NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY:NOTICE BOARD
Rheilffordd arfordir gogledd Cymru: Hysbysfwrdd
11 November 2022
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Contributions to the Notice Board are welcome, although they may not always be used, due to time constraints, especially if they don't follow the file name convention given on the Contributions Page.
Forthcoming events
Charter trains, and meetings, may be subject to cancellation or postponement. See our Calendar Page for Club and Society details.
December 2022
Friday 2 December Clwyd Railway Circle: Members Selections & Christmas Celebrations Members are invited to give a 15-minute presentation of their choice (Any format). Contact David Jones 01244 537440 to book a slot.
(see our Calendar page for meeting venues)
North Wales Coast Railway website created and compiled by Charlie Hulme
Shrewsbury Special (Picture by Alan Crawshaw)
This is a special extra issue: next update on the evening of Tuesday 15 November .- Charlie
DMU news
West Midlands Railway's Class 196 units have entered service, initially on the Birmingham - Shrewsbury service. Ian Henderson watching from the castle walls captured the 10:22 Wolverhampton - Shrewsbury arriving at its destination on 2 November. West Midlands have opted for four-car and two-car sets.
CAF trains in action - by Graham Breakwell
West Midlands Trains Class 196’s made their debut on Birmingham to Shrewsbury services on 17 October. I’ve attached an image of 196 110 in platform 6 on 2 November just arrived with the 10.00h ex Birmingham New St, though it started from Wolverhampton, being turned back there due to cumulative delays on earlier trips. West Midlands have an interesting web article about their new stock.
TfW has been running training trips on 197s between Crewe and Shrewsbury and 197 002 is seen here departing from platform 7 on 3K05, the 11:01 return trip. This view from the Dana foot bridge takes in the station’s recently refurbished glazed roof, the high wall between platform 7 and the up avoiding line, the disused platform that was built for transporting prisoners from the local prison on The Dana, the Butter Market, built as the terminus of the Shropshire Union Canal c.1835 before becoming a market for dairy products and now a night club. In the background can be seen Crewe Junction Signal Box and the signal gantries for trains coming off the Chester and Crewe lines.
Scene at Shrewsbury - by Alan Crawshaw
66 726 Sheffield Wednesday passes with 6M42, the Avonmouth to Penyffordd cement train on 28 November.
The Rail Head Treatment Train runs through Shrewsbury (with high-pressure water jets turned off) with 56 094 leading, nearing the end of its circuit. test runs of 196 and 197 units, vinyls on the former starting to peel off even before the garishly liveried units enter service.
We were surprised to see a number of young lads interested in the movements, one had badges of recent new units, including the class 197.
67 013 on the afternoon loco-hauled.
67 025 taking the Grand Central set for a spin to Hereford, 31 October.
We also saw test runs of 196 and 197 units ...
... vinyls on the former starting to peel off even before the garishly liveried units enter service.
TfW 197 002 on a test or training run.
Sunshine and Shadow - images by Graham Breakwell
Lit up by sunbeams, Colas Rail 43 272 leading the returning test train 1Q20 on a circular run from Derby RTC to Newport via Lichfield, Crewe, Shrewsbury and Stoke on Trent.
With 43 274 on the rear having just passed under Kemps Eye Bridge and its shadow.
175 116 on 1V95, the 10:41 from Holyhead destined for Llanelli, passing under the recently refurbished Kemps Eye Bridge, the shadow casting an interesting pattern on the front end.
Looking back ... from our archive
The West Midlands - Shrewsbury service has in recent times been worked by Class 170 units: 170 511 waits at Shrewsbury on 16 May 2008. When replaced by 196 units the 170s will be transferred to East Midlands Railway: reportedly they have already been given EMR livery.
Sometime in the 1990s, Shrewsbury castle looms over 47 664, in the iconic 'large logo' livery, probably on a London train. The designers of the 196 and 197 units seem to prefer the 'tiny number' theory.
In 1986, 150 136 follows another 150 in their original 'Provincial Services' livery past the famous Severn Bridge Junction signalbox. Today all the 150s are working out their old age with Northern.
A class 175 calls at Shrewsbury in 2008. A 'feature' of the station is the division of the main platforms into 'a and b' areas; all very well but sometimes, especially when units for separate with different destination, It's not unknown for a train announced as platform 4a to be standing below a sign saying '4b' or vice versa.
On a personal note, sojourns at the station lost some of their comfort now that the only food service is by 'Starbucks'.
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