NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY :NOTICE BOARD
Rheilffordd arfordir gogledd Cymru: Hysbysfwrdd
17 March 2025
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' from London to Llandudno Junction, Bangor and Holyhead. The company website says: "Coaches take passengers either from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog, or indeed from Bangor to Caernarfon, where our narrow gauge train of corridor stock complete with toilets and a buffet car will be waiting for our scenic marathon. Those who began their journey at Blaenau Ffestiniog will end up at Caernarfon and vice versa, meaning that everyone will travel the full length of both railways with a leg stretching break at Porthmadog before being whisked in comfort back to our charter train for the journey home".
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 4 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. The tour is now called the "The Deva Victrix" and no longer visits Penmaenmawr yard, just the slate yard in Llandudno Junction. It includes traction by a GBRf class 57 and 60.
Saturday 16 May Pathfinder Tours 'Cambrian Coast' Express from Bristol Temple Meads to Pwllheli
Saturday 24 May UK Railtours 'The Soul Exchanger' from London Euston to Aberystwyth. Various off-train options including the Vale of Rheidol Railway.
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.
Saturday 5 July Pathfinder Tours 'The Ffestiniog Slater' from Swindon to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Various off-train options including the Ffestiniog Railway.
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
The 10:12 Liverpool LIme Street to Wembley Central football special on 16 March passes Crewe headed by Locomotive 87 002 Royal Sovereign, which was sold by the AC Locomotive Group to Locomotive Services in 2019. 47 805 was on the rear. Pictire by Logan Humphries.
More steam
Fresh from its trip to North Wales, 'Black 5' 45212 worked 1Z51 'The Cheshireman' 06:52 excursion from Euston to Chester. Gareth Prestidge took this picture near Tattenhall from a safe point at a foot crossing.
Greg Mape travelled to Madeley on the West Coast Main Line to capture the northbound train.
Arrival at Chester was three minutes early at 12:56, and passengers had until 15:16 to explore the city - hardly enough time, but the steam was the real reason for the journey, and watching the reversal manoeuvres. As is common these days for thus type of train, at Rugby 45212; was detached and diesel 47 848, which had been travelling on the rear of the train, took the train to London.
Geoff Morris was at Chester to see the actionthere. He writes ' The shot taken through the arch of the Hoole Lane bridge shows the loco drawing the empty stock out of goods loop to set back into the platform. Most unusually, the stock was taken on to the Crewe line, rather than the 'usual' Mickle Trafford line. I had lined up for a shot on the latter and this photo was a grab as it suddenly appeared without warning on the 'wrong' line.
'The second shot was taken from the A51 overbridge and shows the departing train passing under Shed Lane bridge.'
Passing the well-known bridge at Hargrave between Chester and Crewe (Gareth Prestidge). Lostock Hall. The buffer-beam refers to Lostock Hall in Lancashire, one of the last of the steam sheds. The shed is is chronicled in a comprehesive website created by the late Alan Castle.
Freight scenes
Two stone trips to the Quarry this week: 70 803 on the loaded Penmaenmawr to Stoke-on-Trent loaded stone on Wednesday 12 March ...
...and Friday 14 March passing Ffynnongroew (Gary Thomas).
In the quarry sidings, 14 March (Logan Humphreys).
On 14 March, 66 507 arrives at Llandudno Junction with empty wagons for another load of slate waste. (Garry Stroud). The locomotive is Freightliner, although this is a GBRf Working with GBRf wagons, an example of the recent 'collaboration' arrangement.
66 507 in the slate terminal, seen in a different angle on 14 March.
Gary Thomas writes: 'I had chased the train back from Mostyn, but it was so cloudy, with the clouds only clearing by Junction itself. The train beat me to the Junction, so this was the best record I could make of the train in sunshine! I hadn't realised there was road-access from the "Leisure Park".'
A note on slate waste
On the subject of slate waste, there is still no sign of the flow to Hope (Derbyshire) for the cement works. A path appears in the timetable, but always cancelled. The route shown for the loaded train is distinctly long-winded. Llandudno Junction (06:31) - Crewe - Stoke-on-Trent -Toton - Chesterfield - Dore West Junction, Earles Sidings (13:24). Return empty is a more direct route: Earles sidings 19:14 - Northenden Junction - Northwich - Chester - Llandudno Junction (22:22). Possibly there are concerns about the gradients of the Peak District, or perhaps they want to avoid having to run the loco around the train at Earles.
Class 67 corner - by Graham Breakwell
Three images of 67’s in three liveries passing over Harlescott Crossing, north of Shrewsbury today in the space of 6-7 minutes on 14 March:
67 029 Royal Diamond in DB silver livery heading for Manchester Piccadilly on 1W57, the 10:53 from Cardiff Central.
67 022 in TfW black livery ...
... with 67 007 in tow from Crewe TMD (E)to Cardiff Canton Sidings 67 007 still in DB Cargo purple livery adorned with the script “Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee”.
[67 007 has been with TfW as a 'rescue' loco; it is not currently have the equipment to work with the Mk4 Coaches in normal passenger service, although it could presumably tow a failed train . Incidentally It is reported that apart from the TfW locos: 005, 006, 007, 021 and 024 are now available for traffic. These work the Royal Train, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and occasional railtours. 67 028 is being prepared for passenger work.]
Miscellany
A Northern Belle charter climbing Crewe Bank on 13 March led by 57 601 Windsor Castle on 1Z62, the 1603h from Shrewsbury to Coventry via Crewe, Stafford, Bescot and Birmingham International. 57 313 Scarborough Castle is on the rear having brought the 1Z62 service into Shrewsbury at 15:53 from Birmingham International, via Coventry, Bescot, Crewe and Chester. (Graham Breakwell).
' Daffs and departures'. Looking quite springlike on the platforms at Llandudno Junction, with the daffodils in bloom, 805 007 catches the spring sunshine as it departs platform 1, with the 1A62 14:48 Holyhead to Euston service. Friday 14 March (Garry Stroud).
March 2025.
From Dave Sallery's Archive
156 401 is seen at the Maes level crossing near Criccieth after having had an argument with the crossing gates. What remains of the offending gates can be seen by the two figures. 15 August 1997. The crossing has since been automated.
37 106 and 37 686 are in Penmaenmawr yard, 26 August 1994.
37 405 Strathclyde Region in Llandudno Junction yard, 15 May 1992. 37 405 made a surprise appearance on the coast on 3 March this year deputising for an unavailable Class 70.
60 095 Crib Gogh passes Prestatyn on the empty Salford Hope Street to Penmaenmawr working, 15 May 1992. Today it is working for GBRf, who is favouring for their class 60s 'Peak' names: 60 021 Penyghent, 60 026 Helvellyn, 60 047 Scafell Pike, 60 085 Snowdon, 60 087 Ingleborough, 60 095 Whernside, and 60 096 Skiddaw. These don't correspond to the ones originally built, or the ten Class 44 locos of the 1960s. Two survive in preservation - Great Gable and Penyghent.
Looking back: More steam 1963 and 1964
In 1963 Telford had not developed, and the A442 from Whitchurch to Bridgnorth went through Wellington. On 8 October 1963 I was heading North and as usual looking for a suitable location for a railway photograph. I think my shot shows Drayton Junction, although the location is not recognisable today. Class 9F 92247 was coming off the Market Drayton line, which had just been closed to passenger traffic, although still in use for freight.
On 16 October 1963 I was in Chester, and my first shot at Roodee Junction doesn’t look particularly interesting, but it was one of the few times I photographed a Grange class locomotive. 6847 Tidmarsh Grange was on the 09:10 Paddington to Birkenhead, presumably having come on at Wolverhampton. This class was more likely to be seen South of Birmingham, but in the 1950s four Granges were based at Birkenhead Mollington Street (shedcode 6C).
Another class which I have not often photographed is the Stanier Mogul, except of course for the preserved 42968. In 1963 most seem to have been based at Nuneaton, although some ended their days at Heaton Mersey. 42964 was about to cross the Dee Bridge on 16 October 1963.
Next from the same location, Standard Class 5MT 73157 was heading the 14:30 Chester to Paddington. My notes show this as the Inter-City, which is strange, since this title was given to trains between Wolverhampton and Paddington. Can anyone suggest an explanation? The gasholder on the left was eventually demolished, but I have not been able to determine the date – possibly in the late 70s?
On 28 March 1964 there was a special train Z23 on the Cambrian lines, probably going to Aberystwyth, although I have no confirmation of this. 7818 Granville Manor was waiting to depart from Machynlleth.
I was in Dolgellau two days later, when Ivatt Class 2MT 46521 was arriving with the 0945 from Barmouth. This locomotive has been preserved, and is currently at Tyseley, being overhauled for the Great Central Railway.
The next arrival was the 10:30 Barmouth to Birkenhead Woodside, with Standard 4MT 75026, carrying a 6C shedplate.
Returning home via Welshpool, I waited for the Cambrian Coast Express from Shrewsbury. As expected, it was hauled by a very clean Manor. 7803 Barcote Manor was the locomotive, regrettably not one of the nine Manors now preserved.
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