks. Shortly afterwards, 1F11 07:14 London - Liverpool
appeared on the scene and struck the debris, suffering a shattered
windscreen in the process.
Either by the the signalman pushing the panic button, or by cable
damage - any clarification would be welcome - the Holyhead - London
train which was approaching on the southbound line had a green signal
re-set to red in front of it whilst travelling at 125mph in tilt mode;
the driver was able to stop the train within the next signal section -
the
equivalent distance of running at 125mph up to a single yellow and
still stopping at the red signal. It's good to know that the
braking system on these trains has plenty of spare capacity.
Trains were got moving again after an hour or so, and no people seem to
have been injured, but it is to be hoped that the reasons for this
event are fully investigated and steps are taken to make sure it does
not happen again, as it has been shown in the past that bovine bone
material can derail a train which in these circumstances could have
caused a head-on collision.
Thanks to Tony Miles for assistance with this report - 18
May
Virgin territory
The Llandudno Branch has played host to a Voyager every weekday
since 2004. In Larry Goddard's picture one of these
silver units glides through Deganwy with the 13:12 Crewe - Llandudno on
17th May. A start has now been made on marking the 'Club Class' coach
of these units with the international standard yellow stripe above the
windows and large '1' on the doors - and indeed we hear that from June
this will be called First Class on all Virgin trains, removing the
oddity where Club Class becomes First when on the North Wales service,
even thought it is exactly the same. 221 129 was noted recently with
the new markings: pictures welcome.
Speaking of Llandudno, Barry Doe in Rail magazine
launches into a diatribe about how he believes Llandudno to be the
worst seaside station in the country, with is derelict look
(illustrated with an appropriate picture by Larry Goddard) and lack of
staff and information. The station is staffed on the morning
shift only; the London Voyager arrives and departs in the afternoon,
with nobody to help passengers or sell tickets. Not satisfactory,
although Arriva Trains Wales might say they would provide staff if
Virgin paid ... There are plans for a new transport interchange here,
but when and if this will come to pass is hard to say. Surely someone
could at least paint or demolish that old kiosk in the corner of the
concourse? - 18 May
Railtour news
The railtour operated by Lancashire Railtours using the West Coast
Railway Company's Class 47 and 57 601 from Carnforth to
Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog, postponed earlier this year, will now
operate on 25 June. Estimated Coast line timings: Chester
09:30/19:00, Llandudno 10:20-11:20 stopover/18: 00,
Betws-y-Coed 12:20/16:30,
Blaenau Ffestiniog 13:03/16:02. Has a 57 been up the Conwy Valley
before? Here's
the full booking details. - 18 May
New station for Rhyl - from the Daily Post
Rhyl
Miniature Railway, the oldest surviving miniature railway in
Britain, has secured a £484,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery
Fund. The cash will be spent on a new station building. The grant takes
the Rhyl Steam Preservation Trust a step closer to completing its
ambitious plans for a museum and interpretation centre at the station.
It was given £31,500 towards drawing up more detailed plans for
the whole scheme.
The railway, which runs around Marine Lake and was built in 1911, was
the last constructed by Miniature Railways of Great Britain Ltd. The
trains - which date back to the 1920s - are still running and are in
good condition. As part of the development the railway's
privately owned collection of locomotives and rolling-stock will be
donated to the Trust for safe keeping. The new building will safeguard
the collection from vandals and allow conservation work to be carried
out undercover. Plans for the museum include a locomotive display and
state-of-the-art, touch-screen audio-visuals to educate visitors about
the railway, the nearby fairground and the history of Rhyl's mainline
railway. - 18 May
Holyhead Thunderbird
Two views by 'Corrie' from Sunday 15 May showing the afternoon
Virgin train preparing for departure behind 57 308 Firefly.
We recently heard a story of non-railfan passengers from North Wales
commenting that their train had 'broken down and had to be pulled by a
diesel' ... elsewhere, there are rumours of some sort of contractual
problem involving the Strategic Rail Authority leading to a shortage of
'Thunderbird' locomotives this coming summer. Does anyone have the full
story? - 18 May
Lady of Mann - report by
George Jones
The Irish Sea
Shipping website reports that the Isle of Man Steam Packet
Company ship Lady of Mann has been advertised for sale by the Liverpool
Ship Brokers S.C. Chambers. She will be available for delivery in
October 2005, which will be at the conclusion of her charter to
Acor Line. There is therefore the possibility that when the ship
departs the Irish Sea in June for the summer that she may never return
should a sale to an overseas buyer be concluded whilst she is away.
On Saturday 14 May the ship transferred from dry dock at A&P
Birkenhead to the Wet Basin in preparation for her return to service
for her programme of special excursions and TT duties. The day
sailing from Llandudno on 26 May may therefore be the last chance
to sail in a proper ship to the Isle of Man. - 18 May
The Two Avons - report
by Greg Mape
I travelled on the Altrincham to Eastleigh charter run by the
Mid-Cheshire Rail Users Association on 14 May, which called also at
Bath and Salisbury
Here are two views of the train at Altrincham in the early morning, 67
022 and thirteen Mk 2 coaches in various colours.
This is Westbury...
... and this is Southampton Airport Parkway with one of South West
Trains' new Siemens Desiro Class 444 sets. In the background, two
Embraer 145 aircraft of British Airways. - 18 May