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27 November 2017
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Tornado arrives at Chester from London, 25 November. Picture by Peter Hanson. Chester 'Christmas' SteamChristmas comes early to main line steam operators. 25 November saw two steam trains making their way to Chester, featuring two locos not often seen on our line. Above 70013 Oliver Cromwell climbs Hencote Bank leaving Shrewsbury with the 07:04 Bristol Temple Meads - Chester 'Christmas Cheshireman'. Picture by Chris Morrison. Arriving at Chirk, where water was to be taken (Anthony Thomas). Despite leaving Hereford some 28 minutes late, Britannia class 4-6-0 No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell drifts into Chirk station only nine minutes down for its scheduled water stop. (Peter Neve). Chirk (Anthony Thomas). With steam from the cylinder drain cocks making life difficult for the photographers No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell restarts the The Christmas Cheshireman from Chirk station (Peter Neve). A reminder of the important behind the scenes work that goes on to keep the steam engines supplied with water (Peter Neve). After the brief water stop at Chirk, 70013 storms the up the 1-in-83 bank past Rhosymedre (Ian Pilkington). North of Gobowen (Ian Pilkington). Arrival at Chester (Jim Ikin). End of the Rainbow at Chester (Sue Ikin). Chester (Phil Clarke). Ready for departure from Chester. Picture by Peter Hanson who notes: 'The British Transport Police officer on duty, considering the large number of rail enthusiasts present, handled the crowds very well. He was very friendly and gave the photographers permission to get their photos from the platform ends as long as they did not take too long. Full marks to him.' 47 580 County of Essex on the other end (Anthony Thomas). 'After the Lord Mayor's show comes the muck cart' (Jim Ikin). Why 42633 didn't appearThe owners of 46233 Duchess of Sutherland have issued an explanation of why the loco did not appear on last weeks steam train: 'We can now inform you that during an examination prior to last Saturday's planned tour to Holyhead it was discovered that the Duchess has a cracked large flue. During the past week our engineers, along with our volunteers, have removed the motion and on Monday of next week the locomotive will be towed back to the West Shed. The planned winter maintenance programme will commence almost immediately which will include the fitting of new elements. 'The locomotive is now withdrawn from service until March 2018 at the earliest, but will return to service bearing her 1938 LMS livery.- Leslie E Truswell, PRCLT Ltd' Flooding on Anglesey - report by Jim JohnsonA few pictures taken at Bangor on Friday, 24 November, just as the line across Anglesey was re-opening after the flooding caused by the biblical deluge on the Wednesday. All down trains had been terminating at Bangor (the first through to Holyhead was 1W92 09:21 Cardiff Central-Holyhead, 175 011 being the unit), resulting in some unconventional movements. Normally 158 834, forming the 1G50 Bangor-Birmingham International, would have been held in Belmont Tunnel until train 1H89, 13:32 Bangor-Manchester Piccadilly, had departed and cleared the Up loop starter. However, 1W92 was due shortly on the Down line, working through to Holyhead, and 1750 01, working 5H91 12:40 Holyhead - Llandudno Junction Empty stock was due on the Up. Consequently, 158 834 was signalled into the up loop, to park up against 67 018 Keith Heller which was on the tail of the Manchester train. Shortly after the Manchester's departure, 175 001 arrived on the up main, where it was held until the section ahead was clear. 175 001 departing at 13:41. Eifion's Coaches T18 HEH has brought some passengers from Holyhead. Diesel Loco pictorial
67 018 at Chester on 21 November with the 1D31 16:50 Manchester Piccadilly to Llandudno. Picture by Alan Crawshaw. 60 002 at Chester on 21 November with the 12:58 Carlisle to Chirk logs (Alan Crawshaw) 68 004 and 68 033 with the 6D43 Crewe to Valley flasks at Talybont near Bangor on 27 November (Rowan Crawshaw). 56 113 arrives at Bangor with the 3S71 Rail Head Treatment Train for Holyhead on 27 November (Rowan Crawshaw).. 56 105 on the rear. Plenty of leaves still to fall, but the train will cease to run at the 10 December timetable change if normal procedure is followed. (Rowan Crawshaw). Tornado at ChesterAfter very dark skies and a heavy burst of rain, sunshine and blue skies ... ... greeted Tornado on arrival Chester General from London Euston (Jim Ikin)... ... with the 'Christmas Cracker'. Picture by Jim Ikin. In the sidings at Chester after reversal (Anthony Thomas). The two locos: 70013 seems to be receiving some attention (Phil Clarke). 47 580 (Anthony Thomas). Tornado passes Stafford with the return 17:38 Chester - London Euston (Chris Morrison). Rhyl work complete (almost)We have received the following Network Rail press release: Network Rail has thanked North Wales residents and passengers for their patience after completing essential upgrade work in Rhyl.Some may have formed the impression that the current project included closing all signalboxes on the Coast and controlling everything from Cardiff, but Llandudno Junction to Holyhead and Llandudno boxes will be with us for some time yet, possibly until 2020, albeit with their semaphore signals replaced earlier. A Morning in Hereford, 25 November - with Richard PutleyAs the weather forecast was largely good I decided to make an early start, catching the 07:44 from Great Malvern to Hereford. I'd looked at Real Time Trains which had told me that freight trains were due both Northbound and Southbound at 09:30. The 08:44 from Great Malvern would have got me there just in time (08:19) providing it was punctual. But I decided the 07:44 would give a greater safety margin. In the event both trains were on time, but on arrival at Hereford I was surprised to see a Southbound Steel train, headed by 66 101, standing (above) on the Up Relief Line, which was normally used by Northbound freight trains! I thought it would depart at 09:30 as The Railway Touring Company's “Christmas Cheshireman” was due to stand on the Up Relief between 09:44 and 10:30. Given the angle of the shadows after watching 150 236 depart with the 08:50 to Milford Haven (06:30 from Manchester Piccadilly) I decided to position myself on the south end of Platform 3, the Up (Northbound) Platform. After I had photographed it I was surprised when instead of continuing south, the steel train reversed to the north of the station, at the site of the one time Brecon Curve Junction (where until recently a short stub of the old Brecon line was retained to serve the Bulmer's Works). The sun was still shining as the steam special arrived with 70013 Oliver Cromwell on the front and 47 580 County of Essex on the rear and no doubt heating the train too. After parking on the Up Relief, the steam loco and its support coach uncoupled then reversed along the Up Main and into Platform so the loco could take water from a waiting road tanker. Meanwhile I left the station and walked to a road over bridge immediately north of it. From there I photographed the steam special departing. The steel train finally departed just before the steam special. By this time the weather had deteriorated so I made a beeline for the nearest Coffee Shop... Cambrian Corner - with Ken RobinsonOn 24 November I visited Penychain, a station which does not seem to get much attention these days, after hearing about vegetation clearance that had taken place there recently. I was not disappointed as the old Down side had been cleared, exposing the remains of the 10-coach length platform which was so busy during the 1950s and early '60s. The photo shows the 08:53 from Machynlleth slowing down for the request stop. North Wales Coast home page | Archive | Previous Notice Board |