THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE
BOARD
Hysbysfwrdd Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru
In a Canadian-style blizzard on 17 February, 67 018 Keith Heller, in its maple-leaf
livery to celebrate that gentleman's retirement from DB Schenker, was
working for Wrexham & Shropshire. It is seen heading north at 15:50
south of Gobowen (Stavros Lainas)
This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and
supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
26 February 2010
Recycling
We would like to reassure all contributors that we never give permission for pictures
contributed to this site to be copies or used anywhere else. If asked,
we pass on the request to the photographer, who retains the copyright
at all times.
Currently, someone called 'Mr Cool' is copying pictures from here (and
elsewhere) and putting them on his 'flickr' site ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43840986@N04/
As far as we can tell, he has not asked
anyone for permission. Contributors might like to take a look there for
our familiar embedded copyright statements bearing their names.
Bangor to York via the KWVR - report by Alan Crawshaw
The Keighley and Worth
Valley Railway Winter Steam Gala on 12 February afforded an
opportunity to visit a line I'd not seen since the 1970s, and Rowan has
never seen, by making a detour on our way to York to visit my parents.
We booked the tickets the previous day as we'd be catching the 06:02
loco-hauled as far as Crewe. I worked out that the cheapest fare for me
would be to take advantage of the 'Club 55' fare to Manchester, but I
later spotted in the 'terms and conditions' that it's not valid for
trains arriving in Manchester before 09:30 - which isn't mentioned on
the posters and wasn't pointed out by the booking clerk. To avoid the
risk of unpleasantness with the conductor I bought a single from Crewe
to Manchester, which wiped out the saving.
57 314 rolled in on time and
around 20 people boarded at Bangor. After a pleasant ride along the
coast we alighted at Crewe (photo above), looked at 47 839/843 in the old depot ...
... saw Fastline 66 301 pass
through (above) and boarded a Voyager to Piccadilly, where we
transferred onto a class 170 unit bound for Hull. At Leeds we had our
first ride on a Class 333 electric set which took us efficiently up the
line to Keighley for slower but more charismatic accommodation.
After buying our Rover tickets we stepped straight onto the corridor
set, hauled by BR Standard tank 80002.
A
sharp
shower
greeted
our
arrival
and there was much slipping as 80002
pulled us up the gradient on the wet rails. It was a lovely ride up to
the end of the line at Oxenhope (above), with occasional sunshine to
illuminate the scenery.
We rode back as far as Haworth where we photographed WD 2-8-0 90733 on
shed (photo). This is the only survivor from this numerous class, its
interesting history is related at in the KWVR stockbook.
Next was the beautifully restored Metropolitan Railway set ...
... hauled by visiting N2 0-6-2T 1744
(above).
We spent the rest of the day enjoying this marvellous line and enjoying
the variety of rolling stock, including the more prosaic suburban
non-corridor coaches, and ended with a ride behind Ivatt tank 41241, once allocated to Bangor shed
(above).
The journey home featured a rail replacement bus between Chester and
Rhyl.
Before boarding we grabbed a couple of shots of the 66s on engineering
trains.
At Rhyl we could faintly hear a 66 ticking over to the east of the
station.
RCTS meeting, 1 March
The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society (RCTS) meeting takes
place on Monday 1st March at 7.45 p.m. at the Lever Club, next to Port
Sunlight railway station.
The evening will see a digital presentation by the Society's National
Hon. Publicity Officer, Mr David Kelso of Broadstairs. He will be
presenting a selection of his scenes of Scottish railway activities in
the 1950s and 1960s. Visitors will be made most welcome after making a
£2 donation at the entrance to the meeting. Such donations
contribute a great deal to the well being of the local branch.
Telephoned enquiries about this meeting can be made to Richard Neale on
0151 - 608 4296
Merseyrail unit movements
On 16 February, silver 67 029 Royal Diamond was observed
returning two Class 507 Merseyrail EMUs, 507 010 and 507 012, to Birkenhead from
Doncaster works. The double unit move from Arpley - Birkenhead
(the units are moved from
Doncaster - Arpley during the night) was scheduled for the 12 Febrary
but a
minor derailment (involving the units and/or the barriers) in Arpley
yard meant the move was eventually postponed to the 16 February. The
train
is seen just north of Wrexham General at 09:43. (Mark Riley)
Later in the afternoon, 67 029 approaches Caergwrle, hauling 507 006 bound for Doncaster works.
The photo was taken from the bridge on Fellows Lane (Mark Riley)
The same train (6X75) at Neston. (Andrew
Vinten)
23 February, and 67 024 passes
Upton (Wirral) hauling 507 033
on 5X75 Birkenhead - Doncaster. (Andrew
Vinten)
There are currently (04 March) 13 more units to go to Doncaster but
there may be some going for a repeat visit so we still have plenty more
moves to photograph.
Wrexham and Shropshire variety - report by Mark Riley
The Wrexham & Shropshire train formations have provided a lot of
interest and variety for photographers / bashers lately! On Saturday 13
February (above), Chiltern blue/white DVT 82302, ex Virgin Mark 3 Open
Standards 12054, 12124 and 12094, blue/grey Buffet First 10257 and
67 010 are the formation for
the 14:18 Saturday service from Wrexham to
to Marylebone. The empty train is seen leaving the loop at Croes Newydd
to run back into Wrexham General station.
16 February, and after the W&S services were diverted into London
Paddington on 14 February, the same formation is reversed with 67 010
now facing south. This is the 1J80 service from Marylebone on approach
to Wrexham General.
There appeared to be just one all silver set running on 7 February: 67 014 Thomas Telford is at the rear of
the 1J80 service this time, with DVT 82305 up front, again
photographed from the same spot because of the sun as it approaches
Wrexham General.
A further variation is the set with DVT 82304 (facing south), Cargo-D
blue/grey Open Standard Mark 3s 12014, 12043, 12038 and silver Buffet
First 10236! It is getting difficult keeping a record of all this ...
An evening at Bangor Bay - with 'Corrie'
Rail blue loco 31 106 stabled
at Bangor on the evening of 19 February with an ultrasonic test train,
which use ultrasound to check for flaws in the rails.
The train was working push-pull with driving trailer 9702. In the
centre
of the train, Ultrasonic test coach 999605, which has been converted
from coach S62482, once part of Southern Region 4-REP set no. 3015.
Apparently it and S62483 were the very last two Mk1 coaches built.
57 315 called with with the
Arriva express from Cardiff to Holyhead ...
... then after the passage of the Holyhead-bound Voyager service
(above), 31 106 drew its short train into the tunnel. After a
short wait for the driver to change cabs it propelled its train
straight through Bangor station and set off to do some testing.
Pendolino views Saturday 20 February
57 303 Alan Tracy at Hargrave south of
Chester with 1D83 London - Holyhead on 20 February (above). The train
was running about 60 minutes late. 'It was very tranquil at Hargrave
just a few birds and rabbits
dotted about,' writes contributor Andrew
Vinten. 'Hopefully spring shouldn't be far away...'
Jostling with the A55 road at Tan Lan, looking just like a view on
someone's model railway that isn't quite finished! (Stéphanie
Durrant)
Heading west from Tan Lan (Darren
Durrant)
Passing Pont Myfyrain near Gaerwen. (Corrie)
Bangor Box - Pictures by Alan Roberts
With reference to the work going on to refurbish Bangor signalbox,
mentioned here recently, Signaller Alan Roberts sends along these
views.The work commenced on Monday 16 November 2009, and includes new
roof, windows, doors, central heating, new kitchen and work
tops.
The original wooden finials at the gable ends have been painted and
will stay. The box (originally Bangor No.2) was built by the LMS
railway (To an LNWR design) in the 1920s, as part of the project to
enlarge the station to have four through platform faces.
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