North Wales Coast Railway Notice Board 15 September 2025

NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY :NOTICE BOARD

Rheilffordd arfordir gogledd Cymru: Hysbysfwrdd

15 September 2025

Forthcoming events

See our Calendar Page for operator details.

September 2025

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

Friday 10th October Altrincham Electric Railway Preservation Society Alteration: A new speaker, Lee Stanford, who is speaking on "Unseen Southern Steam from the late Edward 'Ted' Banting Collection". The talk features steam in the Salisbury and Andover area in the early 1960s.

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

Friday 14 November Altrincham Electric Railway Preservation Society Noel Coates "Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Engine
Sheds".

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.

January 2026

Altrincham Electric Railway Preservation Society Friday 9 January John Hooley "A Midlands Miscellany".

February 2026

Friday 13 February Altrincham Electric Railway Preservation Society Paul Shackcloth "People and Places 8".

North Wales Coast Railway website created and compiled by Charlie Hulme

Pathfinder's 'CCE' from Oxford to Pwllheli, with 97 303 and 37 516, passing Penrhyndeudraeth on Friday 12 September - this will possibly be the last railtour to Pwllheli for some time. (taken from a private property, with full permission). Picture by Ken Robinson.

Cambrian Coast

There has been much loco action on the Cambrian recently. First, here are some images of Pathfinder Tours 'Cambrian Coast Expresses on 5 December, the 1Z67 06:04 from Cardiff Central to Pwllheli.

37 668 Loch Laidon on the tail passing the Abbey Foregate sidings on the approach to Shrewsbury station led by 37 516; this would be replaced by 97 303 at Shrewsbury (Graham Breakwell).

97 303 now double-heading with 37 668 passing through Meole Brace (Graham Breakwell).

The return service in the twilight pausing at Newtown for the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth service to arrive (Graham Breakwell).

Bet ween the two passenger run, 97 303 Ken Robinson captured at Harlech a tamper movement from Porthmadog back to Coleham, Shrewsbury, on 10 September. These machines are not fitted with the equipment for the signalling fitted to these lines,

The another 'Cambrian Coast Express' on 12 September, the second time in a week. This second time led by 97 302 with 37 668 inside, as 1Z67, the 05:45 from Oxford to Pwllheli , seen here passing through Meole Village. (Graham Breakwell).

Crossing Barmouth Bridge (Kate Jones).

The return working, the 16:23 Pwllheli - Oxford, powering past Talsarnau (Ken Robinson)

The Snowdonia Statesman

This was the first outing for the recently refurbished Statesman stock, It should have departed from Cardiff Central, but due to the late running of the empty stock which was terminated at Newport at 06:10 (88 mins late) and the tour started from Newport at 06:34 (47mins late), with a further delay at Gloucester the tour eventually passed Rhyl (above, image and text by Ivor Bufton ) 56 mins late.

The train was top and tailed by D1935 (47 805) Roger Hosking MA 1925 - 2013 and D1924 (47 810) Crewe Diesel Depot' to Llandudno Junction, where a quick reversal meant the tour was only 18 mins late leaving and eventually arrived in Blaenau Ffestiniog 5 minutes late.

Of note was coach number 1863, a Mark 1 RMB 'miniature buffet' originally built in 1962 making its debut in the Statesman rake after previously being part of the Saphos rake.

More Statesman Scenes

Departing from Llandudo Junction for Blaenau (Garry Stroud).

47 810 Seen leading the Statesman through Glan Conwy, Bound for Blaenau Ffestininog (Logan Humphreys)

Blaenau Ffestiniog, and a taste of Welsh rain (Gary Thomas).

Ffestiniog Railway Mereddin Emrys is showing its faces, but there is apparently no trip to Tan-y-Bwlch and back today, just three hours to visit the town

47 805 Coming Into Llandudno Junction from the Conwy Valley (Logan Humphreys)

47 810 Leaving Llandudno Junction bound for Cardiff (Logan Humphreys)

Severn Valley Railway GBRF charity weekend - report by Paul Hajdasz

I visited the Severn Valley Railway, my local line, on Saturday 6 September as part of the GBRf charity weekend. It was very well attended and amongst the engines working were 57 305 (above) ...

... 69 015 (rebuild of 56 009) at Kidderminster ...

… recently named 66 719 Michael Portillo arriving at Bridgnorth ...

... and double headed 73 107 Tracy and 73 136.

Mission Britannic Explorer - by Ivor Bufton

Below is a short report of a journey I made to Shrewsbury on 3 September. Ever since it was first announced as the new Belmond train, I decided I needed to photograph it, the train is formed of ten former Irish Rail Mk3 coaches that previously formed the 11-coach Grand Hibernian train in Ireland, Ever since it was first announced as the new Belmond train, I decided I needed to photograph it. The train is formed of ten former Irish Rail Mk3 coaches that previously formed the 11 coach Grand Hibernian train in Ireland: the consist there was:

Generator Car 99101 ex 7601 "Carlow"        (EVN: 55 60 89-87 104-3)

Staff sleeping car 99102 ex 7130 "Donegal"      (EVN: 55 60 88-87 110-2)

Three grand suites 99103 ex 7116 "Fermanagh" (EVN: 55 60 88-87 001-8)

4 cabins in double & twin layouts 99104 ex 7129 "Waterford"    (EVN: 55 60 88-87 003-8)

4 cabins in double & twin layouts 99105 ex 7158 "Leitrim"        (EVN: 55 60 88-87 002-6)

4 cabins in double & twin layouts 99106 ex 7149 "Down"          (EVN: 55 60 88-87 004-4)

Spa room, and three cabins 99107 ex 7137 "Kerry"          (EVN: 55 60 88-87 005-2)

20-seat dining car. 99108 ex 7171 "Sligo"           (EVN: 55 60 88-87 101-2)

24-seat dining car 99109 ex 7169 "Wexford"      (EVN: 55 60 88-87 102-0)

Observation and Bar car 99110 ex 7104 "Kildare"        (EVN: 55 60 89-87 103-7)

(another coach, 7122 was scrapped at Inchicore Works)

Which tour should I choose to photograph, well when Pwllheli was included in the tour of Wales, the decision was made because it could only operate on the Cambrian with class 97 involvement, meaning loco changes at Shrewsbury.

So, I started to plan where and when to photograph it, in the end, I opted for Shrewsbury station as this would allow me to get photographs of the 97s, the 66 and individual coaches.
I settled for Wednesday 3 September, I chose the Wednesday as it gave the opportunity for a better photograph of the 97’s.

I decided to go via Crewe rather than the direct route through Wrexham as this offered the chance of a short run on a TfW loco hauled set from Crewe to Shrewsbury. So I left Rhyl on time at 13:51 on 1A50 12:48 Holyhead to London Euston, which was 805 009, we arrived into Chester 3mins late and would couple up to a second Class 805 , which should have already been in Chester, only it was running late, we eventually left Chester 16 mins late and my connection time at Crewe was now down form 18 minutes to 2! Arrival at Crewe was at 15:10 18 minutes late and thoughts turned to would I make the connection as departure was also 15:10 to Shrewsbury, luckily the Manchester to Cardiff service (with 67 008 at the rear) was 5 minutes late so the connection was made. Arrival into Shrewsbury was 5 mins late but this did not affect me as I originally had 32 mins before the Britannic Explorer was due,

Above: 67 008 propels 1V46 14:30 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central away from Shrewsbury.

I made my way to platform 3 at Shrewsbury and awaited the arrival of the 'Brittanic'. There were a few other enthusiasts there but too many to cause any issues. It arrived 6 minutes late at 16:20 with 97 302 Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways / Rheilffyrdd Ffestiniog ac Eryri leading 97 303 Dave Berry into Shrewsbury with 1Z94 10:01 Barmouth to Oxford - Britannic Explorer.

With photographs ‘in the bag' It was back to platform 4 to photograph 66 748 St Michael’s Mount depart from Shrewsbury at 16:35 with 1Z94 10:01 Barmouth to Oxford.

Leaving Shrewsbury, the observation car 99110 was on the rear of the train so gave the opportunity to photograph it passing Shrewsbury Signal Box 99110 (Observation Car) on the rear of the train passing Shrewsbury signal box.

Next, the 97s passed through platform 4 on their way back to Coleham LMD as 0Z95 16:20 Shrewsbury to Coleham depot.

I now had just 20 minutes to wait for my train (197 123) back to Crewe, this arrived 2 minutes early and we departed on time at 16:55. All went well until we reached the edge of Crewe, now I have often heard Crewe referred to by enthusiast as ‘The Crucible, why, because you get a red before you get a colour (Snooker fans will understand!!) and today that was the case, we wre held at Gresty Green for around 13 minutes awaiting a platform. There were various problems with the WCML and Crewe was rather full at this moment in time.I had around 40 minutes to wait so a chance for a few photographs.

DR76905 leads a Piling Train (6X81 17:36 Gresty LDS to Ribble Junction) through platform 11 at Crewe

The new order on Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham New Street are Class 730 electric units seen here is 730 223 leaving Crewe with 1G62 17:10 Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham New Street.

390 134 working 1S78 15:30 London Euston to Glasgow Central but terminating at Preston through the down fast line at Crewe (running 57 minutes late).

From Crewe it was the 18:23 to Chester (197 116), arriving into Chester 70 805 was approaching Chester from the Warrington line, with 6J37 12:52 Carlisle Yard to Chirk Kronospan log train, and I hoped I would be able to photograph it (not previously having photographed this particular Class 70) but it was not to be as it was given ‘Green all the way’ through platform 4 as we arrived into platform 1.

My connection for Rhyl was 1D32 17:25 Manchester Airport to Holyhead (197 117 with 197 018) 197 018 would split at Llandudno Junction and go into Llandudno.

Britannic to Blaenau

In a surprise change in the route, the usual 15:48 departure from London Victoria, the Britannic made its way to Blaenau Ffestiniog via Reading, Bristol Parkway, Shrewsbury, Crewe, and Llandudno Junction, arrival 01:35 on the 16th, stabled in Blaenau then departing at 04:55. There's a wait in the loop at North Llanrwst from 05:29 to 07:51 to allow the TfW train to pass. At Llandudno Junction at 09:01, seemingly parked in the slate loading sidings while the passengers presumably visit Llandudno before making it's way to Pwhelli.

All this is because the Heart of Wales line is unavailable die to engineering work. What the passenger think of all this is not recorded.

Steam interlude

60532 Blue Peter at Balshaw Lane Junction, Euxton with a Crewe - Preston driver training run on Tuesday 2 September. (Ian Pilkington).

Passing Acton Bridge (Dave Jepson)

And at Chester on a Steam Dreams excursion on 12 September (Anthony Thomas).

A visit to the Cambrian Heritage - by Paul Hajdasz

On a rather wet Sunday 7 September I paid a visit to Cambrian Heritage Railways as part of their Heritage railway weekend. I started off at their Llynclys site where I took a couple of round trips on ex-northern Pacer 2 car unit 142 055.

I then took the connecting heritage bus service to Weston Wharf on preserved Leyland Leopard HNE 641N, which used to serve the Greater Manchester Transport area

Waiting at the platform was another Pacer unit, this time 144 007 which took me about 1 ¾ miles to Oswestry station. Adjacent to this was stabled 73129 City of Winchester.

From Dave Sallery's archive

31 455 and 31 465 leave Prestatyn on a Crewe - Bangor service, 22 November 1994.

37 110 returns to Crewe after a test train outing, 2 July 1992

37 420 arrives at Prestatyn from Crewe on a sdrvice to Bangor, 14 July 1996. The Scottish Hosteller was cut up at Ron Hull Jr, Rotherham in February 2008

The carriage of explosives was a new traffic to the North Wales coast line following withdrawal of freight trains from the Cambrian Coast in the late seventies. The explosives originated at Cooke's of Penrhyndeudraeth, part of the ICI group. A new siding was constructed at Maentwrog Road on the Blaenau - Trawsfynydd section of the Conwy Valley line. Like the nuclear flasks the trains were propelled from Blaenau to the siding. The traffic finished in the late 80s and Cooke's is now closed and the site cleared. The photo shows 47 234 entering Blaenau Ffestiniog from the Trawsfynydd direction on the evening of 8 July 1987.

Looking Back: Steam and Diesels 1969 part 4 - by David Pool

In 1969 the Severn Valley Railway was aquiring locomotives and rolling stock, but had not yet obtained permission to operate passenger trains. A GWR Railcar W22W was on show to visitors at Bridgnorth on 29 June 1969. The Wickham Trolley in front of the Railcar had been obtained from Northampton. It is a Type 17A, Works No.7690 (1957), and was identified as PY1P.

A Manning Wardle saddle tank had come to the SVR from Rugby Cement Works, and was being restored. This was the last locomotive built by the company in 1926, Works No. 2047. Later it received the name Warwickshire, but then spent many years as a museum exhibit on the SVR. It is intended that it should return to service, but it will require a new boiler.

In 1969 the West Coast Main Line expresses were usually worked by the English Electric type 4 locomotives, later designated Class 50. On 19 July the 11:05 Euston to Barrow was approaching Winwick Junction with D449, which became 50 049 Defiance.

50 049 was modified in 1987 with lower geared bogies more suitable for freight working, and renumbered 50 149. The advent of electrification and HSTs had meant Class 50s were not needed for most passenger trains. The modifications were not particularly successful, and no more Class 50s were converted. My shot of 50 149 on the West Somerset Railway on 6 October 1996 is of special interest. It was taken on the section of line between Norton Fitzwarren and Bishops Lydeard, which is normally only used for transfers to or from the main line, and the second locomotive Royal Oak had been renumbered and repainted, becoming 50 117 to match 50 149. Both locomotives are still in service today, 50 017 on the Great Central Railway and 50 049 in the GBRf fleet.

The Open Day at Allerton Depot on 26 July 1969 was the first occasion since 1968 that preserved steam locomotives other than Flying Scotsman had been seen in steam on the main line. following the steam ban imposed by British Railways. All the attention was on steam locomotives 5428, 5593 and 7029, rather than on the Allerton Breakdown Crane, RS 1091/30.

I may have been brought up in LMS territory, but I know which locomotive at Allerton was my favourite. 7029 Clun Castle has that star quality, while 5593 Kolhapur in the background is sulking with the nickname “Clodhopper”.

Bradford Forster Square Station did not feature many locomotive hauled trains in 1969. A Class 25 was on Parcels duties on 2 August, but most of the trains were now DMUs. Two Metropolitan-Cammell Class 101 2-car units were departing with the 12:14 to Ilkley.

Moving on to the Middleton Railway, passengers were being offered a short journey in a brake van behind Hudswell Clarke No.1306 (1917) Henry de Lacy II. This had come from Kirkstall Forge Engineering when the railway system there closed in 1968, and worked the first passenger services on the Middleton Railway in July 1969, the month before my visit. A Swansea and Mumbles tramcar is visible in the background. This restoration project became a target for vandalism and was broken up after being set on fire. Various websites quote dates for this fire to be in the 1960s, but all seem to be guesses. We know that the tramcar carried passengers in 1960, when a diesel locomotive was attached to the tramcar on a short length of track at Middleton. A 1963 photograph shows most windows to be broken, and my shot in 1969 shows the broken panes to have been removed, but no obvious fire damage. Can anybody give a date for the fire with some supporting evidence, or a date on which a decision to break up the remains was made?

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