02 June 2014
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and especially the rail staff of North Wales.
Forthcoming events
This list may be out of date if you are reading an archived page. For
the current list visit our Calendar.
June 2014
Sunday 15 June Excursion Compass Tours 'The Cumbrian Moorlander'.
Holyhead, Llanfairpwill, Bangor, Llandudno Junction, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl,
Flint, Shotton, Chester, Helsby, Frodsham & Warrington Bank Quay to
Carlisle via the Settle & Carlisle railway route.
July 2014
Saturday 5 July North Wales
Area Group of the N Gauge Society. Welsh N Gauge Model Railway
Show. St Mary's and St John's Halls, Rosehill Street, Conwy.
What? - The largest gathering of N Gauge model railway
layouts in Wales Opening times - 10.00am to 4.00pm Admission
£4.00 adults - £3.00 concessions - Children
under 15 Free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Sunday 27 July Steam on the Coast. Railway
Touring
Company. 'North Wales Coast Express' Liverpool, Broad
Green, Warrington BQ, Frodsham and Chester to Llandudno, Bangor and
Holyhead.
Tuesday 29 July Steam on the Coast. Railway
Touring
Company. Welsh Mountaineer. Preston, Warrington BQ,
Frodsham and Chester to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
August 2014
Sunday 3 August Steam on the Coast. Railway Touring Company.
North Wales Coast Express Crewe, Wilmslow, Stockport, Manchester
Piccadilly, Altrincham and Chester to Llandudno, Bangor and Holyhead.
Diesel-hauled Crewe - Manchester.
Sunday 10 August Steam on the Coast. Railway Touring Company.
North Wales Coast Express Crewe, Wilmslow, Stockport, Manchester
Piccadilly, Altrincham and Chester to Llandudno, Bangor and Holyhead.
Diesel-hauled Crewe - Manchester.
Sunday 17 August Steam on the Coast. Railway
Touring
Company. 'North Wales Coast Express' Liverpool, Broad
Green, Warrington BQ, Frodsham and Chester to Llandudno, Bangor and
Holyhead.
Tuesday 19 August Steam on the Coast. Railway
Touring
Company. Welsh Mountaineer. Preston, Warrington BQ,
Frodsham and Chester to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
September 2014
Tuesday 2 September Steam on the Coast. Railway
Touring
Company. Welsh Mountaineer. Preston, Warrington BQ,
Frodsham and Chester to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Sunday 7 September Steam on the Coast. Railway Touring Company.
North Wales Coast Express Crewe, Wilmslow, Stockport, Manchester
Piccadilly, Altrincham and Chester to Llandudno, Bangor and Holyhead.
Diesel-hauled Crewe - Manchester.
Saturday 20 September Steam on the Coast. Steam Dreams: Cathedrals Express.
London -
Holyhead.
October 2014
Saturday - Monday 18-20 October Land
Cruise Compass Tours
Autumn
Highlander. Holyhead, Llanfairpwll, Bangor, Llandudno Junction, Colwyn
Bay, Rhyl, Flint, Chester, Delamere, Northwich, Knutsford, Altrincham,
Stockport, Manchester Victoria, Bolton, Preston, & Carlisle to
Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh. A 3-day weekend break by rail to the
Scottish Highlands, inclusive of two nights stay in quality hotel
accommodation at Inverness. From £329.00 each.
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67 003 has returned to
Arriva Trains Wales service after a period of just over twelve months. 67 003 worked the Cardiff to
Holyhead 'Premier Express' on the evening of 28 May, and is seen in Ivor Bufton's picture at Rhyl with
train 1V91, the morning train from Holyhead on 30 May.
Flask scenes
The 05:41 Crewe - Valley flask train crosses Malltraeth arches, about
19 minutes early on 28 May. 37 608
is leading 37 423, which after running without logos for a while, now
carries the new-style DRS branding as already seen on the ex-Virgin
Trains class 57/3 locos. Picture by Peter
Basterfield.
The return train, 14:48 Valley - Crewe, is almost lost against
Penmaenmawr mountain as it leaves Pen-y-Clip tunnel in this view from
Penmaenmawr station by Peter Basterfield. The currently unused Hanson's
Quarry sidings can be glimpsed in the left foreground; also visible
just
beyond the A55 are two granite pillars - all that remains of the
former loading jetty.
A few minutes later, passing through Penmaenmawr station (Peter Basterfield).
A smoky passage through Bangor (Rowan
Crawshaw). This irregular working
remains the only commercial freight traffic on the North Wales Coast
line, despite the existence of paths for various other trains which
have been inserted in the timetable for proposed other traffics.
Llandudno Junction at 15:35 (Peter
Lloyd). These trains serve Wylfa power station, with road
transport of the flasks between Valley and that site. Wylfa began
operating in 1971, and was the largest, and last, of the 'Magnox' power
stations to be built; it is believed to be the last in the world still
operating. The Anglesey Aluminium plant, opened in the same period,
took a large portion of its output, but was closed down in 2009.
One of Wylfa's two reactors was shut down in 2012; the other continues
to operate until September 2014, or possibly 2015, after which the long
period of decommissioning begins. It is thought that it will be safe to
dismantle the reactors by 2091. Meanwhile, a new power station is
planned to be built at Wylfa, by a Hitachi-owned company, its
generators driven by steam turbines fed with steam from an advanced
boiling
water
reactor - in other words, a modernistic form of steam
engine.
Beeches Farm, west of Chester (Bob
Greenhalgh) The curious colour variation on 37 423 looks rather
strange.
Crewe Station new entrance - report by Ian Bowland
I visited Crewe station on 29 May and was rather surprised to
see that the underpass was open to the
public.I have wondered for years just what was
down there, having watched the mail trolleys disappear down the slope
years ago, so I ventured down to see. Above, the view from Platform 8.
The underpass currently links the two
main island platforms with the new entrance and car park. This view
looks towards the platform 5
entrance and the main exit to the car park.
Staircase
(and lift, not quite ready) out to the new entrance.
The new entrance, accessed from Weston
Road, seen from the 254-place car park. This new entrance, which
is not staffed but has ticket machines, is intended as an alternative
to the main entrance on the bridge, according to information
from
Cheshire
East
Council. The Official Opening took place on 30 May, we understand
The project's website mentions that 'As part of
the project, a memorial remembering staff who gave their
lives in the Great War is to be erected on the wall of the lift shaft
in the new building. The memorial plaque was recovered from one
of the
derelict buildings which were demolished as part of this project. In
addition, a plaque commemorating Post Office workers who
died in the world wars will be incorporated in the paving, and the
Train
Pension Group is funding a memorial bench to be provided outside the
new entrance.'
Parts of the old structure remaining.
The section not accessible and leading towards Platform 12 and the
so-called 'Horse Landing' on the far side of the station.
Editor's note: The
project website also offers a poem from an old issue of Punch magazine:
How oft since childhood have I
wished I knew
What lay behind the mystery of Crewe;
It was a word on every mystic mouth
Of those who spoke of journeys North and South
And, long before I know what "travel" meant
Crewe was a word of magical content.
"We change at Crewe" said grown-ups, yet they came
Back from adventure looking just the same!
And when, at length, to travelling years I grew
Time but intensified the thrills of Crewe.
Crewe stood for haste, for working in the night,
For noise, for terror and for delight!
For loud-mouthed porters breaking up a dream,
For shrieking whistles and for hissing steam.
Crewe stood for trains in splendour, pomp and glow
For trains and ought else? Oh how I longed to know.
Well worth repeating here, we feel.
Visit to North Wales for
Steam - report by Roger Carvell
On Saturday 24 May I paid my usual annual visit to the 'coast' and
wasn't let down at all, an enjoyable day with excellent timekeeping by
Arriva Trains Wales, but less so by Virgin West Coast. The 08.10
Voyager from Euston
is booked to do the journey in two hours and has done so. Saturday
proved otherwise with a 15-minute late arrival at Chester; there
seemed to be no apparent reason why. The Voyager was put into Platform
3A to avoid any other conflict with ATW to Crewe. After a rain-lashed
journey down the West Coast Main Line, Chester proved to be bright.
The 09:50 from Manchester Piccadilly is seen above, worked by 175 116,
arriving at Chester
through the points that divide Platform 3; the 11:35 Virgin West Coast
Voyager to Euston awaits custom. At Platform 4, a Class 175 is heading
to Manchester from Llandudno.
[Editor's note: It's a shame that the recent improvements to the
station did not include improvement of that dirty brickwork.]
The threatened rain really set in mid-afternoon but I was lucky to
be able photograph 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe in the dry
on the curve approaching
Llandudno Junction, with the with the empty-stock move for servicing.
For more about this train, see the report in the last issue.
5043 has a quiet moment at 'the Junction'. It still seems strange to
see a Great Western locomotive here, after all these years.
47 773 sits at Llandudno
while the train crew enjoy their 'snap' on the cushions. Outside it
really is raining hard. Not much else to do but keep out of the rain.
[The train indicator system fails to interpret the code for Tyseley
Steam Centre.]
Cab storm sheet up, umbrellas up, but still an appreciative audience at
Llandudno. My thanks as always to Arriva Trains Wales train and
station crew. Whoever I spoke to was warm and friendly.
The Llandudno air show almost disappeared into the murk but the four
aerobatic aircraft put on a spirited formation display. Despite the
awful weather I hope the day added to the town's prosperity.
Seen at Crewe, 30 May - pictures by Darren Durrant
58 022 in the car park at
Crewe station after being towed out from the former diesel depot after
16 years of storage. (The trailer had 79 wheels and one flat). The loco
was being moved to Crewe Electric Depot.
GBRf 66 738 (with Biomass
wagons) and Freightliner 70 001
'racing' through the avoiding line at Crewe Salop Junction.
Riviera Trains shunter 08 507
shunting coaches, including one from the short-lived revival of the
'Blue Pullman' brand. This rake of Mk2 coaches was given the Pullman
makeover in 2005, and ran in charter service from January 2006 under
the auspices of FM Rail, a company which unfortunately collapsed later
that year with overwhelming unpaid debts. The coaches passed to
Cotswold Rail, another of the small companies that appeared after
privatisation of the railways and disappeared again soon afterwards.
Most of the Blue Pullman vehicles are now, it seems, owned by
West Coast Railways and have been
repainted; does anyone have details of the coach pictured?
Also now reduced to the role of shunter is 47 847.
The 'Northern Belle' luxury train at Crewe returning from the Lake
District to Coventry. 47 805
leads, with 47 770 on the rear, while over in the 'Thunderbird' siding
is another DRS loco, 57 308 County of Staffordshire.
Ledbury Statesman - report by Richard Putley
Having been used on a Hereford - Carlisle excursion the previous day,
top and tailed by former Arriva Trains Wales locos 57 313 and 57 316, the 'Statesman' locos and
stock ran empty-stock on 1 June from Hereford to the West Coast
Railways depot via Ledbury. I photographed it, and also a London
Midland Class 170 working the 12:00 Hereford - Birmingham Snow
Hill, on Ledbury Viaduct ...
... and also at Ledbury station ...
... where it had to wait for a Paddington - Hereford HST, led by Power
Car 43154, to come off the single line section between there and
Malvern Wells.
57 316 on the rear as the train heads into the 1,323 yard single-track
Ledbury Tunnel.
Llangollen picture report
2-8-0 3802 worked Llangollen
Railway services on Saturday 17 May alongside the Class 109 Wickham
DMU. Sadly, 80072 had failed with broken copper stay. This meant that a
shortage of available steam locomotives led to the Class 26 diesel
working the steam diagram on Sunday 18 May alongside a DMU.
3802 was in operation on driver experience courses throughout the day
so was unavailable to operate the public services (Peter Dickinson).
In better news, the railway has just released into traffic newly
restored Mark 1 TSO E4472, which has been finished in BR chocolate and
cream livery. This made one of its first appearances in service on 17
May and was still attached to the rear of the chocolate and cream set
on 20 May when photographed by Peter
Dickinson at Llangollen, from the station footbridge.
The Class 26, D5310, made
three 'Driver Experience' runs between Llangollen & Carrog on 24
May. In contrasting weather conditions, the diesel is seen at Berwyn
hauling the Chocolate and Cream rake (including newly restored TSO
4472). 3802 and the Wickham Class 109 were out operating the normal
service trains. 3802 and the chocolate and cream rake formed the 19:30
Llangollen to Carrog "Steam & Jazz Train" in the evening (Peter Dickinson).
Peter Dickinson writes:
'After the departure of the 17:33 DMU back to Llangollen, I headed out
to Corwen to view the extension. The GWR 'Toad' brake van is still
out-stationed there and the view from the A5 road is very
impressive. Well done to all concerned!'
31 May - 1 June were 'Thomas' time at Llangollen again: above, we see Thomas - just back from his
annual visit to the National Railway Museum in Denmark, and
back to his literary name
after a period as Jessie -
and Daisy. Picture by Martin Evans.
Another train of that
name, unofficially named, but more authentically
a Class 101 unit, will be making a guest
appearance on the
Llangollen line on 21-22 June. Another dip into our archives: 101 685 herself (above) is seen at
Preston
in the course of the memorable Class 101 Farewell tour on 21 December
2003.
Past Times with John Hobbs - Machynlleth 1965
'Manor' class 4-6-0 7822 Foxcote Manor - today
preserved on the Llangollen Railway - approaches Machynlleth with the
18:05 Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury (with vans for York), on 8 June 1965.
7822, having undertaken station duties at Machynlleth, heads for
Shrewsbury with the Welsh Mail; Machynlleth Shed displays a wide
variety of traction from diesel railcars to a Standard Class 4 2-6-4T.
7822 digs in for the run to up to Cemmaes Road on the same
evening, which rounded off a trip to Aberystwyth with Parents and
Grandma in tow, all that time ago in 1965. By the end of that year all
the 'Manors', some of them less that 15 years old, had been withdrawn
from service; the following summer the remaining Cambrian line
steam-hauled duties were undertaken by British Railways standard
locomotives....
... such as 75004 and 46521, seen resting at Machynlleth
shed earlier on 8 June 1965.
The 'Chopper Topper'
The twice-postponed Pathfinder Tours "Topper Chopper" tour on Saturday
31 May was a meander from Crewe around north west England, mostly in
Lancashire and including some rare track for a passenger train. The
postponements were due to the late commissioning of the reinstated
Todmorden curve. Plenty of cameras were trained on our train as it
rounded the bend, and photographers were out in force over the entire
route. 20 308 and 20 305 (photographed at Crewe by Alan Crawshaw) were leading most of
the way ...
... with 37 419 on the other
end being called into action when reversals were required (Alan Crawshaw).
Having run via the Middlewich branch, the train comes off the Chester
line at Edgeley Junction No.2, before passing through Stockport station
(Charlie Hulme).
After negotiating the Todmorden curve and the Copy Pit line, the train
made a very unusual visit for a loco-hauled train to the Kirkby branch,
and Chris Morrison went to have a look. Above, the very odd
double-terminus Kirkby station with a Mereyrail 508 at the buffer stops
having arrived with the 15:20 from Liverpool Central. Northern Rail 156 491 waits further down the
platform with the 15:44 to Todmorden. Once this was a two-platform
through station on a main line of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.
37 419, heading the train after a reversal, approaches Rainford,
the station before Kirkby, having waited for 150 118 on a Kirkby - Huddersfield
working to clear the single line from Kirkby.
20 308 and 305 bring up the rear of the tour, heading onto the single
line to Kirkby at Rainford Junction signal box (Chris Morrison).
The driver of 20 308 surrenders the single line token at Rainford
Junction as the train returns with the Kirkby - Crewe leg of the
tour, watched by a number of Network Rail staff with cameras, no doubt
in attendance to ensure the safe working of the train ... of interest
is the generous maximum line speed of 70 mph permitted on the line
towards Kirkby (Chris Morrison).
Tale of Two Bridges
Ken Robinson writes: 'An
iconic footbridge which crossed the South Wales mainline at Cardiff
Canton was demolished in April and will not be replaced; it was very
popular with trainspotters and photographers alike. This means that we
won't be able to take photos like these any more - this one taken on 19
April 1992 shows 60 034
hauling an eastbound loaded steel from Port Talbot. And the N. Wales
link? This loco was named Carnedd
Llewelyn! The Tugtracker
website has more details about this loco which is now stored at
Toton, and indeed about all Class 60s.
Work appears to be nearing completion on the refurbishment of the Hoole
Road bridge at Chester; its new light grey livery is now mostly
visible, and a considerable improvement over its previous appearance. 221 105 passes with a North Wales -
London train on 24 May (George Jones).
Bus troubles
Llanberis-based Padarn Bus went into administration on Friday 30 May,
and ceased operations immediately, leaving its 80-odd staff out of work
and no services on any of its routes from Bangor, Caernarfon, Llanberis
and to Beaumaris on Anglesey. It also held contracts for 'Snowdon
Sherpa' service and a number of school runs. Alan Crawshaw's picture shows the
company's depot on 2 June with nothing moving.
It has been reported that two people from the company have been
arrested on charges of financial irregularity. Gwynedd council staff
have been working to find operators to resume the lost routes, with the
results shown
on
their
website.
North
Wales Coast
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