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07 August 2017
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Waiting in the Tunnel ... Picture by Jim Johnson. This week's star loco ... 37 254On Wednesday 2 August, Colas loco 37 254 Cardiff Canton appeared on the North Wales Coast scene with a Network Rail train, to the enjoyment of our contributors. Above, the 10:41 Crewe - Bangor via Chester - Wrexham - Shrewsbury -Wrexham - Chester passes Milepost 209 at Rhyl. Picture by Roly High. Llandudno Junction (Peter Lloyd). The train ran to Llandudno and back before proceeding to Bangor. Arriving at Bangor at 18:32 after being held at signals in the tunnel. The first of a sequence of views, all taken from legal positions, by Jim Johnson. Drawing forward into Belmont tunnel ... ... back into the sidings where the points are hand-worked, giving the driver some exercise in setting the road for the old Platform 4 line ... ... a quick word with the signalman ... ...and the train is safely settled for the night. Next day, Thursday 3 October, and the train leaves Bangor at 13:34 for a trip to Blaenau Ffestiniog, then back to Chester then Warrington Bank Quay, Chester and Crewe. Picture by Rowan Crawshaw. Blaenau Ffestiniog, after a planned break at North Llanrwst to pass the 14:57 Blaenau - Llandudno (Dave Sallery). Betws-y-Coed from the Railway Museum (Jack Bowley). Next day, 4 August, and the plan was Crewe - Middlewich - Altrincham - Stockport - Altrincham - Chester - Middlewich - Crewe - Stoke - Derby. Greg Mape's photograph shows the train passing the well-preserved station at Hale. Looking back with Barrie Hughes: The Brymbo branchIn the days before 'Real Time Trains' and in the absence of a copy of the Working Timetable, finding freight trains to photograph operating on branch lines was like finding gold dust. So it was that on 20 October 1980 I managed to acquire local knowledge about the freight trip to Blodwel Quarry seen on this website earlier this year. Imagine my pleasure when returning via Croesnewydd Yard to find a freight being prepared for Brymbo Steelworks with loco 25 166. This set of slide scans follows that train to Brymbo in rather misty autumn weather. Much of the area, including both Croesnewydd Yard and Brymbo, is now unrecognisable due to housing development. Above, the 25 prepares a rake of empty wagons in Croesnewydd Yard for the steelworks. Passing the site of the ex-GWR Brymbo Station with the newly extended steelworks in the background. 25 166 shunts back from the Minera Branch across Mount Hill level crossing with the steelworks in the background. It appears there may have been four tracks across this level crossing at one time. A yellow works shunter is visible in the background. Shunting in the Tan-y-Fron Yard, newly built with a grant from the EU (EEC as it then was). This money was largely wasted as the works was to close in 1990 following privatisation by Mrs. Thatcher's Tory government of the day and the special steels equipment was stripped from the works and, it is reputed, moved to the USA. 25 166 re-merges from the new Tan-y-Fron Yard past the steelworks loco shed with empty coal and bolster wagons. Two yellow works shunters are in view. Standing on the Minera Branch (closed 1972) after running around the train at Brymbo Middle signal box, before setting off south for Croesnewydd. The Brymbo branch closed on 29 September 1982 with traffic diverted to road, and the rails were pulled up a few years later. Further information about Brymbo's railways, including detailed maps, images and even film, can be found at the Disused Stations website. John Hobbs honoured - report by Charles AllenIn a project co-ordinated in secret by Ian Whitley, Publicity Officer of the North Cheshire Rail Users Group (NCRUG) - with the help of the Group committee, backing of Arriva Trains Wales and support from many other partners, a plaque to recognise the incredible contribution made by long-standing member John Hobbs was unveiled at Runcorn East railway station on 27 July. Runcorn East has benefited from his passion and determination and while his biggest challenge to tackle was the restoration of regular passenger services on the Halton Curve, the station seemed the most appropriate place for the plaque. Colleagues, friends and family gathered at Runcorn East to witness the unveiling. John was modest when Mark Warren, NCRUG chairman spoke about his service and achievements praising the team but we can all agree he deserves the recognition. Above, left to right: Ian Whitley (NCRUG), Margaret Benson (Arriva Trains Wales Station Manager) with John and his wife Kathleen. Colleagues, friends and family members group photograph. The plaque in detail. John's railway work is extensive. He has campaigned with NCRUG for services over the Halton curve, coordinated the adoption and projects at Runcorn East and has been an active volunteer on the East Lancashire Railway both on the footplate and at an organisational level. [John will be well-known to regular readers for his fine contributions to our website: we sincerely echo the sentiments above.- Charlie] Middlewich diversion - report by Phil ClarkeThe weekend of 5-6 August saw Virgin's trains between North Wales and London diverted via the Middlewich route due to engineering works. The picture from 6 August shows one of the diverted London to Holyhead Virgin Voyagers crossing the Trent and Mersey Canal at Whatcroft on the normally freight-only Sandbach to Northwich 'Dodger' line. Very near to this spot, HS2's new confirmed route will cross this line, which is already on an embankment, to cross the canal. Also in this area HS2 has to cross over the unstable land with the many salt cavaties below. Very controversial. New book: History of Chester Leadworks - review by Tony RobinsonThe latest offering by Geoff Pickard is an excellent (if A tad pricey at £25) treatise covering the well known Chester works from its inception in the early 19th Century to the present day. An Illustrated History of Chester Leadworks is published by Lightmoor Press Geoff joined the works straight out of university as a Metalurgist in 1968 and rose to become works manager before leaving the industry in 1982. Some excellent shots of the station area for railway enthusiasts from around the beginning of the 20th century are to be found within. The works of course predates the railway and originally received its raw material by river and the adjacent canal. Geoff's previous works were Railways around Saltney and Crichton's Shipyard jointly with John Dixon. Liverpool feedbackReferring to our item in the last issue about the planned changes at Liverpool Lime Street, and in particular out statement that ' ...the station platform and entrance throat [will be] totally revamped and extended to 11 platforms (rather than current 9)', Doug Birmingham writes: 'Lime Street Station is only being increased to 10 platforms in total from the present 9. The current Platform One have its tracks lifted and be no longer accessible. Current Platform Two will then become Platform One, so on and so forth with the Current Platform 9 becoming Platform 10. Yes two new platforms are being built (between the existing 7 and 8) and they will become Platforms 7 & 8. These new platforms will be accessed by a single line from the throat of the station and will travel under the single arch of the over bridge at the end of the station.' A report in the Liverpool Echo refers. Also, thanks to the readers who answered the question about services which terminate at Liverpool South Parkway. It has totally escaped us that Northern's service to Preston currently starts and terminates at Liverpool South Parkway hourly from 11:03 - 17:03. Flasks68 027 and 68 016 Fearless with the 6K41 Valley to Crewe flasks on 26 July (Rowan Crawshaw). 68 030 leads 68 018 Valiant on 2 August with the Valley to Crewe flasks, passing Talybont, a few miles east of Bangor (Alan Crawshaw). 67 016 on the WAGA change of loco on the Cardiff express: On Thursday 3 August 67 016 waits to depart Llandudno Junction heading to Holyhead working the 17:16 'Premier Service' from Cardiff Central. This view faces Colwyn Bay with 67 016 providing the power from the rear. Picture by Gethin Jones. North Wales Coast home page | Archive | Previous Notice Board |