THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
. 
The 'Weedkiller' at Llandudno Junction on the evening of 20
July, taken just before 21:00, awaiting the road for the Llandudno
branch. 20 309 leading. 20 312 on rear. Picture by Jimmy
Johnson. (See story below)
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Last update 26 July 2005
Daisy rides again
(again)
Class 101 fans might like to know that 101 685, the famous
train which was painted in original green back in 1984 for use on the
Conwy Valley branch,. is to feature in a special running day at her new
home, the Elescar Railway on Saturday 30 July. This little line is a
short walk from Elsecar main line station, which is served by an hourly
service from Sheffeld - Huddersfield service on Saturdays: an
interesting outing, perhaps? See www.101685.org.uk for
details. - 26 July
Vegetation Control
A most unusual gathering of four Class 20s at Valley occurred
on 19 July, when the sidings there were used to stable a vegetation
control (weedkiller) train operated by DRS at the same time as the
usual flask train was present. Our correspondent Corrie was
able to capture this event. 20 307 + 20 310 were on the
flask train., 20 309 + 20 312 on the weedkiller.
Later that evening, here's more shots from Corrie: the
weedkiller train prior to departure from Valley triangle ...
... emerging from the sidings in the setting sun ...
... and after crew had changed ends the train set off at its very slow
pace onwards across the island.
The next evening, 20 July, and 6Z06 was back at Valley, still with
20 309 and 20 312.
A close-up of the water tank wagon, presumably one of the same
vehicles used on the leaf-busting water cannon trains last year.
The spraying coach, no. 99019, was concerted from Mk1
buffet car 1870. (Acknowedgements to www.departmentals.net)
Note the dreaded ragwort in the foreground: this poisonous plant has a
law all of its own: the Ragwort Control
Act 2003....
Out onto the Main Line.
The evening's schedule was: Valley DRS-19:39,Valley-19:47/19:52,
Bangor pass-20:18, Llandudno Jn-20:36/21:01, Llandudno-21:21/21:55,
Llandudno Jn-22:08/22:22, Rhyl-23:07, Holywell Jn-23:46/00:01,
Chester-01:09, Crewe-02:12, Gresty Lane-02:27. Eifion Hughes
captured these two views of the train passing Bangor.
The story behind this working is that there are not quite enough
Network Rail 'multi-purpose vehicles' to cover all the required duties,
so a tender was issued for someone to provide motive power for one
train. DRS won the contract, and it is natural that this should be used
on the North Wales line which which DRS drivers are familiar. But did
they need a refresher course for the Valley - Holyhead, Llandudno and
Blaenau lines? - 26 July
57 310 Kyrano at Bagillt en route for London, Sunday 17
July. (Tim J. Rogers)
Sunday 17 July locos
Expected on Saturday 16 July, DRS loco 47 501 did not put in an
appearance at Holyhead until the following day. Here it is stabled with
its rake on Mk 3 coaches at Holyhead (Picture by Corrie)
The blue machine calls at Bangor with the 1A53 16:07 Holyhead to
London. (Rowan Crawshaw) This loco has had a less eventful
history than many 47s, especially in numerological terms, having been
renumbered just once, in 1974, from D1944.
Also running with a Mk3 set was 57 310 Kyrano, pictured
by Alan Crawshaw leaving the Britannia Bridge single-line
section with 1A41, the 13:09 Holyhead - London.- 24 July
It's a long way down
A fascinating bird's (or sheep's) eye-view by Dave Sallery
from Penmaenmawr mountain. 66 049 waits to leave Penmaenmawr
yard on an EWS stone train to Chesterton Junction, 14 July 2005
Saturday, Mk 3
Saturday 16 July saw the two 'standby' Mk3 coach rakes out on the Coast
again:: 57 311 Parker worked 1D22 08:45 London -
Holyhead, 1A41 14:15 Holyhead -London and 1D25 17:13 London -
Holyhead. Picture above by Tim J. Rogers shows 57 311
westbound past Mold Junction.
A 175 sneaks into the scene as 1D22 passes Shotton station. (Tim E.
Rogers)
On Anglesey, passing Ty Croes distant signal in a spectacular telephoto
shot from Ty Mawr. (David Flitcroft)
The return working, 14:15 from Holyhead also taken at Ty Mawr by David
Flitcroft. The Driving Van Trailer is 82126.
The same train passes Mostyn (Tim J. Rogers) Early reports had
said this diagram would have been handed to a hired DRS class 47, but
apparently it did not arrive in the area on time.
Ex-First Great Western green 47 816 was in charge of 1D00 05:02
Birmingham NS - Holyhead, 1A24 09:14 Holyhead - London, and 1D26 19:13
London - Holyhead. This is 1A24 approaching the Britannia Bridge. (Alan
Crawshaw)
The same train, 09:14 Holyhead - London passing one of the new signals
at Mold Junction (Tim J. Rogers) These Mk3 rakes make it
easy for the website compiler to sort out westbound trains from
eastbound ones, except that these two sets have the DVT at opposite
ends!
Thanks as always to the contributors of the North Wales
Train News Yahoo Group. Well worth joining for up-to-date 'gen.' -
23 July