NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY :NOTICE BOARD
Rheilffordd arfordir gogledd Cymru: Hysbysfwrdd
10 March 2025
Another archive article below
Forthcoming events
See our Calendar Page for operator details.
Monday 17 March Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales Branch: Charles Roberts “On Line Transport Archive (OTA) Images”
April 2025
Wednesday 2 April Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales Branch Liverpool: Paul Shackcloth “L & Y Engines at Work, Part 3” Speaker and Subject TBC
Thursday 3 April Clwyd Railway Circle 'Landscapes of Steam, Chester and the Welsh Borders' David Jones present archive film by Michael Worrad
Saturday 5 April Saphos Lakelander from Llandudno Junction to Carlisle. Diesel to Lancaster and return, steam from Lancaster, return via Cumbrian Coast line. This is stopping at Llandudno Junction, Bangor and Holyhead for off train options or to visit the relevant towns.
Saturday 5 April UK Railtours - The Snowdonian. No further information available at present.
Saturday 11 April Pathfinder Tours 'Cambrian Coast Express' from Swindon to Pwllheli
Friday 11 April. Altrincham Electric Railway Preservation Society "Steam, Diesel and Electric in the Northern Fells" by Ian Pilkington. A joint meeting with the Irish Railway Record Society Manchester Branch.
Saturday 12 April Midland Pullman Torbay Riviera Pullman from Chester, Wrexham General and Ruabon to Paignton.
Saturday 19 April Northern Belle - Settle and Carlisle Steam Special. Wrexham General and Chester to Carlisle via the S&C. Diesel to/from Carnforth, steam for remainder.
May 2025
Thursday 1 May Northern Belle "Conwy Castle & Bodnant Gardens" charter from Coventry It includes other off-train options.
Saturday 3 May Vintage Trains The North Wales Coast Express. Birmingham New Street to Llandudno for the Victorian Extravaganza. Diesel and steam top and tail (steam likely to be 5043 or 7209).
Sunday 5 May Inter-City Yr Wyl Fictoriadd (The Victorian Festival) Bermingham Internation - Llandudno. Traction: two Class 20s
Saturday 9 May Pathfinder Tours 'Cambrian Coast Express' from East Midlands Parkway to Pwllheli
Saturday 10 May UK Railtours Llandudno and Chester. London Euston to Llandudno Junction and Penmaenmawr freight yards.
Saturday 16 May Pathfinder Tours 'Cambrian Coast' Express from Bristol Temple Meads to Pwllheli
Saturday 31 May Northern Belle Conwy Castle & Bodnant Gardens from Cardiff
June 2025
Friday 20 June Northern Belle Spirit of Travel Lunch. Circular tour picking up at Chester and Wrexham General. Diesel hauled.
Friday 20 June Northern Belle Champagne Afternoon Tea. Circular tour picking up at Chester and Wrexham General. Diesel hauled.
Saturday 21 June North West Rail and Transport Collectors Fair Crewe Alexandra Football Club 10:00 - 16:00
Thursday 26 June The Railway Industry's "Three Peaks by Rail" will be down the Coast on the evening of 26 June and heading onwards in the early hours of 27 June.
July 2025
Saturday 5 July Railway Touring Company "North Wales Coast Express" from London Euston to Llandudno. Electric to Crewe, with steam along the Coast.
Sunday 13 July Railway Touring Company charter from Liverpool to Holyhead on with steam throughout.
Tuesday 15 July Midland Pullman Yorkshire Coast Pullman from Ruabon, Wrexham General and Chester.
Saturday 21 July Belmond Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
August 2025
4 August Belmond Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
11 August Belmond Britannic Explorer Six day tour of Lake District & Wales
25 August Belmond Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
22 August Belmond Britannic Six day tour of Cornwall & Wales,
September 2025
Thursday 4 September Clwyd Railway Circle 'The Steelworks Railways at Home and Abroad' Adrian Bodlander
Saturday 5 September Pathfinder Tours 'Cambrian Coast Express' from Cardiff Central to Pwllheli
11 September Belmond Britannic Explorer Six day tour of Lake District & Wales
Saturday 12 September Pathfinder Tours '.Cambrian Coast Express' from Bristol Temple Meads to Pwllheli
15 September Belmond Britannic Explorer Britannic Explorer Six day tour of Cornwall & Wales,
26 September Belmond Britannic Explorer Six day tour of Lake District & Wales
29 September Belmond Britannic Explorer Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
Wednesday 17 September Midland Pullman Settle and Carlisle Pullman. From Ruabon, Wrexham General and Chester.
Saturday 20 September Northern Belle Settle and Carlisle Steam Special. Wrexham General and Chester to Carlisle via the S&C. Diesel to/from Carnforth, steam for remainder.
October 2005
Thursday 2 October Clwyd Railway Circle 'Memories of railway operations at Llangollen from my childhood days growing up in the town during the BR era of the 1950’s and mid 60s.' Gareth Jones
20 October, Belmond Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
17 October Belmond Britannic Explorer Six day tour of Cornwall & Wales,
10 November; Belmond Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
November 2005
Thursday 4 November Clwyd Railway Circle Jeff Nicholls “A Baptism of Fire and Water-My First Wolsztyn Experience” Part Two
Saturday 8 November Northern Belle Settle and Carlisle Steam Special. Wrexham General and Chester to Carlisle via the S&C. Diesel to/from Carnforth, steam for remainder.
December 2005
Thursday 4 December Clwyd Railway Circle 'Railways & Tramways of the Isle of Man'
Geoff Morris.
North Wales Coast Railway website created and compiled by Charlie Hulme
On St David's Day, 1 March, Graham Breakwell found huimself in North Wales on St David’s Day just as 805 007 passed through Llanfair PG with 1D83, the 09:02 from London Euston to Holyhead.
Cheshire Day Ranger 27 February - with Paul Hajdasz
I undertook one of my regular days out travelling by rail on Wednesday 26 February, purchasing a Cheshire Day Ranger for a reasonable cost of £19:60 with a senior railcard. I started at Whitchurch, with the arrival of TfW 1W13 Swansea to Manchester Piccadilly service, hauled by 67 020 which was approximately 10 minutes late (above).
We had made up a few minutes by the time we reached platform 10 at Piccadilly with DVT 82230 on the rear.
I waited for the 10:51 Northern service 2B18 to Buxton, with 150 134 which was already waiting in platform 11 next to 323 202, one of the units which have been transferred to Northern from West Midlands.
Once at Buxton I spent an hour or so in the picturesque town and park before returning to Piccadilly on 2B29 to Manchester with 150 124 now attached to 150 134.
.
I then waited for TfW 1V46 from Cardiff, arriving with 67 008. which I took to Crewe.
On the other end was DVT 82216 .
As I arrived at Crewe about 5 minutes late, it was a quick dash to catch 1D59 TfW local service to Chester with 3-car 197 104.
During my brief visit to Chester (about 5 minutes !) I saw tamper DR73922 John Snowdon.
The last leg of my Day Ranger was to board TfW 2J66 from platform 8 at Crewe back to Whitchurch with 153 327 / 153 909 .
Assortment
The scene on 27 February at the Snowdon Mountain Railway Llanberis depot, with diesel no, 11 on a maintenance train. Passenger service begins on 29 March, with a diesel service as far as Clogwyn, three quarters of the route to the summit (Logan Humphreys).
46100 Royal Scot passes through the streets of Crewe on the evening of 24 February on the first of its journey to Margate where it will be a static exhibit it the 'One:One' museum. Royal Scot is expected to stay at Margate for at least three years before being moved and sent for a well-earned overhaul once again.
The museum, currently under development at the Hornby site in Margate, will hold a preview event this summer, on 9-10 August, as part of 'The WonderWorks open weekend'.
On Thursday 21 February, a rather dirty 66 741 Swanage Railway passes slowly along the Down Through line with 6M42, the 09:21 Avonmouth to Penyffordd before coming to a halt awaiting the preceding 6 minutes late running 1W94 13:23 Cardiff to Holyhead to clear. This, formed of 197 104 had been held at Shrewsbury for the slightly late running connections from Birmingham and the Cambrian, and allowing for the time it takes passengers to get from platforms 4 and 5 to platform 3 (John Oates).
On Sunday 9 March, the 07:47 Holyhead to Manchester Piccadilly, formed of 197 126 and 197 106, crosses Llandulas viaduct (Greg Mape). 197 106 was to be detached at Chester to form the 09:42 to Crewe. 197 126 continued to Manchester Piccadilly where it most terminates in Platform 13 rather than continuing to Manchester Airport. It then forms the 10:52 to Chester. All this is in the booked diagram. Things are done differently on Sundays!
Tim Rogers' view
Flint, 1 March
197 117, 1V94 08:13 Holyhead to Cardiff Central.
805 004, 1A34 08:48 Holyhead to London Euston passing 197 113, 1D33 08:25 Manchester Airport to Llandudno.
805 005, 1A70 14:48 Holyhead to London Euston.
7 March: Cefn-y-bedd
197 012 2F84 15:59 Wrexham Central to Bidston.
Class 67s in action
5 March, Stockport: 67 020 on 10:30 Manchester - Cardiff.
5 March, Stockport. 67 014 12:30 Mancester - Cardiff.
Heaton Chapel on 27 February: 67 008 on 16:30 Manchester - Swansea.
From Dave Sallery's Archive
20 218 and 20 099 approach Rhyl on the return Derby - Llandudno train, 4 July 1989.
45 034 and 45 150 are seen stabled in Manchester Victoria, 9 May 1987.
92163 passes through Hooton in 1966, probably on its way to pick up an oil train out of Stanlow.
20 902 is on the weedkilling train at Blaenau Ffestiniog, 17 August 1993.
Looking back: Steam in the South West 1963 - by David Pool
The BR Standard 9F locomotives were well suited to the Somerset and Dorset Railway with its gradients and no call for high speeds when it was the preferred route for through trains from the London Midland Region to Bournemouth, but these had ended by 1963. It was therefore a surprise when the last 9F 92220 Evening Star was transferred to Bath Motive Power Depot in August 1963, since its power was not necessary for the lightly loaded trains running between Bath and Bournemouth. On 14 September 1963 I was in Poole, and photographed 92220 on the 09:40 Bournemouth West to Bristol.
The branch from Sidmouth Junction to Tipton St John’s and onwards to Sidmouth or Exmouth seems to have been overlooked by the photographers who favoured the main line from Honiton to Exeter. The station at Sidmouth was not the ideal location for photographs, but the other stations were in more open country, and Standard 4MT 80064 made a pleasant shot near Ottery St Mary with the 18:22 from Sidmouth Junction to Sidmouth on 15 September 1963.
The branch from Exeter to Tiverton and Dulverton was nearing closure, but the 14xx tanks would survive to the end. On 20 September 1963 the 09:25 Dulverton to Exeter St Davids was headed by 1421 and approaching the junction with the main line at Stoke Canon. I think the first “Porthole” coach is a 60ft Corridor Composite, and the second is a 57ft Corridor Brake 3rd, but no doubt somebody will be able to correct me if I am wrong!
Moving on to Exeter, steam was still in charge at Exeter Central, and a remarkably clean West Country 34030 Watersmeet was about to depart with the 10:30 Ilfracombe to Waterloo. I had not recorded whether the train had been banked from St Davids, but Class W 31911 was on banking duty on that day.
I always liked the appearance of the Maunsell Class S15 locomotives. They never carried names in SR and BR(S) days, so did not have the recognition of a Lord Nelson or a King Arthur, but they were useful locomotives for both passenger and freight duties. 30828 is approaching Exeter St James’ Park Halt with the 15:34 Templecombe to Exeter Central on 26 September 1963. This locomotive was later one of the survivors from Woodhams in Barry, and was restored to operate on main lines between 1993 and 1997. It was on the North Wales Coast Railway in April 1994 (image in our 30 April 2020 notice board) and I photographed it the following month in Southampton and in Dorset. Currently it is being overhauled on the Mid Hants Railway.
On 27 September 1963 I was at Exeter St Davids station, where the main steam activity was on the Southern Region trains to and from North Devon and North Cornwall. Most of these trains would require banking assistance up the 1 in 37 gradient to Exeter Central, and Class W 31914 was performing this task.
Saturday 5 October 1963 was the last day for the services from Exeter St Davids to Tiverton and Dulverton. I was at first surprised to find that diesel haulage (Class 22) was being used, but with the numbers of people wanting a farewell trip it was perhaps understandable that extra coaches were provided, which would have been too much for the 14xx tanks. The shuttle service between Tiverton and Tiverton Junction was running as usual, and 1450 was on the 16:05 departure. This locomotive has been another survivor, and after withdrawal from BR in 1965 it has worked on many preserved railways, its current home base being the Severn Valley Railway.
Heading home on 7 October 1963, I stopped at Radstock North to see what was running on the Somerset and Dorset line. The 15:20 Bath to Templecombe arrived behind 76015, a Standard Class 4MT with a 71B (Bournemouth) shedplate. My image is not as sharp as I would have liked, but there seems to have been an interesting collection of coaches on this train. I shall leave their identification to experts in that topic!
From our archive - Morning Matinee
I woke early on the morning of Saturday 17 April 1999 with a yearning to ride the locomotive-hauled trains along the North Wales coast; a favourite activity of mine which circumstances had been severely restricting, and indeed I was required back home by 14.00. Furthermore the weather was not promising, but a glance at the timetable showed that I could catch the 09.17 departure from Crewe, so off I went. (That's not me in the picture, by the way!)
And everything went wonderfully, and the sun came out! Here is Llandudno Junction at 10.30 with 37 401 Mary Queen of Scots awaiting departure from Platform 3. As usual, when alighting from this train I hurried across the bridge to platform 4 to get the picture, although the angle of the light is not so good for westbound trains in the mornings.
Soon afterwards, one of First North Western's old Metro-Cammell built railcars, 101 683, rolled smokily in to the same platform with a Blaenau Ffestiniog - Llandudno service. As can be seen, 'The Junction' station is now taking its turn for the Railtrack Regeneration treatment, which will include new passenger lifts. Lifts are especially important here since every user of the station has to use the bridge even to reach the ticket office, an arrangement favoured by the London and North Western Railway when it rebuilt the line with four tracks at the end of the nineteenth century.
Most eastbound trains use the non-photogenic platform 1 at Llandudno Junction, but the 10.22 from Bangor, which departs the Junction at 10.41, is an exception - and the light is at just the right angle. 37 415 has had its buffers 'bulled-up' for some kind of special train recently, making it easy to recognise. As my plan was to catch this train back to Colwyn Bay, another hasty move across the footbridge was required after taking this shot.
Who says you don't need to be fit to be a railfan? Another cross-bridge sprint was required at Colwyn Bay to capture 37 415 departing, with the sea in the background. Just behind the loco is a derelict miniature railway track which was part of the now-disused craft and leisure centre which was developed here in the 1980s. Colwyn Bay is perhaps the best of the coastal towns for an hour's break, as the pleasant shopping facilities, including a Saturday market and a rather good second-hand bookshop, are immediately outside the station, or alternatively the promenade is easily reached on the other side for those craving the sea air and the sound of jet-skis. Excellent news this year is that the cycleway from Colwyn Bay station to Abergele and Pensarn station has now been completed, including a rather impressive bridge across the quarry workings at Llandulas. My visit on this day was given some extra Welshness by the campaigners for the Welsh Assembly elections.
Returning to the station after some refreshments, I planned to photograph 37 401 again on its return from Bangor and run back over the bridge again to catch the train ... but in fact I simply had to run to catch the train, as I had forgotten that this one departs five minutes earlier than one might expect...
... so instead, here's a picture of the train arrived in platform 11 at Crewe, by which time it was raining again. Under the grime and neglect, Crewe station does have some interesting architectural details, such as the Byzantine-style arches to the left.
As the Class 37 heads off to Birmingham, a representative of the new wave in the shape of Channel Tunnel electric locomotive 92 012 Thomas Hardy is running round its test train of old coaches. One day, maybe, this class will see enought revenue-earning use to justify the money spent on their construction.
Heading for home now, regretfully I had to forgo the chance of another ride down the coast in the company of 37 420 The Scottish Hosteller, seen here waiting to depart Platform 12 at 13.17. This is one of only two Regional Railways liveried locomotives still allocated for North Wales duties, the other being 37 422. Below is a detail for nameplate collectors. 420 is that only RR-liveried locomotive not yet released as a Lima 00 scale model, but this is about to be remedied by a joint initiative by Moray Model Centre and Geoffrey Allison; orders are being taken now for July delivery. What a shame that the Lima model is rather crude does not feature the electrical heating socket on the nose which is the trademark of the Class 37/4 type.
A very pleasant way to spend a morning, all in all - there's nothing like the sound of a 37 accelerating away from a station, and the old Mark 2 coaches are about the most comfortable ever seen in this country with their wide windows. The trains were less crowded than they have been sometimes, which is perhaps not surprising considering the very high fares currently in force on this line. Perhaps First North Western are planning ahead for next year when these nice four-coach trains are to be replaced by three-car railcar sets?
As a 'coda', here's a reminder of great things that never happened, pictured on the south footbridge at Crewe station and erected in the days when it was thought that through Eurostar trains from Manchester to Paris were about to begin, soon followed by overnight trains hauled by Class 92s. These reminders of one of the greatest scandals ever to hit our railway service have been covered up on the more public entrance at the north of the station, but this one has been forgotten. Meanwhile the specially-built trains rot in the depots, and all the disruption while signalling was changed and platforms cut back has been a complete waste.
Words and Pictures by Charlie Hulme, April 1999.
Home page | Archive | Previous Notice Board