THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE BOARD

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Steam test on the Cambrian, 30 June - Picture Special

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Last update 04 July 2005

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Standard 4 at Shrewsbury



We asked for pictures of the steam gauging run on the Cambrian line on 30 June, and we're pleased to say we've received an excellent collection. 'Bushcutter'  stationed himself at Shrewsbury station to observe the arrival of the loco from York, an appropriate starting point as in steam days the overnight York - Aberystwyth mail was one of the line's most famous trains. 76079 ran slightly late into Shrewsbury, ran straight through to Abbey Foregate where it detached from its support coach for it to turn on the triangle (apparently, no steam loco is allowed to run tender-first up Talerddig bank, which seems a shame as it suggests that the photographers at the classic Barmouth bridge viewpoint will see the loco running tender-first);



 it then ran back into the station using the bay platform 5 (when was the last time a steam went in there?) back out to Abbey Foregate onto its support coach, propelled back into platform 5, then straight out to Sutton Bridge.



Built in 1904, Severn Bridge Junction signalbox - with 180 levers - is the largest operational mechanical signal box (in terms of levers) in Europe today. That marvellous website www.signalbox.org has a fine article about it. It;s been said that the Mk2 coach was included in the test because Mk2 coaches have never previously been used on the Cambrian Coast. Can this be true?



More steam: 71000 Duke of Gloucester running from The East Lancashire Railway to the Mid-Hants Railway at Alton the following day; due to late running was recessed at Tyseley overnight. - 4 July


Down the Coast - with David Banasek



Departing from Machynlleth at 08:00, as soon as the 07:30 from Aberystwyth had cleared the section. Dire conditions for photography - thank god for ISO 800 and higher!

Heading for Dyfi Junction. Yes it was as damp as it looks... 


The intention was to follow it up on the 09:08 from Machynlleth, which had been held up for 20 minutes at Tywyn on the way down the coast by the steam train. Judging from the comments made by the guard I don't think he was a steam enthusiast ...



Passing the level crossing at Porthmadog.



Running round at Porthmadog, which involved closing the crossing barriers a total of four times.



Not sure where that headboard appeared from... hopefully they'll have a "Cambrian Coast Express" plate for August.



The late running 11:37 from Pwllheli (158 837) posing with 76079. 76079 eventually left at 12:40, an hour and a quarter later than planned.

Climbing the bank into Minffordd station. Hardly a heavy load, but it made an impressive sight nonetheless.



No trip to the area would be complete without a photo of the Ffestiniog Railway. Here, Blanche ("Ricket" to its friends) accelerates its heavy train away from Penrhyn with the last train of the day. - 4 July

About the Standard 4 2-6-0



Mark Herbert took these two views of 76079 during its run-round manoeuvres at Porthmadog.  76079 is one of the 999 'standard' locomotives built in the early years of the nationalised British Railways, to designs supervised by Robert Riddles, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of BR. 115 of this type were built, some at Doncaster, others at Horwich, and with their axle loading of just 17 tons they were very suitable for lightly-laid lines.



Four of the type still exist, 76017 / 77 / 79 / 84, but 76079 is the only one currently registered to run on Network Rail lines. It is owned by Ian Riley and is normally based at Mr Riley's depot in Bury. - 4 July

Typical, or untypical?



Arriva  promised us that the steam specials would be hauled by a loco 'typical for the line.' Larry Goddard writes: 'I can think of a dozen engines that were typical of the Cambrian Coast Line but the BR Class 4 2-6-0's are not amongst them. It is a bit like saying the Thompson LNER B1's typified the North Wales line. Sure both traversed the relevant lines but they were hardly typical. ...  although I have seen a picture by T.G.Edgington of a Class 4 2-6-0 on the Cambrian. It shows 76040 at Towyn working the 10.30am Pwllheli-Paddington on 2 July 1966. That said, any kind of steam loco is better than none and I don't suppose it would matter if Thomas the Tank hauled trains this coming August!'
- 4 July
The Cambrian steam programme

The steam-hauled  trains will run on six dates, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28 and 29 August, starting at either Aberystwyth, Machynlleth or Shrewsbury and running along the Cambrian Coast Line to Barmouth or Porthmadog. Fares start at £17 for children and £25 for adults and vary according to route. Tickets can be reserved by calling 01743 458130. Service and fare information is outlined below:

Sunday 21 August and Sunday 28 August: Aberystwyth – Barmouth. Adults £30 Children £18
Monday 22, Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 August: Machynlleth - Porthmadog. Adults £25 Children £17
Monday 29 August: Shrewsbury – Barmouth (Connecting Diesel service for the outward train from Shrewsbury to Machynlleth) Adults £50 Children £30.

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