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10 May 2022
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Ballast and sleepers for weekend work west of Crewe passing Bagillt on 7 May (Stephen Dennett). Don't miss our extra issue.- Charlie Seen in GreenAdding a splash of colour along the North Wales coast: Special livery 66 796 The Green Progressor made an appearance on the Penmaenmawr to Tuebrook sidings stone train on 6 May. Loading at Penmaenmawr quarry sidings (Garry Stroud). The name was chosen by Jermaine Allen from Leeds. Jermaine also got to reveal the nameplate as part of the official opening of HS2’s brand new 30 acre Logistics Hub which is close to Willesden Junction in London (Picture courtesy of HS2 Ltd). Conwy Tunnel (Gerant Williams) Seen passing Llandudno Junction with the return 6K22 loaded stone to Tuebrook sidings (Garry Stroud). Ffynnongroyw (Stephen Dennett). It is pleasing to see this German import on the Penmaenmawr quarry run, with its promotional livery for the environmental benefits of delivering construction materials by rail instead of road, especially for HS2. A Stephen Dennett selection66 541 on a long circuit from Crewe Basford Hall to Holyhead and back passes Bagillt on 5 May. This was the return journey with empty Network Rail Autoballaster wagons. 67 014 propels IW91, a Cardiff Central to Holyhead loco hauled working. DVT 82216 was at the front. Taken at Ffynnongroyw on 5 May. 67014 had not been seen by me for ages, so it was good to bag a photo of it once again. 197 101 on what seems like a daily run down the coast. Loaded with passengers soon I hope. SLC Operations driver training run with TfW Class 197, 197 011 from Crewe Gresty Lane to Llandudno. Ffynnongroyw, 5 May. I was intrigued by the TOC listed as SO on Realtime Trains. I had to check them out online to discover SLC Operations had been established in 2020 as a licensed TOC and Driver Training Specialist. 66 570 with another ballast run to Rhyl passing Beeches Farm. Miscellany66 732 passes Buckley on 7 May (Stephen Dennett). Are GBRf taking on the steel trains to Dee Marsh again, or was this a one-off starting from Llanwern instead of Margam? Incidentally 66 732 is a loco with an extra long name:“GBRf The First Decade 1999-2009 John Smith-MD. Geoff Morris writes: 'While the loaded log trains from Carlisle to Chirk can be seen almost daily at Chester, the return empties are normally routed via Shrewsbury to Crewe and do not appear here. A look at Real Tome Trains on Sunday 8 May showed that there was Short Term Plan for a run from Chirk to Carlisle that reversed at Shrewsbury and returned north via Chester to access the West Coast Main Line at Warrington. Consequently I headed down to the City Walls around mid-day and 70 816 duly appeared on time hauling the usual long rake of (empty) wagons.' At Cheadle Hulme on 1 May, the 'Midland Pullman' HST passing through while working from Crewe to Blackburn ... ... still with the mis-matched loco on the rear (Greg Mape). A view from a train on 28 April by Ian Henderson shows 230 006 outside the revamped Birkenhead North depot (230 008 was also present). The simplification of the track layout at here would suggest that any reconnection to the dock lines is unlikely, although press reports reveal a plan for a 'Wirral Logistics Park' in the area. Interestingly, the image hints at what seems to be a tram system (Notes by George Jones). The first - fully booked - 'Snowdonian' of the year ran on Saturday 13 April; these specials offer a through train for passengers between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Caernarfon via Porthmadog. Above: Palmerston, Welsh Pony, and Prince at Blaneau Ffestiniog. Later, after a change of traction, Garratts K1 and 87 seen at Waunfawr, where the K1 was detached and ran down to Dinas, presumably because of gauging issues running into Caernarfon. Pictures by Jim Ikin. Seen from a Ferry - report by Geoff MorrisOn Friday 6 May my wife and I travelled on one of the Manchester Ship Canal Cruises operated by Mersey Ferries. Currently these trips only run as far as Latchford where they turn around and return to Liverpool. The Canal runs along the sidings at Manisty Wharf (Ellesmere Port) where I was a surprised to see some Cargowaggons, which carried Ford branding. Looking back in the archive shows that a set of similar wagons was taken to Ellesmere Port from Bridgend in early July 2019 so I assume that these were the wagons I noted on Friday. Later, on the return journey, just after we passed under the West Coast Main Line viaduct at Acton Grange I heard something approaching and was able to get a photo of a 66 796 The Green Progressor crossing on the down main line hauling a rake of box wagons. From Dave Sallery's Archive44950 on the 'withdrawn' line at Speke junction in 1966. However, as the chimney is covered it could yet return to service. In fact the loco did survive until 1969 when it was removed from Lostock Hall for scrap at Drapers of Hull. 37 418 Pectinidae leaves Rhyl on the 11:33 Holyhead - Crewe on 3 June 1993. An early 37 photo on the coast with Network South East livery still in evidence. (Cf. Aberystwyth article, last issue) 31 304 passes Maentwrog Road on 21 July 1993 with flasks from Trawsfynydd. The power station is in the background. 47 810 leaves Rhyl on a Virgin Trains service to Holyhead in July 2003. Looking back: Steam and Diesel 2003 part 3 - by David PoolThis must be one of the longest names for a diesel locomotive. At a naming ceremony at Crewe, 56 038 became Pathfinder Tours 30 years of Railtouring 1973-2003. The Pathfinder Railtour had come to Crewe from Bristol for an Open Day, and offered an add-on tour to Hooton Long Siding and Shrewsbury, running as 1Z56, 14:58 from Crewe. The train is approaching Hooton on 1 June 2003. Previously on the rear of the train, and now leading from Hooton, 57 005 Freightliner Excellence was heading for Chester and Shrewsbury, where 1Z56 would again reverse. The only other time I had seen 57 005 was at Wandsworth Road on 8 June 1999, when it was working 4S56, the 13:47 Grain to Coatbridge. On this occasion I had been photographing 60 002 High Peak on what was probably 7O78 Park Royal to Angerstein Wharf, so getting an unplanned shot of 57 005 in addition was a bonus. There had been a visit to North Wales by Prince Charles and Prince William on 19 June 2003, and the Royal Train was passing through Mold Junction on an empty stock working. The buffers on 47 798 Prince William have not been cleaned, so it probably had been on the rear of the train, but there was no sign of the other regular locomotive 47 799. Most unusually, the train ran with just the one loco, running round the train at Bangor. Our report of the time offers no reason for this economy measure, but relates that 'After the platform "meet-and-greet," the royal guests will be whisked by car to the Anglesey Food Fair at the island showground at Mona, before being flown to Newport, South Wales, to visit a new day centre for the homeless. Bangor Mayor Cllr Marshall said: "It will be an honour to welcome Prince Charles and Prince William to Bangor.'" The Folly Lane branch at Runcorn is difficult to photograph. On 24 June 2003 I had seen 6F20, the 0825 Sellafield to Runcorn Folly Lane, as it passed through Winwick, and decided to try my luck on the branch. Using a 135mm telephoto lens, I was able to get a shot from Picow Farm Road where it crossed over the Expressway. DRS 33 025 and 33 027 were the locomotives, 33 025 still having the “minimodal” branding. My notes of 26 June 2003 do not give any details of this shot of 6233 Duchess of Sutherland at Croes Newydd. The train was 1Z52, a Birmingham - Birmingham circular Northern Belle luncheon excursion. On 28 June 2003 the “Chester Racer” was the title of 1Z49, the 07:06 from Tamworth to Chester. 4936 Kinlet Hall had worked the train from Derby, and was in the Reception Sidings at Chester. It was a rather dull day on 4 July 2003, so the spot lights on 960 011, the Railtrack Survey Unit, were being put to good use for the track inspection. It is passing Mold Junction, running as 2Z02, 0932 Crewe to Holyhead. The Unit, previously Class 121 55 025, then 960 011 Pandora, became 977859. At one stage it was destined for a proposed Radstock to Frome reopened line, but now is being stored at a private site on Honeybourne Airfield. Weekend arrangements at Rhyl
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