NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY:NOTICE BOARD
Rheilffordd arfordir gogledd Cymru: Hysbysfwrdd
16 September 2019
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Wednesday 2 October RCTS
Liverpool "To Hell And Back " Bevan Price. Bevan, a
Branch member for 60 years, presents his photographs
during his 50 years of rail travel throughout Britain and
Europe.
Saturday 5 October Stephenson
Locomotive Society. Manchester Centre. Bob Gwynne,
Associate Curator, National Railway Museum ‘Snow White to
Stephenson’. This is a story about the search for
strategic minerals, climate change, religious conflict,
immigration, integration and innovation. Overall a very
modern story, although this one starts over 400 years ago
and from it emerges the technology we call railways.
Thursday
10 October Llandudno
and Conwy Valley Railway Society End of
the Lines: A tour of railway terminals. John Cowlishaw.
Saturday 12 October Steam at Chester. Vintage
Trains 'Cheshire Venturer' Dorridge - Chester.
Saturday 12 October UK
Railtours The Snowdon Panorama (diesel) London -
Llandudno Junction
Monday 21 October RCTS
Chester "South Wales Railways since the 1970s "
Stuart Warr. Stuart from Cardiff will look back at the
changing face of railways across South Wales since 1973,
featuring steam and diesels working all manner of services
with a few rare views.
Saturday 2 November Stephenson
Locomotive Society. Manchester Centre. Geoff Stocker
‘Rebuilding the Welsh Highland Railway’ An illustrated
presentation of the stage-wise re-construction of the WHR
(closed 1936) on the abandoned trackbed, from 1995 to
completion in 2010 & subsequent developments -
including locos and rolling stock.
Friday 8 November Steam on the Coast Railway
Touring Company North Wales Coast Express
London - Holyhead, Flying Scotsman Crewe - Holyhead -
Crewe.
Thursday 14 November Llandudno and Conwy Valley Railway Society Railway Signalling Gareth Parry
Monday 18 November RCTS
Chester "Railway Safety" David Maidment. David
Maidment will discuss the change in railway safety
management systems and safety culture from his experience
in South Wales in the 1960s, as Regional Operating Manager
of the LMR in the 1980s. Also as Head of Safety
Policy at the BR Headquarters in the 1990s
Wednesday 4 December RCTS
Liverpool "Liverpool And Its Railways " John Ryan. A
look at the varied railways of Liverpool and its
surrounding over many decades by former British Rail civil
engineer.
Owen Russell ‘Memories of the Woodhead Line’ The Woodhead
line linked Lancashire, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and
London. As there were shorter routes to London, express
trains often comprised only 5 or 6 coaches. The line was a
good place to see a variety of GC and, later, LNER
engines, which had to work hard on the notorious
gradients. Like many steam routes, Woodhead was a line of
contrasts.
Thursday 12 December Llandudno and Conwy Valley Railway Society A railway pictorial of steam Barry Wynne (Special Christmas meeting with quiz)
Saturday 14 December Steam at Chester UK
Railtours 'The Christmas Chester Chuffer' London -
Chester. Steam Bescot - Chester - Crewe.
Monday 16 December RCTS
Chester "1960s Southern Branch Lines" David
Miller. A 1960s archive of black and white photographs
mainly of Southern branches but also from further north,
with some interesting diversions. Images never seen
before.
Thursday 19 December Steam at Chester Railway
Touring Company 'The Chester Christmas Express'
Stevenage - Chester. Loco 6233.
Monday 20 January RCTS
Chester AGM followed by "The Ffestiniog
Railway" Geoff Coward. After 20.15 hrs Geoff will take a
look at the steam loco’s of the Ffestiniog Railway, past
present and future. Then a trip along the line from
Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, looking at each station,
maintenance facility and scenery
Wednesday 5 February RCTS
Liverpool "The Black & White Collection Of Bill
Ashcroft " John Sloane. Bill Ashcroft was a well-known
name in Lancashire steam railway circles and John Sloane
from Wigan will present some of his large collection of
monochrome pictures from the steam era.
Thursday
13 February Llandudno
and Conwy Valley Railway Society
Llangollen Railway Dave
Southern
‘Aspects of the Origins & Development of Monorails
including Behr, Lartigue and the Manchester to Liverpool
Lightning Express Railway’ You may remember Tony’s
excellent presentation on Mayfield Station. Don’t miss
this intriguing meeting.
Tuesday, 25 February 18:30 Stephenson
Locomotive Society. Manchester Centre. Joint meeting
with the Newcomen Society, Location to be confirmed.
Bob Gwynne, Associate Curator, National Railway Museum
‘Sticking with steam – an examination of why Britain’s
railways stuck with steam into the space age’ This talk
examines some of the complex history behind moving on from
the steam age on Britain’s railways and attempts an answer
as to why the UK’s love affair with the steam hasn’t
ended.
Thursday
12 March Llandudno
and Conwy Valley Railway Society plan
to have a visit from a representative from
Transport for Wales. More details later
Monday 16 March RCTS
Chester "The Lever Brothers Railways Of Port
Sunlight" Mike Lister Telling the story of Levers’
railways. The soap factory was constructed in 1888
and its railways covered 54 track miles and the talk will
describe the railway within the soap factory and other
factories at Bromborough.
Saturday 21 March Stephenson
Locomotive Society. Manchester Centre. Melvyn
Roberts
‘Indian Summer of the Somerset & Dorset Railway’ The S
& D was (and still is) many enthusiasts’ favourite
cross-country railway. We will hear about its unusual
history, but the main feature will be a slide show of its
operations in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Wednesday 1 April RCTS Liverpool "L&Y Engines At Work" Paul Shackcloth. Paul Shackcloth is the photographic historian for the Manchester Locomotive Society who have a large collection. This talk will show Lanky locomotives at work over the whole of the ex-L&Y network, including Liverpool Exchange.
Thursday 9
April Llandudno
and Conwy Valley Railway Society Trams
in Llandudno (Including L & CBER and Great Orme
Tramway) John Davies
Saturday 18 April Stephenson
Locomotive Society. Manchester Centre. Tim
Owen ‘The activities of the Furness Railway Trust’ The
Furness Railway Trust has a collection of six steam
locomotives, including Furness Railway No. 20, plus
historic carriages. The illustrated talk will cover the
work of the Trust over the past 30 years..
May 2020
Thursday 14 May Llandudno and Conwy Valley Railway Society Evening Train Trip to Betws-y-Coed, where we will spend an hour in the Gwydyr. (Times will be confirmed later)
153 369 in the spotlight, on the staff training run at Bangor, 11 September. Picture by Eryl Crump.
Valley flask twilight
We've been informed that the Valley flask train of Wednesday 18 September will be the final one in the Wylfa power station's de-fuelling operation. In the meantime, here are some recent scenes. 88 004 Pandora and 68 004 Rapid power through Llandudno Junction, 9 September (Martin Evans)
Flint (Tim Rogers).
11 September at Bagillt: 68 034 leads 68 033 and three new-style FNA wagons (Tim Rogers).
13 September near RAF Valley, with 68 017 Hornet and 68 034 (Tim Rogers).
Class 153 activity - pictures by Jim Johnson
Scenes of the staff-training / refresher workings by ex-Great Western 'dogbox' 153 369 in preparation for taking over the Conwy Valley and Borderlands branches for an interim period before the arrival of the Class 230 units from Vivarail. All images from 10 September; above, arriving at Bangor as 5T50, 09:36 Chester-Llandudno Junction via Bangor.
Moving onto the Up Main line, where it was held awaiting 1V95 10:45 Holyhead - Llanelli to clear the section.
Departing for Llandudno Junction (above). These units have had an unusual career. They were built in 1987-88 at the Leyland Bus factory in Workington, like the Class 142 'Pacers' with which they share come components. They started life as 2-car express units (Class 155) designed to to perform similar duties to the Metro-Cammell Class 156 sets. One route to which they were allocated was Manchester - Crewe - Cardiff, but problems arose, with reports of the sliding doors open while the train was in motion. All were recalled for modification, and other stock, including 37-hauled trains, filled in for a while.
From 1992, Regional Railways nor having enough new units to replace the old 'heritage DMUs, 35 units were converted by Hunslet-Barclay to single-unit 153s intended for branch line and other minor services. This involved build a new (slightly smaller) cab at the 'inner' end and creating a toilet for the coaches without facilities. In this form they worked the North Wales branches in the 1990s, and have continued to appear on the Crewe - Shrewsbury locals and elsewhere.
Leaving Llandudno Junction Junction bay platform 2 as 5T51 12:30 to Chester, via Bangor. A member of the class it intends to usurp stands in Platform 3, 150 229 on the 11:35 Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llandudno.
Making a brief stop in Platform 3 at The Junction, on the return to Chester.
Feedback - Electric trains of Wales
Our comment last issue that the tramway at Betws-y-Coed railway museum is 'the only electric railway in Wales' has generated some interesting replies. Arguably, the Great Orme Tramway and the Aberystwyth funicular could be counted as 'electric railways' as they are powered by electric motors, but perhaps not.
James Dowling writes: 'There is one other electric tramway currently operating in Wales and that is located at the Cardiff Model Engineering Society’s site at Heath Park. It’s 50v DC and 18” gauge and runs regularly at their open days. The line has recently been completely relaid so should have a secure future.
It will soon be academic, as Network Rail have announced that the overhead as far as Newport is to be energised very soon.
A visit to Nantmawr - with Iain Chippendale
Iain Chippendale writes: 'Not an electric railway, but an electric train arrived in Wales last year in the form of a 3-car class 309 EMU at Nantmawr, this unit is from the now closed Coventry Electric Railway Museum, apparently delivered by road to Blodwell Junction, then by rail to Nantmawr. 960 101 was a cab signalling test unit, converted from 309 616, one of the 309s which ran in the Manchester area for a while. [Apparently it is to be a buffet and museum.]
The track at Nantmawr once again heavily overgrown. Unless someone can comment otherwise. the DMUs on site don't appear to have moved for quite some time, and whilst some work is taking place on the 309, it can only be a static exhibit. the DMUs are 51993, 52005, 52012, and 52031. Unless there can be some link up with the rest of the Cambrian Railways , the future may be bleak. Hopefully someone can supply some up-to-date information.
Ruston-Hornsby 4wd Diesel Mechanical 88DS b. 1953 Wks. No. 338416 Crabtree
Passenger assortment
On 5 September at Manchester Oxford Road, new Northern unit 195 122 stands in Platform 3 on a Liverpool - Manchester Airport service which had been terminated at Oxford Road due to late running (Charlie Hulme).
On what was a typically congested morning, 11 September. on the line through Deansgate, 67 010 makes its way across the river Irwell with the morning train from Piccadilly to Holyhead, which had started from Manchester Oxford Road running 22 minutes late, and was terminated at Chester. Behind the bridge can be glimpsed Stephenson 1829 river bridge, and beyond the new bridge carrying the Ordsall Chord (Greg Mape).
On the bridge carrying the Cheshire Lines route to Liverpool over the Bridgewater Canal, a Class 158 of what is now East Midlands Railway, owned by Abellio, a branch of the Netherlands Railways. The buildings behind are the first in an extensive new development on what was once the 'Pomona Pleasure Gardens.' (Greg Mape).
On 12 September 67 010 brings the empty stock into Manchester Piccadilly to form the 16:50 to Llandudno. There not much clearance between the skirt of the loco and the platform edge at this point (Charlie Hulme).
The sylvan scene on the Halton Curve line on 12 September as 150 235 passes with the 11:52 Chester - Liverpool Lime Street ...
... and 150 242 on the 11:36 Liverpool - Chester (Greg Mape).
13 September, and it's that 153 again - being passed by eponymous Voyager 221 116 Dinas Bangor/City of Bangor on 1A43, 12:53 Holyhead - Euston ...
... and 67 010 propelling 1H89 13:07 Holyhead-Manchester Piccadilly (Jim Johnson).
RAF Valley on 13 September: 221 112 Ferdinand Magellan and 221 115 Polmadie Depot on
1A48 13:58 Holyhead to London Euston (Tim Rogers).
Cardiff Central (George Jones).
Ffestiniog Railway, 9 September - pictures by Martin Evans
Double Fairlie David Lloyd George (above) enters Tan-y-Bwlch station with the 11:25 service from Porthmadog.
Sister loco Merddin Emrys runs around at Blaenau Ffestiniog before departing with the 11:35 service to Porthmadog.
Beyer Garratt loco no 143 waits to depart Porthmadog with the 14:15 service to Caernarfon.
TransPennine loco-hauled
The Class 68-worked 'Nova 3' trains are now in passengers service for TransPennine, intermittently with just one diagram. Not everything has gone smoothly: Graham Breakwell, who sends this image, writes: 'On 6 September I was trying to get from Manchester Victoria to Liverpool on the 12:56 departure. 68 026 and its Nova 3 set failed near Ashton and limped into Victoria at 13:28 having blocked the line and delayed following services. Passengers were told to board the train but shortly afterwards told to get off before it left empty for Longsight at 13:55, leaving us all to catch the late running 13:56 service. The fault was reported to be with “on-board safety systems”.
The plan for the week beginning 16 September is apparently:
5E23 04:33 Longsight TMD - Liverpool (empty stock)The route is via Stalybridge, Manchester Victoria and Eccles.
1E23 05:56 Liverpool Lime Street - Scarborough
1F60 09:41 Scarborough- Liverpool - Lime Street
1E37 12:56 Liverpool Lime Street - Scarborough
1F74 16:44 Scarborough- Liverpool - Lime Street
1E51 19:56 Liverpool Lime Street - Scarborough
1P98 22:46 Scarborough - Manchester Piccadilly
5H86 01:24 Manchester Piccadilly - Longsight TMD (empty stock)
A visit to Stafford - with Martin Evans
On 3 September I spent a couple of hours at Stafford. Above, 88 010 Aurora brings the Daventry to Mossend intermodal through the station at 12:10.
66 705 Golden Jubilee powers through Stafford with an Avonmouth to Clitheroe cement service at 14:15.
West Coast Railways locos 47 245 and 37 516 with a returning empty coaching stock to Carnforth from Southall at 14:05.
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