NORTH WALES COAST
RAILWAY :NOTICE BOARD
Rheilffordd arfordir gogledd Cymru: Hysbysfwrdd
27 April 2026
Next Update: 11 May
Forthcoming events
See our Calendar Page for operator details.
Saturday 2 May 125 Group London Euston to Llandudno, with mini tour around North Wales TBC. 125 Group TBC.
Saturday 2 May Vintage Trains "The North Wales Coast Express", Birmingham New Street to Llandudno. Diesel hauled Chester to Llandudno, steam back from Llandudno to Nuneaton. Vintage Trains pool.
Thursday 28 May UK Railtours "The Coast to Coast", Great Yarmouth to Pwllheli. Train to/from Great Yarmouth to Shrewsbury TBC. Network Rail 97's onwards to Pwllheli.
June 2026
Saturday 13 June North West Rail and Transport Collectors Fair
July 2026
Friday 3 July Saltburn Railtours Saltburn to Llandudno (one way, WCRC diesel hauled)
Monday 6 July Saltburn Railtours Llandudno to Saltburn (one way, WCRC diesel hauled)
Sunday 12 July Railway Touring Company "The North Wales Coast Express", Liverpool Lime Street to Holyhead. WCRC steam loco TBC.
August 2026
Wednesday 19 August Midland Pullman "Torbay Riviera Pullman", Chester, Wrexham General, Ruabon, Chirk to Torquay and Paignton. LSL Midland Pullman HST.
29-31 August 2026 Bala Lake Railway Steam Gala
September 2026
19-20 September Bala Model Railway Show
Thursday 3 September Clwyd Railway Circle "Severn Valley Steam" Highlights of 2012 and 2013 Steam Galas - Glyn Jones
Saturday 19 September Northern Belle "Settle & Carlisle Steam Special", Wrexham General and Chester to Carlisle. WCRC steam locomotive over the Settle & Carlisle line. Diesel hauled otherwise.
October 2026
Thursday 1 October Clwyd Railway Circle 'The view from a signal box window' Adrian Bodlander
November 2026
Thursday 5 November Clwyd Railway Circle "40 years of Railway in the Chester area" - Geoff Morris
December 2026
Thursday 3 December Clwyd Railway Circle Ian Mainprize 'German Railway Development'
Belmond have advertised their 2026 three-day Britannic Explorer trips to the sidings in Barmouth, start dates are: 30 March, 13 April, 4/11/25 May, 1/8/15/22/29 June, 6/20/27 July, 3/17/21/24 August, 14/28 September, 19 October and finally 9 November.
Other useful sites:
For up-to-date North Wales information
join the North Wales Trains News group
North Wales Coast Railway website created and compiled by Charlie Hulme
Shrewsbury on Easter Saturday morning, 158 840 on Platform 4, having arrived from Aberystwyth, prepares to depart on the 07:22 Holyhead - Birmingham International, having attached to 158 826 at the rear. On platform 3 is the 09:08 Birmingham - Holyhead formed of 158 837 and 156 835. Anyone arriving to use the station facilities, or change trains, has to exit the station and come back through the barriers and up by the steps or lift to the other platforms. (Graham Breakwell). Soon (next year?) class 158s will disappear from TfW services, replaced by class 197.
Steam Scenes
70000 Britannia gets away from Crewe on 8 April with 'The Cumbrian Mountaineer' to Carlisle (Richard Snook). Unfortunately the loco was declared failed at Oxenholme. 37 409 had been sent earlier from Crewe to Upperby to assist the shunting moves with the train at Carlisle. It was sent back to Oxenholme rescue the train and take it to Carlisle. On the return journey 37 409 failed, and a pair of class 20s were sent to return the train to Crewe.
34067 Tangmere Great Britain XV111 Day 3, passing Mouldsworth Station on the Mid Cheshire Line on 20 April on route from Chester to Carlisle. This is day three of a nine-day tour covering the length and breadth of the UK from London, to Pembrokeshire, West Wales, and the north of Scotland.
Miscellany
On 4 April the 'Britannic Explorer' returned from its trip on the Cambrian with 97 302 double headed with 37 254 seen joining the main line at Sutton Bridge Junction. (Graham Breakwell)
66 748 St Michaels Mount returned from Bescot to take over at Shrewsbury station and is seen passing through Abbey Foregate. (Graham Breakwell)
Branch Line: On 6 April 37 419 Agamemnon and 37 424 on a Network Rail train from Derby R.T.C. to Chester Middle Yard via Buxton, Altrincham and Wrexham. The train is on the Hazel Grove - Northenden Junction single line, about to pass under the A34 road. (Greg Mape)
The flow of chippings from the “virtual quarry” at Coton Hill GBRf sidings resumed on 7 April when 66 730 Whitemoor arrived, albeit 104 mins late, with 6M05, the 10:04 from Bardon Hill.
Here is an image of the 20 empty wagons winding their way down the single track to and from the sidings, with Shrewsbury station and the Castle visible in the background (Graham Breakwell). Departure was on time at 19:31 with 6F05 to Humberstone Road, Leicester.
66 315 passing Altrincham Station on 12 April with 'Biomass' empties from Doncaster Down Decoy sidings to Liverpool Biomass terminal. (Greg Mape). The number of Drax services will be fewer in the future, as the Government has decided to reduce their subsidy, currently said to be running at about two million pounds per day.
A Network Rail HST on 16 April, from Leicester L.I.P.to Longsight via Stoke, Crewe Holyhead & Liverpool, seen passing Colwyn Bay, heading back from Holyhead (Greg Mape).
Manchester Piccadilly on 18 April: 67 022 preparing to depart on the 18:30 to Cardiff. It left 20 minutes late due to the disruption caused by damage to the overhead wires in the approach to the station on 16 April. A object was 'blowing in a wind' and got tangled in the wires and then caught in the pantograph of a passing Avanti train. Normal service resumed in 19 April.
Holyhead Wheel Lathe Visitors - report by Ivor Bufton
As referred to in the previous issue (13 April) the new wheel lathe at Holyhead has enabled us railway photographers to capture some 'out of the normal' workings, up to now these have been Class 37 hauled and have been South Wales Class 231s and 756s.
The workings have been as follows:
5Q40 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Holyhead Car M D
5Q78 Holyhead Car M D to Cardiff Canton Sidings
The units that have so far visited the wheel lathe are
Class 231
231 001 11th April to 16th April
231 006 16th March to 3rd April
231 009 2nd April to 9th April
Class 756
756 103 11th April to 16th April
756 105 2nd April to 9th April
37 800 Cassiopiea taking 231 009 and 756 105 to Holyhead wheel lathe approaches Prestatyn station on 2 April
37 800 Cassiopiea taking 231 006 back to Cardiff Canton sidings after a visit to the wheel lathe at Holyhead, it is seen passing Prestatyn on 3 April
37 510 Orion taking 231001 and 756 103 back to Cardiff Canton sidings after their visit to the wheel lathe seen leaving Rhyl on 14 April.
Another run is underway as we write.
TfW Rail to replace Class 67s
The above legend is found on the front cover of Modern Railways April issue. Needless to say, I paid my £6.60 to see what this is about. The text inside the magazine tells us that they would like to retain the Mk4 coaches but replace the 67s for something more modern and reliable, but how?
Suggestions: DRS Class 68 locos, as used on Chiltern Railways perhaps. But if the proposal to electrify the Coast line something new is needed: the Hybrid Class 93, now in production which would use the 'sparks' and diesel on the Marches line. In January 2021, ROG confirmed its order of 30 Class 93 locomotives,
Although mostly a freight loco, they have the equipment to haul passenger trains although they might modifications for push-pull working , An interesting note in Wikipedia runs 'Grand Union had proposed using Class 93s on its London Euston to Stirling services, but this was later scrapped in September 2024 after FirstGroup bought out the Grand Union franchise,' But can TfW can afford the leasing cost?
Llangollen Branch Line Gala 11 April - Pictures by
Merfyn Davies
1369 Great Western outside-cylinder visiting from from the
3802. Great Western 2-8-0 from the home fleet about to depart for Corwen.
7754 & 4555 Llangollen Great Western 7754 from the home fleet and small 2-6-2T 4555, visiting from the Dartmouth Steam Railway.
D9525 Class 14 D9525 on hire and ready to depart with an assortment of passenger-carrying brake vans.
Freight Notes
An update on the Fidler's Ferry item in the last edition. Doug Birmingham writes:
'Just to clarify, ‘the signal that has been stolen’ - it was never stolen but the relevant 'shunt disc’ (dolly) was. However, everything was checked / replaced two weeks ago and now all in working order. Likewise, there were no ‘coal’ hoppers in the sidings but various ’stone’ hoppers and they were removed on 8 April in two movements by Freightliner loco 66 562 to Gresty Green TS. As far as I am aware the sidings at Fidlers Ferry PS are now clear. '
The Freightliner company has recently been divided in two parts. In the future, the moving of heavy loads, mostly construction materials, will be called 'Heavy Haul Rail' and retains the same management, whilst the container-loads for ports and other terminals will be a new company but retain the Freightliner name. The locomotives will be divided between the two companies.
DCRail have been very active recently:
60 046 William Wilberforce approaches Rhyl on 12 April working 6D22 13:40 Chaddesden Sidings to Penmaenmawr Quarry (Fhh)
60 029 Ben Nevis loading the 6A26 stone to Willesden DC rail sidings, at Penmaenmawr, on 17 April 2026 (Garry Stroud)
An extra train, 6D22, hauled by 60 099 Ben More Assynt on 13:40 on Sunday from Chadderden Sidings, Derby to Penmaenmawr for loading. Seen passing Beeches Farm and a field of Dandelions. (Bob Greenhalgh) Notice the new livery.
Passing Rhyl (Ivor Bufton).
Charlie notes: The Class 60 locos have a diesel engine manufactured by Mirrlees of Hazel Grove, not far from where I am writing this. Indeed, I worked there for a summer when I was an engineering student. The Mirrlees factory in Hazel Grove, near Stockport ceased manufacturing in 2006 and the factory became a housing estate, but a group of former workers have set up a works in Stockport to overhaul the engine, an 8-cylinder, 145 litre Mirrlees Blackstone 8MB275T engines for DC Rail.
Cambrian Corner
On 17 April Vintage Trains ran a special from Birmingham New Street to Pwllheli and back using 97 302 and 37 240 along the Cambrian Coast. Above, the train approaching Llanbedr station at walking pace to cross the level crossing on the road to Shell Island (Greg Mape).
Approaching Criccieth past the site of the Black Rock Halt.
At Pwllheli the complicated run round in the loop outside the station, to get 97 302 on the front of the train as this has the ECTS signalling equipment fitted. The platform had to be left clear to allow a service train to arrive & depart (Greg Mape).
Ken Robinson writes: There have been several interesting movements on the Cambrian Coast recently, but one which took my eye was a Stoneblower movement from Coleham, Shrewsbury, to Porthmadog on 27 March 2026, which was, unusually, double-headed, by 97 302 and 973 03. The photo above shows the working entering Porthmadog station in sunny weather...
... The return working featured 97 302, solo, on 3 April 2026, in much less favourable weather conditions. The picture featured this train about to depart Porthmadog as the 13:00 to Coleham.
The Last Flask
In the piece about 37 429 in the last update we stated that it was the last flask train to Trawsfynydd Power Station. This is incorrect. The working, an empty flask, came to the railhead at Trawsfynydd on 22 April 1997, with 37 426 and not 37 429, No doubt EWS wanted to show its colours. The third picture shows the shunting movement at Blaenau Ffestiniog that morning, prior to working up to Trawsfynydd. The very last 'loaded' flask left the railhead with 31 308 a week later, on 29 April 1997.
From Dave Sallery's archive
40 122 at Prestatyn on a Crewe bound Freightliner - 10 June 1985.
47 145 on Frodsham viaduct, 28 August 1989. The loco was on a diverted West Coast service passing over the River Weaver. Panary and Humber Trader are the barges.
60 007 at Penyffordd, 25 July 2007. Between Wrexham and Bidston, with a long steel train from Margam to Dee Marsh.
60 061 + 60 044, Abergele, 11 August 1991. This was the unrepeatable Railfreight Coal Day.
Withdrawn Class 104 unit CH616 is seen stabled in Bangor goods yard on 6 March 1991. The unit is somewhat the worse for wear having been used for an emergency evacuation exercise the previous weekend. The DMU was towed from and to Chester depot to partake in the simulated train crash in Bangor tunnel.
Looking Back: June and July 1971 - By David Pool
The 16:26 from Penrith was arriving at Keswick on 21 June 1971, formed by a Class 108 M56940/M50958. The line beyond Keswick to Workington had closed on 18 April 1966, and would close from Penrith on 6 March 1972.
The branch from Oxenholme to Windermere was more secure, although it was to be singled in 1972, when the West Coast Main Line was being electrified. On 22 June 1971 another Class 108 M56259/M50977 was arriving at Kendal with the 1255 Windermere to Oxenholme. The freight yard at Kendal would close in 1972. Electrification of the line to Windermere has been proposed, but this looks unlikely in the near future.
I called at Carnforth on the way home, and was surprised to see a narrow gauge German locomotive in one of the sheds. This was Deutsche Reichsbahn 99.3462, an 0-8-0 600mm gauge steam locomotive (Works No.12978) built by Orenstein and Koppel in 1934 for the Mecklenburg–Pommersche Schmalspurbahn. It had been bought by a company seeking motive power for the Vale of Rheidol line, then under threat of closure by British Railways. Fortunately the V of R survived, and today in private ownership is a major tourist attraction. 99.3462 moved to the Ffestiniog Railway in 1972, but was never in service there, and returned to Germany in 1978 to the Mühlenstroth Steam Railway and Museum in Gütersloh, where it was named Mecklenburg (Lok 12). It was loaned to the Muskau Forest Railway between 2012 and 2019, and is now undergoing a major overhaul at Gütersloh.
On 24 June 1971 I was in Oswestry, where 5097 (later 24 097) was in the freight sidings. The station platform is just visible on the left, but the whole area has since been redeveloped with car parks and retail outlets, and is now the site of The Range. The tower of St Oswald’s church on the skyline to the left of the telegraph pole is distinctive.
I have not taken many photographs at Alsager, but on 5 July 1971 I was passing through and it was a sunny day, so my shot of a Class 103 unit on the 17:07 Crewe to Stoke was worthwhile, even if I did not get the car numbers.
The “Birkenhead Docker 2” Railtour was on 10 July 1971, so I headed for Bidston Dock to see Barclay 1598(1918) Efficient, with an assortment of brake vans and open wagons.
There was a diesel electric on the rear. Yorkshire Engine Co. 2732(1959) Labrador was one of the Rea locomotives working at Bidston Dock. The shot was taken in Dock Road, Poulton. Subsequently Labrador was sold in 1990 to C.C. Crump’s Wagon Works at Connah’s Quay, then to the Fire Service College at Moreton in the Marsh. I have no information on whether it was scrapped or it is still there. Can anyone help?
It wasn’t difficult to overtake the train, and further along the Dock Road at Seacombe no passengers had fallen off or jumped ship. Many years later I ordered a model of Efficient from Hattons, but it took a few more years before it eventually came from Accurascale – it was well worth the wait.
Later that month I was in Yorkshire, and on 15 July 1971 the station at Ravensthorpe was the location for a shot of a TransPennine Class 124 unit on the 14:00 Lime Street to Hull service. This is currently the scene of a major project to upgrade the junction and reposition the station for the electrification of the route.
Another station which has changed markedly is Huddersfield. On 19 July 1971 two Class 110 units were parked on the centre lines. The old platforms have recently been lengthened and two new bay platforms built. The major task now is to restore the distinctive roof, which was part of the original Grade 1 Listed Building.
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