THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd
hysbyseb
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Last update 31 July 2005
To Aberystwyth, 9 July
The Cambrian Coast line has been much in the news of late, and we have
received some marvellous contributions, so it seems like the time to
devote a page to them. It's great to see loco-hauled charters
reaching the coast again, including the lines to both Aberystwyth
and Pwllheli. 9 July saw a train organised by the Worksop depot
charity committee make its way to Aberystwyth, and Phil Chilton
was there to record 37 406 The Saltire Society and 37
416 making their onto the Cambrian main line at the iconic location
of Sutton Bridge Junction, south of Shrewbury, collecting the radio
electronic token for the first section to Welshpool.
Phil managed to stay ahead of the train and capture this fine image of
the train passing the closed Glandyfi station on the Aberystwyth
branch. Glandyfi station building is now a house, by the start of the
path which leads to Dovey Junction station. The water is the estuary of
the Afon Dyfi.
To Pwllheli, 16 July
A big day for the Pwllheli line was Saturday 16 July, when the Past
Time Rail 'Cambrian Coast Flyer' from Bristol traversed the line, with
37 406 hauling the 9-coach rake from Machynlleth to Pwllheli and back
in glorious sunshine. Several of our website contributors were in
attendance, including the compiler himself and his wife who were
staying in the
always-excellent Llwyndu Farmhouse Hotel
at Llanaber especially for the
occasion.
The bridge over the Mawddach at Barmouth is the highlight of the line:
Eryl Crump's picture shows the special making its way across
Bont Y
Bermo.
Charlie and Joanna, along with a number of other railfans, were waiting
at Barmouth's classic viewpoint to capture the train coming off the
bridge. From here, using binoculars, it is actually possible to observe
trains some time earlier as they pass Llwyingwril and climb the Friog
rocks. This picture by Joanna Hulme.
A panorama of Barmouth harbour as the train approaches Barmouth (Eryl
Crump)
The same scene from a closer
viewpoint (Terry Eyres)
The harbour steps to the left of this view are where the little ferry
boat
sets sail to the terminus of the Fairbourne Railway at
Penrhyn Point. (Eryl Crump)
Mark Herbert took this view of the return train at Porthmadog
station.
For the return working we emerged from swimming in the sea
between Barmouth and Llanaber to capture this view and get some
friendly waves from the passengers! (Joanna Hulme)
Climbing the gradient towards Friog (Bushcutter) - the beauty of
this coastline speaks for itself.
Near Tonfanau (Terry Eyres)
And, surprisingly, 37 406, which had disgraced itself by suffering
mechanical problems two weeks earlier causing the Pwllheli train to be
diverted to Blackpool, was give the job of tackling the fearsome grade
to Talerddig summit without assistance. 'Bushcutter' was
there to
witness the successful effort.
Those were the days
Terry Eyres sends us these great views from the days when
37-hauled
service trains could be seen in the area. Above we see none other than 37
429 Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Crossing Briwet Toll Bridge on
4 June 1988 with the 08.00 Pwllheli –Euston.
37 008 and 37 197 coming off Barmouth Bridge on
the same date with the 09.18 Euston – Pwllheli.
37 431 County of Powys at Picnic Island (Dovey Estuary)
on 27 May 1989 with the 09.40 Pwllheli – Euston. The coaches are
borrowed from Network South East.
37 431 again, climbing up to Friog twelve months later on 26 May 1990
with the 09:32 Pwllheli – Euston.
Harlech interlude
Here's some views of the normal services on Sunday 17 July at the
passing station of Harlech, which lies in the shadow of Edward I's
great castle.This view by Joanna Hulme.
Taken from the castle, a southbound train calls at Harlech station amid
the discarded beer cans which are strewn around the track.
Platform view of a Pwllheli - Machynlleth train arriving, with the
mountains of Snowdonia as backdrop.
Another charter ran on 30 July, hauled by 37 401 The Royal
Scotsman (ex-Mary Queen of Scots). Trevor Roberts' picture
above shows the morning arrival at Barmouth.
The evening train passing Barmouth viewpoint. (Trevor Roberts)
Time keeping had been good on this train, although it was 22 minutes
late departing Barmouth in the evening due to the down train that it
was crossing 23 minutes being late. Note the 'chocolate and cream'
coach behind the loco - redolent of the heyday of the steam-hauled
Cambrian Coast Express.
Two photos taken by Dave Sallery on 26 July of Arriva class 158s on the
Cambrian Coast line. Above, 158 825 crosses the bridge
over the Afon Artro near (the other) Pensarn station on its way to
Pwllheli.
158 854 has just left Llandanwg on a southbound working.
The board reading 410(T) is believed to be an identity number for the
foot crossing, in case any incident needs to be reported by radio.
Recent news is that Cambrian is going to be the first to get a new
signalling system by 2008, at a cost of 60 million pounds!
Comments welcome on how you would spend the money, bearing in mind that
there's apparently nothing wrong with the present radio electronic
token block signalling, most of the track is worn out bull-head rail
and several major structures need lots of money spending on them.
But hey, read this: 'The SRA and Network Rail are working with
the Welsh Assembly Government to ascertain the financial case for and
practical feasibility of, using ERTMS in conjunction with additional
passing loops and further improvements to increase average speed and
help support an hourly service between Aberystwyth and Birmingham.'
So after spending 60 million there might, just might, be a better
service. See http://www.sra.gov.uk/news/2005/6/ERTMS for more
details.
From the old slide box
Finally, a couple of views from Charlie's old slides - 1984 when
semaphore signalling and electric key tokens still ruled the roost on
the Cambrian Coast. Above, Harlech with a northbound train calling.
The end of the line at Pwllheli: the diesel parcels unit was the
nearest thing to a locomotive allowed across Barmouth Bridge after
damage by marine boring worms was discovered; it was used to haul
ballast wagons.