THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY CALENDAR

Rheilffordd arfordir gogledd Cymru Calendr


LAST UPDATE: 07 July 2008

To the North Wales Coast main page: To The Noticeboard

This page is a handy reference for the dates of coming events, many of which will have been first mentioned on the Notice Board page. Details of special or unusual trains, meetings of societies, and anything else of railway interest in the North Wales area, will appear here. Organisers, please send in your details. We will include a website/email address or telephone number for confirmation wherever possible: this website takes no responsibilty for the accuracy of the information contained here, or for the cancellation of trains or events.

Special thanks to the Wrexham Railway Society for their invaluable assistance with this page. For a regularly updated calendar of steam runs around the UK, we recommend www.uksteam.info.


  July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | DecJan | Feb  | Mar  |  Apr  |  May | June


July 2008


5 July Steam on the Coast 'The North Wales Coast Express' Worcester-Holyhead 71000 Duke of Gloucester: Crewe-Holyhead-Crewe Railway Touring Company [Cancelled]

12 July Steam on the Coast 'The Welsh Mountaineer' Manchester Victoria to Llandudno Junction, then Blaenau Ffestiniog and return. 45407 + 76079 (postponed from 5 April.) Railway Touring Company  [Cancelled]

12 July Deltic diesel on the Cambrian 'The Snowdonian' Preston, Wigan, Warrington, Crewe, Stafford, Penkridge to Barmouth and Pwllheli. Pathfinder Tours

15 July (Tues) RCTS Informal station observation at Doncaster between 11:00 and 16:45 hrs approx.  Main group leaves Chester station at 07:45. Visitors welcome: please contact  Geoff Morris at geoffreymorris[at]tiscali.co.uk in advance.

27 July (Sun)  RCTS Visit to Bala Lake Railway  and Llangollen Railway (d.m.u. trip). Depart from Chester at 09:00. Visitors welcome: please contact  Geoff Morris at geoffreymorris[at]tiscali.co.uk in advance.

28 July - 1 August Steam on the Cambrian Machynlleth - Porthmadog (-Pwllheli)  76079: Machynlleth-Porthmadog(-Pwllheli) and return (Runs through to Pwllheli Wed and Fri) West Coast Railway Company. Times for these trains as below:

(Mon-Fri)Machynlleth  d 10.05, Dovey Jc a 10.11  d 10.12,  Tywyn a 10.30 d 10.32,  Barmouth a 11.00  d 11.02,  Harlech a 11.22  d 11.23,  Porthmadog  a 11.50. 
        
(Wed and Fri only continues: Porthmadog d 11.45 Pwllheli  a 12.40  d 14.15 Porthmadog  a 14.55)
         
(Mon-Fri) Porthmadog d 14.55, Harlech, a 15.13  d 15.19, Barmouth a 15.42 d 15.50, Tywyn a 16.20        d 16.22,  Dovey Jc a 16.44  d 16.53, Machynlleth     a 17.00                  

August 2008

Every Sunday in August and August Bank Holiday Monday: Steam on the Coast. 'The North Wales Coast Express.' Liverpool Lime Street (dep. 10:00), Broad Green ('which has a large car park'), Warrington Bank Quay, Frodsham and Chester  to Llandudno Junction, Conwy, Bangor or Holyhead and return. 'This will be a regular summer steam service from Liverpool and Chester to Holyhead. We have a pool of three steam locomotives, all Pacifics and restored to top operating condition for hauling these trains. They are 6201 Princess Elizabeth, 60009 Union of South Africa and 71000 Duke of Gloucester.' Railway Touring Company

4 - 8 Aug Steam on the Cambrian: see 28 July

9 Aug Steam day at Eaton Hall, home of Sir Arthur Heywood's unique railway. www.eeo.co.uk

11-15 Aug Steam on the Cambrian: see 28 July

25-29 Aug Steam on the Cambrian: see 28 July


September 2008

5 September  Clwyd Railway Circle ‘An Evening with Les Nixon’  A mix of pictures taken over the past 50 years from this highly acclaimed railway photographer  including some foreign material from all over the world.


October 2008

3 October  Clwyd Railway Circle ‘The Tramways & Railways to Holywell’  Illustrated talk of the rail systems that served Holywell. John R Thomas 

November 2008

7 November  Clwyd Railway Circle ‘Archive Cine Film’  B & R Video Productions present a night of nostalgia including footage taken in North Wales.  This is an ideal opportunity to pick up this years Christmas present in video or DVD format. Colin White  

December 2008

5 December Clwyd Railway Circle ‘Welsh Railways over the years’  A look back at steam days in the principality covered by Arriva Trains Wales.  See how it’s changed over the years. Larry Davies 

January 2009

9 January  Clwyd Railway Circle ‘Steaming through the Gauges in the 21st Century’  A medium-format slide presentation showing steam trains in the UK, Europe, North America, Africa and the Middle East from the year 2000 onwards. Please note this is the 2nd Friday of the month.  Geoff Morris  

February 2009

6 February Clwyd Railway Circle ‘The Birkenhead Railway’  On his doorstep, this is one of Edgar’s favourite railways and best programmes.  Edgar Richards

March 2009
 
6 March Clwyd Railway Circle ‘AGM followed by Chairman’s Evening & Photo Competition’  This being Francis’s last year as Chairman, he takes a look back at his life long interest in railways. Francis Phillips

April 2009
 
3 April  Clwyd Railway Circle ’55 Years of the Development of the Talyllyn Railway’  The trials and tribulations of running a railway in preservation.  Andy Lawton 

May 2009

June 2009



Groups and their meeting places


8E Association

Meetings are held at  Northwich (The Gladstone Club) at 7:30pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month - excluding July and August. Warrington (St.Hilda’s Clubroom, Slater St., Latchford) - occasional fixtures - see the club's meetings page for details.

Cambrian Railways Society
 
Meetings are held in Oswestry at the Cambrian Institute in Gobowen Road.

Clwyd Railway Circle


A programme of illustrated talks on the first Friday of the month from September to April at the Jubilee Community Centre, 45 Seabank Drive, Prestatyn, LL19 7PP. Visitors Welcome: Admission £1. Anybody requiring information about the programme should  contact: David Jones Tel:  01244 537440 or email: davejan64[at]btinternet.com

Ffestiniog Railway Society

Dee & Mersey Group of the Ffestiniog Railway Society holds meetings the last Wednesday of January, February, March, April, September, October and  November each year. All meetings are at the The Cross Keys, Lower Bridge Street, Chester,  at 7.40pm.

Contact Geoff Lake, secretary at GLake51269[at]aol.com

Llandudno and Conwy Valley Railway Society

Meetings are held at 19:30 at the The Royal British Legion Club in Conwy,which is right in the middle of town with excellent bus services and one minute from The Railway station. Contact Keith Jones (tina[at]kljones.supanet.com)

Merseyside Railway History Group

A warm welcome is extended to all visitors at the Group's meetings, and further information about the Group may be obtained from the Hon Sec, who may be contacted at  0151-677-6062 or :mrhg[at]btinternet.com. Meetings are held at the United Reform Church Hall, Meols Drive, West Kirby, Wirral, Merseyside, UK and commence at 7.45 pm. 

North Wales Railway Circle

North Wales Railway Circle, Bangor, meets on Tuesday evenings, generally the 1st and 3rd of the month, at 19.30 for a prompt 19:45 start.  Change of Venue: Bangor branch meetings now take place in the Railway Institute, Euston Road (behind the station sidings). It's about 5-10 minutes walk from the railway station: turn right on to the road and then right again under the railway bridge, bear right into Penchwintan Road, then first right into Euston Road (no road name sign); the Railway Institute is a short way up the hill next to the Royal Mail delivery office. There is a car park.. Information from Dave Lindsay on 01407 740646 or lindsays262[at]btinternet.com

RCTS: Railway Correspondence and Travel Society, Merseyside and North Wales Branch

Chester meetings are held at: The "Town Crier" , Station Road/City Road, Chester (opposite the railway station.)

Port Sunlight meetings are held at: The Lever Club, Greendale Road, Port Sunlight (Adjacent to Port Sunlight station). All meetings commence at 7:45 pm. Contact Richard Neale (rwnealeatl[at]supanet.com)

Members and visitors are most welcome, and a £2 entrance charge is requested, to contribute towards the costs of the meetings.

Shrewsbury-Chester Rail Users’ Association

Meetings are held as indicated. At Gobowen at the Railway station, Chirk in the Royal British Legion Club and Wrexham in St Marys’ Social Club, Regent St.

Shropshire Railway Society.

Meetings are held in Shrewsbury at the Gateway Education & Arts Centre, Chester St in the “Mary Margaret Room”.  usually on the second and fourth Friday of each month, start at 1930hrs and finish at 2200hrs. 'Non-members are welcome to a maximum of two meetings, and are asked to make a small voluntary contribution to society funds.'

Wrexham Railway Society

Monthly meetings are held in the Catholic Social Club at St Marys Church Regent St, Wrexham, opposite Grosvenor Road traffic lights starting at 19.45. The venue provides for a comfortable and convivial atmosphere with adequate off the street car parking. Annual subscription for Society members £6 all classes. Visitors welcome on payment of £1.50 at the door.

Welshpool and Llanfair Railway North West

Meetings are in the Town Crier Hotel, City Road, Chester.

Wirral Railway Circle

Meetings are at the Williamson Art Gallery, Slatey Road, Birkenhead.


Charter Train Operators

Compass Tours   The Barn, 119a New Street, Halsall, Ormskirkm United Kingdom, L39 8RR Telephone:     01704 840573

Heartland Rail  0845 607 6395, email mail[at]heartlandrail.com

Hertfordshire Rail Tours   Now known as Stobart Pullman, Pullman House, RTC Business Park, London Road, Derby, DE24 8UP. email: enquiries[at]traintrips.co.uk Telephone 01332 374517

Mid-Cheshire Rail Users' Association

Past-Time Rail 116 Trent Valley Road, Lichfield, Staffs WS13 6EU. Bookings: 0871 8714119
(Monday - Friday 09.30 to 17.00) or by fax on 01543 417531. Email for mailing list and brochure: contact@past-timerail.co.uk

PMR Tours PO Box 6233, The West Shed, Ripley DE5 4AD Tel: 01773-743986

Pathfinder Tours, Stag House, Gydynap Lane, Inchbrook, Woodchester, Gloucestershire, GL5 5EZ. Bookings: 01453 835414

The Railway Touring Company. PO Box 1012, Kings Lynn PE30 3YN Tel: 01553-661500 Fax: 01553 661800
Email: enquirie[at]railwaytouring.co.uk

Steamy Affairs 18 Popes Lane, Terrington St Clement, Norfolk PE34 4NT Tel: 01553-828107 or 01327-342361 [Note: this company is believed to have ceased trading.]

Green Express 66 Stonegate, Hunmanby, Filey YO14 0PP Tel 01723 891400

Vintage Trains, 670 Warwick Road, Tyseley, Birmingham B11 2HL Tel:  0121 707 4696

Kingfisher Railtours,  Felmersham, Mills Road, Osmington Mills, Weymouth, Dorset. DT3 6HE Tel/Fax  0870 747 2983

Steam Dreams  'Bookings Office is open daily Monday to Friday from 0900hrs to 1730hrs and on Saturday between 0930hrs and 1200hrs,' Telephone 01483 209888, or email info[at]steamdreams.co.uk


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Compiled by Charlie Hulme, with special thanks to George Jones.