NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY :NOTICE BOARD
Rheilffordd arfordir gogledd Cymru: Hysbysfwrdd
11 August 2025
Forthcoming events
See our Calendar Page for operator details.
August 2025
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,
20/21 September
This year's Bala Lane Railway Model Show 10.00 - 16.00 both days. Venue: Ysgol Godre'r Berwyn (Bala School). We will have approximately 25 layouts and 11 traders, and there will be special extra trains on the Bala Lake Railway that weekend too.
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 2025
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 2025
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 2025
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 9 August the 16:27 Manchester - Cardiff arrives at Shrewsbury with 67 017 leading. Picture by Logan Humphreys,
News Pictures
Friday evening on 8 August at Ashley, Cheshire. Apart from a flow that hasn't worked yet (possibly once), this must be the first regular freight (engineers trains aside) to work between Mouldsworth and Mickle Trafford for many years. The train is 4D02 18:02 Hope (Earles Sidings) to Llandudno Junction empties to collect a load of slate waste for the Cement Works. Picture by Trevor Tyms.
The loco is Freightliner 70 008 in its special '60th Anniversary of Freightliner' livery is seen approaching Rhyl on 8th August whist working the second run 4D02 18:02 Hope (Earles Sidings) to Llandudno Junction empties.
Approaching Abergele and Pensarn (Gary Thomas). The routing for empties is Chinley - Northenden Junction - Chester - Llandudno Junction (20:36).
The return working, 6H67 02:15 from Llandudno Junction takes a longer route Chester - Crewe - Stoke - Uttoxeter - Chesterfield - Totley Tunnel - Hope. On this occasion, the locomotive began to have problems, and the train stopped near Hathersage (or Bamford, or in the tunnel take your pick) 142 minutes late.
Mirrlees engined 37 901 was sent to haul 70 008 plus 22 loaded MWA wagons to Earles sidings 142 minutes late. Europhoenix, operator of the 37 have issued the above picture of the pair at Earles Sidings. 37 901 is stationed at Manchester Piccadilly at present, in case a loco was needed by the team working on the rebuilding of the roundabout / bridge near Stockport station.
In other news: Making its debut visit along the coast, the latest Class 197 to have a test
run No 197 025 enters Conwy station with the 5Q71 11 08 returning Holyhead
to Crewe test service on 11 August (Garry Stroud).
Class 37 Corner. pictures by Logan Humphreys
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Pathfinder Tours, 'The Heart of Wales Rambler', with 37 516 Loch Laidon and 37 668. on 9 August. Pictured near Craven Arms.
Derby station was the place to be on 3 August Thanks to the 'Great Gathering' and the trains to carry visitors. Above, 37 240 and a purple Pendolino which had been 'dragged' to the event with 57 307 Lady Penelope.
In the show, 37 508 and 37 418. In the background, a Royal 67 and coach 'Caroline'
Back at the station, 37 407 Blackpool Tower.
From Dave Sallery's Archive
37 520 and 37 521 cross over the Weaver Navigation at Frodsham, 13 November 1990,
142 037 at Liverpool Lime street after arriving from Blackpool in November 2007.
37 107 on a test train returning to Crewe at Prestatyn, 15 March 1992.
37 421 with Shell name removed prepares to run around its train after arriving at Llandudno from Birmingham, 9 June 1993.
Looking back: A Day Trip from Dover, 1969 - by David Pool
Following the end of steam in the UK in 1968 I had decided to search for steam in Europe before it was too late. On holiday in Kent in 1969, I arranged to join an LCGB Railtour on 18 May which was to be steam hauled in France. Participants from London had arrived at Dover Marine, where I joined the group to board the St Patrick. On arrival at Calais the weather was overcast and drizzling, so I decided that photography from an open carriage window was the best option, and did not join the crowd trying to get a shot of 141R338 on our train. At Calais Ville a pair of “Caravelle” Autorail Class X4300s was my introduction to the diesel multiple units in use for most of the local services.
As we passed the SNCF Depot at Calais, the sight of a steam heating van between a pair of Class BB 66000 diesels was interesting. These mixed traffic locomotives could then be used on passenger trains which were steam heated, but the growth of electrified lines with electrically heated coaches was ending the use of the vans.
A scrap line at Calais was a depressing sight, with a couple of 231G Pacifics visible. These would once have worked the expresses to Paris, such as the Flèche d’Or (Golden Arrow). The number on one was not fully visible, but later that day I passed the location and was able to confirm it was 231G42. Only one 231G locomotive has been preserved.
The Railtour headed to Hesdigneul and the branch to Desvres, which had been closed to passengers in 1968. Our Alco built 141R338 was running round our train and being waved forward by the railwayman on the front buffer beam. In 1951 the Class 141R locomotives had accounted for 15% of the SNCF’s steam fleet, being powerful and reliable.
Having arrived at Arras for a locomotive change, I photographed another Autorail, this being a Renault ABJ 3, X3217. I didn’t get the numbers of the trailer or other coaches.
We were then hauled by electric locomotive BB16538 to Dunkerque, by which time the sun had briefly appeared. Another scrap line displayed an assortment of steam locomotives - I have since identified them as an 040D, an 050TQ and a 242TA amongst others.
BB 16569 was a sister locomotive to our BB16538, and conveniently posed.
We had a Baldwin built 141R680 for our return to Calais via Gravelines, arriving at Calais Maritime at 1815, where the St Patrick was waiting to return us to Folkestone. My final shot was of 141R680 after it came off the train and headed back to Calais Depot. I am grateful to the Railtour Files website for the information reminding me of the route and timings of the Railtour.
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