NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY:NOTICE BOARD
Rheilffordd arfordir gogledd Cymru: Hysbysfwrdd
12 June 2017
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[Details of events during the summer of 2017 are welcome for this space]
July 2017
1-2 July Llangollen Railway Classic Transport weekend
1-2 July Talyllyn Railway Llechfan Garden Railway weekend and Beer Festival
22-23 July Llangollen Railway 1960s weekend
22-24 July Penrhyn Quarry Railway Celebration of five years of running
Sunday 23 July Steam on the Coast Railway Touring Company North Wales Coast Express Liverpool - Holyhead
Tuesday 25 July Steam on the Coast Railway Touring Company The Welsh Mountaineer
Preston - Blaenau Ffestiniog
August 2017
25-28 August Bala Lake Railway Steam Gala
September 2017
1-3 September Welshpool and Llanfair Railway Gala Weekend
15-17 September Welsh Highland Railway Super Power Weekend
16-17 September Penrhyn Quarry Railway Special event
Saturday 23 September Welshpool and Llanfair Railway Diesel day
23-24 September Llangollen Railway Diesel Weekend
October 2017
6-8 October Ffestiniog Railway Victorian Weekend
13-15 October Llangollen Railway Autumn Steam Gala
November 2017
Saturday 18 November Steam on the Coast Steam Dreams Cathedrals Express London Euston - Llandudno for the Christmas Market. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland: Crewe - Llandudno and return
A flower among the weeds at North Llanrwst, 10 June. Picture by Greg Mape.
Class 40 special
If there's one diesel loco that can attract our photographers as much as a steam engine, it's a Class 40, once the mainstay of North Wales Coast expresses, and the 'East Lancs Enterprise' charter organised by the Class 40 Preservation Society, featuring D345 (40 145) prior to its being taken out of service for twelve months to have (very expensive) tyre replacement work undertaken, was a case in point. The loco carried the 'We Love Manchester' emblem, the symbol of the city's solidarity after the horrific suicide bombing on 22 May.
D345's adventure began on Friday 9 June (above), when it ran light from its base at Bury to Carnforth to collect a rake of coaches. Rather than return with empty stock, it was agreed that the train to Bury could carry passengers. Steve Morris photographed the train, 1Z34, ready for departure at Carnforth.
The 'East Lancs Enterprise' itself departed from Bury (East Lancs Railway) at 05:15 (!) on 10 June and travelled to Crewe the long way round via Rochdale, Hebden Bridge, Huddersfield, Stalybridge, Manchester Victoria, Warrington Bank Quay and Hartford, where Phil Clarke was waiting with his camera.
On the rear, West Coast Railways 37 516 Loch Laidon (Phil Clarke).
Approaching Crewe (Steve Morris).
Attracting attention at Crewe (Steve Morris). The train reversed here, as the tail lamp affixed to D345 shows. The plan was that 37 516 would haul the train to Llandudno Junction, where another reversal put the Class 40 on the front for the climb up the Conwy Valley line to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Inclement weather at Roman Bridge (Greg Mape).
Arriving at Blaenau Ffestiniog in the rain (Ken Robinson).
Blaenau in black and white (Greg Mape).
37 516 took the train down the valley to Llandudno Junction (picture by Ken Robinson) and, after a ten-minute break) on to Holyhead. Passengers for Llandudno were provided with road transport from The Junction for pathing reasons; the train would call there on the return.
Arrived at Holyhead (Ken Robinson). The object on the Railfreight-style depot plaque is Carnforth's coaling tower.
D345 on arrival at Holyhead Platform 1. The headcode would seen be altered to 1Z37 for the return journey (Steve Morris).
A panoramic view of Holyhead sidings, with 67 020 and its Premier Express stock stabled for the weekend. The headcode on D345 has been re-set ready for the 16:00 departure time (Ken Robinson).
The return train crosses Conwy Cob (Chris Morrison).
From Llandudno Junction, 37 516 took charge to Llandudno, seen negotiating the check-railed sharp curve of the Llandudno Junction branch (Ken Robinson). Both Up and Down lines of the branch are signalled for both directions over a short section as far as a pair of crossovers beyond the bridge on which Ken was standing.
Loch Laidon heads the train along the branch to Llandudno near Deganwy (Chris Morrison).
D345 on the rear of the train at Deganwy Marina (Chris Morrison).
D345 approaches Deganwy crossing distant signal on the way back from Llandudno to Preston (Chris Morrison).
Llanddulas viaduct (Greg Mape).
Abergele (Roly High).
Chester (Steve Morris). The train continued to Warrington Bank Quay, Manchester Victoria, Huddersfield, Hebden Bridge, Rochdale, Todmorden, Blackburn and Preston which was reached eight minutes early at 23:42.
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