NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY :NOTICE BOARD
Rheilffordd arfordir gogledd Cymru: Hysbysfwrdd
25 August 2025
Forthcoming events
See our Calendar Page for operator details.
August 2025
Saturday 25 August Belmond Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
Wednesday 27 August Vintage Trains The Welsh Highland Explorer Dorridge to Holyhead with 37 240
September 2025
1 September Belmond Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
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
Saturday 6 September UK Railtours The 'Industria Ditat' from Watford Junction to Alstom Widnes and Llandudno Junction slate yard with GBRf 57 and 60
Wednesday 10 September Statesman Rail Snowdonia Statesman from Cardiff Central to Blaenau Ffestiniog with LSL 47 and/or 57
Saturday 12 September Pathfinder Tours '.Cambrian Coast Express' from Bristol Temple Meads to Pwllheli
Monday 15 September Saphos Trains Edinburgh Summer Explorer Chester to Edinburgh with LSL 47 and/or 57 to Carlisle for steam to Edinburgh and back to Carlisle
Saturday 20 September Northern Belle Settle & Carlisle Steam Special Telford, Shrewsbury, Wrexham and Chester to Carlisle with steam WCRC diesel to Carlisle, steam over S&C, diesel back
Saturday 20 September Vintage Trains The Cambrian Coast Explorer Dorridge to Aberystwyth with 37 240 and a Network Rail 97/3
Saturday 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.
20/21 September
This year's Bala Lane Railway Model Show 10.00 - 16.00 both days. Venue: Ysgol Godre'r Berwyn (Bala School). Approximately 25 layouts and 11 traders, and there will be special extra trains on the Bala Lake Railway that weekend too.
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
Wednesday 8 October Statesman Rail Snowdonia Statesman from Durham to Blaenau Ffestiniog with LSL 47 and/or 57
20 October, 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 remainde
Saturday 10 November; Belmond Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
Saturday 22 November Pathfinder Railtours The Chester Christmas Explorer Oxford Parkway, Golden Valley and Marches line to Chester
December 2025
Monday 1 December Midland Pullman Edinburgh Christmas Pullman from Bangor to Edinburgh
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
Tanygrisiau, 1981 (Charlie Hulme).
Narrow-Gauge selection
A week on the Cambrian - by Richard Putley
Having booked the week commencing Saturday 19 July 2025 in the hope of photographing the Aberystwyth to Chirk Logs and the Britannic Explorer Belmond Land Cruise train, I was disappointed to find that both of these were cancelled. Nevertheless I still had a very enjoyable week.
I went instead to the Bala Lake Railway where I had Alice for haulage on the 12:50 to Bala, returning on the 13:30 from there.
I also had a look round their museum. Most of the exhibits are 2’ gauge but I noticed some ex Nantlle Tramway wagons which are 3’ 6” gauge and have double flanged wheels.
I drove Aberygnolwyn where I saw the Rev Awdry's model railways. These were part of the displays for the Talyllyn Rallway “Awdry Extravaganza” weekend.
On Sunday I rode on the Fairbourne Railway Our motive power was their Russell, a ½ scale model of its Welsh Highland namesake.
While that train was in the platform at Barmouth Ferry Station, I photographed 158 829 crossing Barmouth Bridge on the 15:01 from Barmouth to Birmingham International
On Tuesday 22 July we went to the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway at Porthmadog - diesel service with Emma. At the Ffestiniog station we saw Double Fairlies James Spooner and David Lloyd George, also Linda shunting coal wagons. Britannic Explorer Cancelled. We returned on
On Wednesday 23 July Had a ride on the Talyllyn and on Thursday we had a walk along the old Slate Quarry Tramways above Nant Gwernol, followed by Lunch at the excellent Railway Inn, Abergynolwyn. Thanks to all the volunteers at the Talyllyn and the other railways I visited for their friendliness.
A ride at Fairbourne - with Paul Hajdasz
On Friday 8 August I took a trip to the Fairbourne miniature railway, which is a 12.25 inch gauge railway running for about 2 miles from Fairbourne village to the mouth of Mawddach estuary. I travelled by train from Welshpool railway station on TfW 1J07 Birmingham International to Machynlleth service, which then turned into 2J07 onto Pwllheli with 158 820 & 158 831.
I alighted at Fairbourne station, where it was only a short walk to the miniature railway. The service I took was hauled by Sherpa, which was built as a 0-4-0ST plus tender by Milner Engineering in 1978 as a replica of a Darjeeling railway.
Also stabled was Gwril, which was originally built as a 2-foot Hunslet Diesel .
Whilst travelling along the line we passed Yeo, constructed by David Curwen in 1978 as a replica of a Lynton and Barnstaple loco.
I arrived at Barmouth Ferry station about 25 minutes later.
I then took the short ferry ride across Mawddach estuary on Ivy Lou, which cost £4 ( photo 6).
The vale of Rheidol - by Greg Mape
Greg visited the the Railway on 8 August. At Aberystwyth loco 11, Hudswell-Clarke shunter was in action.
In action was the railway's Garratt loco No.60 Drakensberg. Built in Germany in 1927.
Also in action was no 9 Llewellyn at Aberffrwyd.
No. 60 at the Devil's Bridge terminus.
More Diversions - pictures by Greg Mape
The diversion at Stockport ended dead-on-time, and trains is now running normally. Here are some more pictures of trains in unusual places, taken on 22 August, Above, A Liverpool-Drax train diverted via the Northenden - Hazel Grove line passing under the Styal line between Gatley & East Didsbury. Loco 66 787.
Further down the single Northenden-Hazel Grove line passing the former Cheadle CLC station (now a Pub) a diverted Knowsley-Wilton waste train, (there is always a rotten rubbish smell following this train!). Loco 66 034
A Bristol - Manchester Piccadilly Voyager on the Styal Line. Cross-Country trains usually call at Stockport.
The Brittanic Explorer emerges
On 19/20 August the Explorer made a test foray on to the Cambrian Coast, Gary Thomas was there with his camera,
Arrival over the Barmouth Bridge with 97 303 and 97 304 (Gary Thomas)
Barmouth station. The train will spend the night here in the siding (Gary Thomas).
Returning next day, crossing the bridge (Gary Thomas)
Passing Fairbourne (Gary Thomas)
Shrewsbury: On 20 August 97 304 and 97 303 on 1Z94, the 10:01 Barmouth to Princes Risborough Ace siding, after working 1Z93 the 06:33 from Barmouth to Tywyn and back. The 97s also took over 1Z91, the 13:55 from Llandrindod to Pwllheli, at Shrewsbury the day before and then 1Z92, the 23.05 from Pwllheli to Barmouth.
66 702 Blue Lightning, took over from Shrewsbury - with the generator car humming quietly – seen here awaiting departure at 16:35 as 158 840 heads to Aberystwyth with 1J21, the 16:28 from Shrewsbury (Graham Breakwell).
The observation car on the tail (Graham Breakwell).
In other news
On 21 August, 88 001 Revolution & 68-003 pass Conwy, with the return 6K41 15:11 Valley to Crewe flasks (Gary Stroud).
Passing Beeches Farm (Bob Greenhalgh)
Some news about the loco-hauled sets from Ivor Bufton:
HD02 which was involved in the Leominster crash has been reformed as below
82220-12526-11316-10328-12304-12219
HD02 was moved from Worksop (where the work was carried out) to Crewe (with 67 014) as 6Q04 T&T by 66099 & 66007 on 23rd August. It has been said that it has to be tested before entering service.
The original formation of HD02 was
82229-12447-11324-10328-12304-12219
On the subject of coaches, it is now confirmed that Chiltern Railways are taking on the thirteen type 3A coach sets that were rejected by Transpennine. The locos will go with them as they have been modified for Transpennine. This will leave Chiltern's class 68s looking for work ...
Feedback
Nick Roberts writes: Dave Sallery's photo (last issue) of 67 026 on a Cleethorpes to Llandudno excursion. This train was topped and tailed by 67 026 and 67 005. It should have been run by West Coast Railways but where banned from running trains on the National network a few days before. DB stepped in a very short notice and covered the train and the empty stock moves from Carnforth to Cleethorpes and return.'
(The ban followed a serious incident where a West Coast steam train passed a signal at danger (SPAD) near Wootton Bassett on March 7, 2015. The ban was lifted on 8 May after some promises)
Neil Wigley writes 'I read with interest the recording of train 4D02 traversing the western end of the Cheshire Lines Railway. I can confirm that on 28 October 2022, at around 12:45, Colas liveried 60 096 headed an eastbound train of wagons (I'm afraid I do not have any more details) across the Mickle Trafford- Greenbank section. And I'm sure readers will be aware that because of engineering work on the WCML the Carlisle - Chirk log train was diverted onto the section for several days in in July 2013, which, of course, was a very long time ago...
Charlie writes: Regarding our report about the troubles of the first train to Earles: the train did fail inside Totley Tunnel; there is a picture to prove it going around. The Mirrlees-engined Class 37 did well to start a 2200 tonne-plus load plus the stricken 120+ tonne Class 70 loco.
Has the train run since?
From Dave Sallery's archive
08 695 releases a solitary parcel van from a 47 at Crewe, 17 August 1995.
31 203 and 37 691 head back down the Lledr valley at Roman Bridge after dropping ballast on the Trawsfynydd branch, 5 December 1993.
37 116, Ffyynnongroew, 8 June 1996. Sister Dora' on an up service to Crewe. The signal gantry has since been removed as has the colliery in the background.
Tyseley 'celebrity' in GWR livery DMU T305 passes the disused power station at Connahs Quay, 8 September 1990.
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