NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY :NOTICE BOARD
Rheilffordd arfordir gogledd Cymru: Hysbysfwrdd
24 June 2024
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 advice and 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, society and tour operator details.
June 2024
Thursday 27 June Midland Pullman Crewe - Chester - Wrexham - Paignton
Thursday 17 June 'Three Peaks by Train' private charity train 19:14 Crewe - Bangor. Chester 19:39, Llandudno Junction 20:33 - 21:04.
[Moves to and from Holyhead for servicing, in darkness]
Friday 18 June 'Three Peaks by Train' private charity train, Bangor 04:37 - Ravenglass 08:24 Warrington Bank Quay 06.02
July 2014
Saturday 6 July Railway Touring Company North Wales Express London Euston - Llandudno (Steam Crewe - Llandudno)
6-7 July Llangollen Railway Classic Transport Weekend
6-7 July Talyllyn Railway 'Anything Goes Gala'
Sunday 14 July - The North Wales Coast Express. Liverpool Lime Street to Holyhead (via Warrington Bank Quay). Railway Touring Group, WCRC Steam TBC.
Tuesday 16 July Midland Pullman Holyhead - Paignton
Wednesday 17 July Statesman Chester-le-Street - Blaenau Ffestiniog
Saturday 20 July Northern Belle Hull to Llandudno Junction with off train options to Llandudno, Bodnant Gardens and the Penderryn Distillery.
20-21 July Talyllyn Railway Awdry Extravaganza
Saturday 27 July Midland Pullman Crewe - Paignton
August 2024
3-4 August Llangollen Railway 1960s Weekend
Saturday 3 August - Rail Excursion to the City of Chester. Newcastle to Chester (via York). Bishop Trains. HST to be confirmed.
Wednesday 14 August Statesman Telford Central - Carlisle
pickups Shrewsbury, Gobowen, Chirk, Wrexham General, Chester, Frodsham, Warrington BQ
24-26 August Bala Lake Railway August Steam Gala
24-25 August Model Railway Exhibition in Machynlleth in support of the Corris Railway
30 August - 1 September - Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway - Steam Gala with model railway exhibition
September 2024
Wednesday 4 September Statesman High Wycombe - Blaenau Ffestiniog
Thursday 5 September Pathfinder Tours The Cambrian Coast Express Bristol - Pwllheli
Friday 6 September Clwyd Railway Circle The Denbigh, Ruthin and Corwen Railway in the Vale of Clwyd - Fiona Gale
12 September Pathfinder Cambrian Coast Express Swindon - Pwllheli
14-15 September Welsh Highland Railway Super Power Weekend celebrating the successful restoration of the NG15 locomotive.
Sunday 15 September Steam Dreams 'Welsh Dragon' steam-hauled London Paddington - Shrewsbury, then diesel through to Pwllheli. For more on this and this and the next two entries see the Steam Dreams website.
Wednesday 18 September Steam Dreams 'Welsh Dragon' steam hauled Bangor - Crewe, then diesel to Cardiff via the Heart of Wales line
Thursday 19 September - Steam Dreams 'Welsh Dragon' steam hauled Cardiff to London Paddington via Gloucester and the Golden Valley line
Saturday 21 September - Northern Belle Telford - Carlisle pickups Shrewsbury, Wrexham General, Chester.
21-22 September Bala Model Railway Show Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn Secondary School, Ffrydan Road, Bala, Gwynedd LL23 7RU. 10:00 - 16:00 (Bus link to Bala Lake Railway station)
Opening times: 10.00-16.00 on both Saturday and Sunday.10.00-16.00 on both Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday 28 September UK Railtours London - Chester 'Our tour takes an interesting route from London to Chester and Llandudno Junction where we plan to access the Glan Conwy freight sidings.'
October 2024
Friday 4 October Clwyd Railway Circle Wrexham’s Second Railway Mania - David Parry
4-6 October Ffestiniog Railway Bygoneds weekend
5-6 October Llangollen Railway Heritage Railcar Weekend
November 2024
Friday 1 November Clwyd Railway Circle Chinese Steam in 2001 and 2003 - Phil Thomas
December 2024
Tuesday 10 December Midland Pullman from Holyhead to Edinburgh Waverley - Edinburgh Christmas Pullman
14-15 December Manchester Model Railway Society - The Christmas Model Railway Show. The Sugden Centre, Sidney Street, Manchester
North Wales Coast Railway website created and compiled by Charlie Hulme
Midland Pullman on the Coast - see below. Picture by Logan Humphreys
Class 67 news
TfW have purchased two of the Class 67 locos which DB Cargo had recently advertised for sale: 67 028 and 67 026. It is planned that 028, which is thought to be in good condition, will be given the equipment to run with the passenger coaches, while 026 - the one with silver livery and named Diamond Jubilee - which has been in store may be used as a source of spares. The existing fleet will remain on lease from DB.
News Pictures
More pictures of the 'Statesman' excursion on 19 June. Above, 47 712 Lady Diana Spencer brings the train into Llandudno Junction (Gary Thomas).
The return from Blaenau near Dolgarrog ...
... 47 593 Galloway Princess on the rear (Gary Thomas)
A Summer Solstice photo of the 05:30 Holyhead to Cardiff powered by 67 022 crossing Conwy Cob at 06:16 on 21 June (Gary Thomas). This, and the evening return, remain the only loco-hauled passenger working on the Coast line, excepting specials and the occasional empty stock to Crewe.
On 21 June, train 5Z44, the 10:16 from Crewe to Holyhead depot. empty stock for a 'Midland Pullman' excursion for the following day's excursion from Holyhead ...
... On 22 June, the Pullman crosses Conwy Cob. The locos are 43059 and 43055.
The return empty stock to Crewe on 22 June passing Bangor (Logan Humphreys).
The loco-hauled Cardiff train doesn't run at weekends so the set from the from the Friday evening arrival at Holyhead, seen here with 67 012 on 22 June, languish in the sidings. Why not use it? ...
... DVT 82216, with colourful artwork at the other end for the Hope House Children's Hospices (Stuart Broome) I wonder what those staff members are discussing?
805 011 stabled after arriving with Friday's 20:02 from London (Stuart Broome).
The sidings now that the last 175 has departed. 197 051 is the only occupant - what's it done wrong? (Stuart Broome)
Busy moment at Manchester Oxford Road: 150 101 waiting to leave on the 08:46 stopping train to Liverpool; 185 129 and 185 115 05:54 Saltburn to Manchester Airport which has used the new Ordsall Chord to call at Manchester Victoria before arriving at Oxford Road and Piccadilly; and 197 016 on 08:24 Manchester Airport - Llandudno.
Real Time Trains tells us that 197 016 to Chester, then 197 114 to Llandudno. TfW seem to do this a lot: imagine people with piles of holiday luggage have to change trains when they thought it was a through train. Apparently, there is a 'Trolley service from Manchester Airport to Deganwy'.
Skyscrapers blot out the sky as 158 854 on 07:48 Liverpool - Norwich (Greg Mape).
On 21 June 57 313 Scarborough Castle on Shrewsbury platform 4 with 1Z66, the 11:30 'Northern Belle' from Crewe to Shrewsbury via Warrington, Chester and Wrexham. 57 601 Windsor Castle was on the rear having hauled the service from Crewe as far as Dallam Junction, Warrington, where the train reversed. After a few minutes in Shrewsbury the service continued as 1Z67, this time running via Stafford, Crewe, Sandbach, Northwich and Chester, with the ECS returning from Wrexham to Carnforth Steamtown as 5Z67, (Graham Brakewell)
Emergency repairs to the roof at Manchester Piccadilly have resulted in a shortage of platforms. On 20 June, 67 013 on the 12:30 to Cardiff is sharing with Northern 323 233 which will form the 12:45 to Stoke-on-Trent.
And finally, here is the picture by Richard Putley that got lost from the last issue. 67 014 with the Black Set HD04 on the 16 minutes late 15:00 Cardiff to Manchester Piccadilly on 15 June..
A visit to the Talyllyn Pictures - by Tim Rogers
All pictures taken on 18 June
Tywyn Wharf Station. 0-4-2ST, No.1 Talyllyn Built 1864 by Fletcher, Jennings & Co. 14:10 Tywyn Wharf Station to Nant Gwernol.
Pendre. 0-4-2T, No.7 Tom Rolt Built 1949 by Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. Rebuilt 1991. 13:25 Nant Gwernol to Tywyn Wharf Station
Nant Gwernol. 0-4-2ST, No.1 , 15:15 Nant Gwernol to Tywyn Wharf Station
Abergynolwyn 0-4-2ST, No.1 Talyllyn 15:15 Nant Gwernol to Tywyn Wharf Station
Brynglas loop 0-4-0WT No.2 Dolgoch Built 1866 by Fletcher, Jennings & Co 15:55 Tywyn Wharf Station to Nant Gwernol.
Pendre. 0-4-0DM, No.9 Alf Built 1950 by Hunslet Engine Co. This is an ex-National Coal Board locomotive, from Huncoat Colliery in Lancashire. It was named after Alf Robens, chairman of the National Coal Board.
Gallery
Liverpool Lime Street's roof shines in the sun (Greg Mape)
Paddle steamer Waverley calls at Llandudno, 24 June (Greg Mape).
Replica LNWR-style station 'running-in' boards seem to be in fashion: here's one which has appeared at Chester (George Jones).
From Dave Sallery's Archive
37 422 Robert F Fairlie passes Mostyn box on an up service to Crewe, 16 July 1993.
37 427 Bont Y Bermo leaves Prestatyn on the Cardiff - Rhyl service, 4 May 1989. This was the first regular 37 working in North Wales and went over to loco haulage due to door interlocking problems with the new Class 155 sprinters.
56 134 leads 47 465 on its first test run after being built at Crewe
Works, 12 September 1984. Named 'Crewe Locomotive Works' then 'Blyth Power' the loco is apparently still in existence but beyond repair due .to metal thieves.
T205 on a down local passing Talacre, 13 April 1989.
Looking back: Preston branches part 2 - by David Pool
The Ribble Steam Railway’s website lists 37 steam locomotives and 21 diesel and electric, but several are not accessible to the public if they are restoration projects. On a normal operating day there may be two or three locomotives for the trains, but if you wish to see a selection of working locomotives then a Gala day is recommended. On 1 October 2011 there was an interesting pairing of a Class 03 and a Class 05. D2148 is in green, with a late BR emblem, while D2595 is in BR blue.
A year later on 7 October 2012 the Diesel Gala had one of the Sentinels in service. These locomotives would normally be used on the movement of the bitumen tank wagons from the Lanfina refinery to the exchange sidings Sentinel 10283 (1968) Progress has been given the name of one of the Bagnall steam locomotives which used to work at Preston Docks.
A rather unusual arrival at the Ribble Steam Railway in 2012 was a Class 08 “look alike” from Nederlandse Spoorwegen, the Dutch State Railways. The diesel locomotives on the NS were rapidly being withdrawn, so 663 was acquired for the Ribble Steam Railway. This was one of the 65 English Electric NS Class 600 shunters, of which 14 have been preserved, one other in the UK being at Shildon. 663 is crossing the swing bridge over the entrance to the Preston Marina Basin.
On 7 August 2013 the main purpose of my visit was to see the Prototype Deltic, which was being exhibited in its home town for the first time. The RSR Museum was already rather full, but space was made available for the Deltic. Unfortunately photography in the Museum is difficult, with the locomotives buffer to buffer and not a lot of space between the rows of exhibits. A wide angle lens is essential!
One of the passenger services on that day was being worked by a Railbus 79960, built by Waggon und Maschinenbau in 1958. Five were used on branches in East Anglia until the branches were closed by 1964, after which there was occasional use on the Millers Dale and Alston branches. By 1968 four had been sold for preservation and one scrapped. These were the only BR railbuses fitted with buffers for potential use in multiple, but changes would have been necessary for the control systems, otherwise a driver would be required in each vehicle. The passengers in 79960 were being treated to a longer journey than usual, in that trains usually reversed at the exchange sidings, where locomotives would run round, but 79960 was allowed to the end of the RSR territory by the gate at Strand Road,
.On 7 March 2015 another train venturing beyond the exchange sidings was hauled by D2595. This photograph was taken from the same location on the A59 flyover as my shot of the two Class 31s in the last issue of NWCR News. The changes over 29 years to this area of Preston are astonishing, with tree lined roads and new buildings replacing the derelict site.
Only one of the Bagnall steam locomotives which worked in Preston Docks has survived (2682 Princess at the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway), but after the RSR acquired Bagnall 2680 (1942) which had originally worked at Birchenwood Gas and Coke works in Stoke on Trent, it was repainted in the style of the Preston Docks Bagnalls, and given the name Courageous, which had been carried by 2892. The view of trains crossing the swing bridge is always pleasing, but is usually best as a head-on shot to include the towers of the bridge. Courageous was photographed on 26 September 2021.
There was a steam Gala on that day, and various combinations of the smaller steam locomotives were being used. The leading locomotive was Grant Ritchie 272 (1894). This had been built for the Kinglassie Colliery in Fife, and after many years there it moved to other collieries in the district, finally consigned to a scrapyard in 1969. Fortunately it survived, and restoration at the RSR started in 2004, finally returning 272 to steam in 2016. The second locomotive was modern by comparison, Hawthorn Leslie 3931 (1938), which spent its working life at British Steel Corby, numbered 21. In 1970 it received a new boiler, which made it sought after for preservation. No.21 went to the Swanage Railway, where I photographed it in 1991. There it received the name Linda, and later moved to the Gwili Railway, requiring further restoration. It returned to steam on the RSR in 2015.
Home page | Archive | Previous Notice Board