NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY :NOTICE BOARD
Rheilffordd arfordir gogledd Cymru: Hysbysfwrdd
07 April 2025
Forthcoming events
See our Calendar Page for operator details.
April 2025
Friday 11 April. Altrincham Electric Railway Preservation Society "Steam, Diesel and Electric in the Northern Fells" by Ian Pilkington. A joint meeting with the Irish Railway Record Society Manchester Branch.
Saturday 12 April Midland Pullman Torbay Riviera Pullman from Chester, Wrexham General and Ruabon to Paignton.
Saturday 19 April Northern Belle - Settle and Carlisle Steam Special. Wrexham General and Chester to Carlisle via the S&C. Diesel to/from Carnforth, steam for remainder.
May 2025
Thursday 1 May Northern Belle "Conwy Castle & Bodnant Gardens" charter from Coventry It includes other off-train options.
Saturday 3 May Vintage Trains The North Wales Coast Express. Birmingham New Street to Llandudno for the Victorian Extravaganza. Diesel and steam top and tail (steam likely to be 5043 or 7209).
Sunday 4 May Inter-City Yr Wyl Fictoriadd (The Victorian Festival) Bermingham Internation - Llandudno. Traction: two Class 20s
Saturday 10 May UK Railtours Llandudno and Chester. London Euston to Llandudno Junction and Penmaenmawr freight yards. The tour is now called the "The Deva Victrix" and no longer visits Penmaenmawr yard, just the slate yard in Llandudno Junction. It includes traction by a GBRf class 57 and 60.
Saturday 16 May Pathfinder Tours 'Cambrian Coast' Express from Bristol Temple Meads to Pwllheli
Saturday 24 May UK Railtours 'The Soul Exchanger' from London Euston to Aberystwyth. Various off-train options including the Vale of Rheidol Railway.
Saturday 31 May Northern Belle Conwy Castle & Bodnant Gardens from Cardiff
June 2025
Friday 20 June Northern Belle Spirit of Travel Lunch. Circular tour picking up at Chester and Wrexham General. Diesel hauled.
Friday 20 June Northern Belle Champagne Afternoon Tea. Circular tour picking up at Chester and Wrexham General. Diesel hauled.
Saturday 21 June North West Rail and Transport Collectors Fair Crewe Alexandra Football Club 10:00 - 16:00
Thursday 26 June The Railway Industry's "Three Peaks by Rail" will be down the Coast on the evening of 26 June and heading onwards in the early hours of 27 June.
July 2025
Saturday 5 July Railway Touring Company "North Wales Coast Express" from London Euston to Llandudno. Electric to Crewe, with steam along the Coast.
Saturday 5 July Pathfinder Tours 'The Ffestiniog Slater' from Swindon to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Various off-train options including the Ffestiniog Railway.
Sunday 13 July Railway Touring Company charter from Liverpool to Holyhead on with steam throughout.
Tuesday 15 July Midland Pullman Yorkshire Coast Pullman from Ruabon, Wrexham General and Chester.
Saturday 21 July Belmond Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
August 2025
4 August Belmond Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
11 August Belmond Britannic Explorer Six day tour of Lake District & Wales
25 August Belmond Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
22 August Belmond Britannic Six day tour of Cornwall & Wales,
September 2025
Thursday 4 September Clwyd Railway Circle 'The Steelworks Railways at Home and Abroad' Adrian Bodlander
Saturday 5 September Pathfinder Tours 'Cambrian Coast Express' from Cardiff Central to Pwllheli
11 September Belmond Britannic Explorer Six day tour of Lake District & Wales
Saturday 12 September Pathfinder Tours '.Cambrian Coast Express' from Bristol Temple Meads to Pwllheli
15 September Belmond Britannic Explorer Britannic Explorer Six day tour of Cornwall & Wales,
26 September Belmond Britannic Explorer Six day tour of Lake District & Wales
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.
October 2005
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
20 October, Belmond Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
17 October Belmond Britannic Explorer Six day tour of Cornwall & Wales,
10 November; Belmond Britannic Explorer 3-day Tour of Wales
November 2005
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 remainder.
December 2005
Thursday 4 December Clwyd Railway Circle 'Railways & Tramways of the Isle of Man' Geoff Morris.
North Wales Coast Railway website created and compiled by Charlie Hulme
805 002 passes a coastal caravan site on 7 April. Picture by Greg Mape
Two Excursions in one day
Ivor Bufton's contribution sums up the day: 'Some nice weather on Saturday 5 April and four engines on two loco-hauled specials gave a satisfying day's photography.' Other photographs follow.
'First of all I went out early to capture 1Z30 07:03 Llandudno Junction to Carlisle which appeared with D213 at the helm, seen here passing Prestatyn in the early morning su
'Next was UK Railtours 1Z90 06:48 London Euston to Holyhead with 47848 leading ...
... and 47812 on the rear. Seen here passing Marine lake, Rhyl'
Finally, there must have been problems with 47812 as 57314 was sent light engine from Carnforth to Holyhead to work the train back to Euston, the return is seen passing Rhyl with 57 314 leading 47 812 (Dead in Train). 47 848 was on the rear.
D213 on the coast: the Lakelander
05:15: D213 Andania shut down on its train in Llandudno Junction platform 3 having arrived from Crewe HS (Jack Bowley)
D213 in full glorious sunshine approaching Abergele and Pensarn working 1Z31 to Preston,
where the train would be taken over by 60532 Blue Peter to Carlisle (Jack Bowley).
Llandudno Junction 07:03 ...
... at 07:03 (Logan Humphreys).
The day after. D213 at Ffynnongroyw on 5Z36 14:08 Llandudno Junction - Crewe , 6 April (David Wood)
The Snowdonian
'The Snowdonian' ran on 5 April to from London to Llandudno Junction, Bangor and Holyhead.
West Coast Railways 47 848 ...
... and 47 812 at Llandudno Junction (Geraint Williams)
Nearing Valley ...
... Where repairs are carrying out to the listed original building (Stuart Broome)
After five hours at Holyhead the charter is seen soon after departure, but now with 57 314 Conwy Castle and 47 812 leading with 47 848 on the rear of 1Z91 17:03 return charter.
57 314 is an ex-Virgin Thunderbird which carried the name Tracy Island" for those that
remember them, and in my opinion looked much smarter than it does now in drab maroon. presumably one of the 47s had a fault as this loco was sent from Carnforth to lead the train (Stuart Broome).
Passing Talybont (Logan Humphreys).
Holiday report part 1 - by Charlie Hulme
Our recent little holiday comprised a few days at the excellent Ship Inn in Parkgate. While in the area, we decided to visit the Coast and at the same time get a first trip in a TfW class 230. Starting from Neston (above) - after searching in vain for a ticket machine - we rode in 230 010 as far as Shotton High Level, where we could transfer to the Low Level to travel to Colwyn Bay on what was a perfect sunny day. The conductor was happy to issue a ticket, in that sprawling paper style common these days,
Arriving at Shotton slightly late, we had to hurry along the route to the low level which involves leaving the station and walking a long path to the westbound low level platform and just in time to board the Holyhead-bound train, a very crowded Class 197 which took us to Colwyn Bay, where I needed help to read the barcode at the barrier.Colwyn station has not changed since I was riding behind 37s, but outside there are signs of the problems shared with nearly every town. We'd hoped to eat at Costa, but it's closed. On the sea front, the much shortened pier and the promenade are in good condition and ideal for a walk. I notice that they are installing shelters, as well as various play things all the way to Rhos-on-Sea.
On the journey back to Shotton - full of schoolkids using language I never used at that age - after leaving Flint the train slowed down and ran that way for some distance, a sign that 'trespassers on the line' had been seen by a the driver of a previous train. At Shotton, we waited by the smashed window of the ticket office for the slightly delayed train back to Neston. We taked to a another couple who told us that they had 45 minutes for a train which had been cancelled; Real Time Trains showed no sign of this, however. Personally I do find the 45-minute thing rather confusing.
As for the two kinds of train: just what's needed for the line, spacious, with the 'Underground', quiet and smooth and something different. But the Class 197s, I just can't like them. They have the same problem of rough running as their 195 and 331 neighbours on Northern: every set of points, crossing, or just rail joints they transmit a noise and jolt through the bogies to the to the interiors, and the hard seats transmit them to the passenger's posterior. The old BR-built class 150s and 158s with their air suspension, are far better in that respect. I notice that the Coast line has sections which can create this effect on plain track. This must surely also damage the track. And are they really suitable for Manchester to a Milford Haven service?
Exploring South Wales - with Graham Breakwell
I’ve been travelling on a South Wales 4-days-in-days-in-8 Rover. On 25 March I got caught up in the incident at Cwmbran. the 12:53 from Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly was unable to proceed any further due to the brakes locking on. Whilst most southbound service could still run anything going north could not, which continued well into the evening.
I had left Maesteg (above) on the 16:07 on 197 048 aiming to take the 17:53 from Cardiff back to Shrewsbury but it got cancelled as did the 18:23 to Chester, with all passengers redirected onto the 18:53 to Manchester. With no sign of it departing we were advised to take the 19:18 Swansea to Paddington as far as Newport where connections would be available. However, the only said connection was a 2-car Class 158 on platform going to Chester, which went on to be cancelled too and we were all sent back to platform 4. At just after 20:00h the announcement we’d all been waiting for informed us that the delayed 18:53 had just left Cardiff and was on its way - as if to distract us as the Cwmbran culprit slipped past through platform 3 propelled by 67017!
To everyone’s relief we headed off at 20:16, with 67 008 on the rear and 82226 on the front. With extra stops at Craven Arms and Church Stretton we arrived at Shrewsbury (above) at 22:13, the “service” continuing on to Crewe where the train terminated short. The Delay Repay process will be be bombarded with claims I suspect!
After my bad experience last with the Cwmbran incident I continued my travels on 28 March – the only disadvantage of the pass is that if you’re starting from Shrewsbury, as I do, the only way is South. The Marches is a beautiful route but after repeated trips down to Newport the views tend to wane and whilst the alternative Central Wales line is even more scenic, although four hours or more to Swansea in a Class 153 doesn’t have the same appeal as the Mark 4s!
Below are a few images from that day on when I tried out some Metro services on the new FLIRT - Fast Light Innovative Regional Trains - on the Valley’s lines.
A spotless Tri-Mode 756 117 at Cardiff Central, the superior quality of these Stadler trains is such a contrast to their predecessors; the ride is ultra smooth, quiet and with incredible acceleration, especially on 25kV.
The power pack in the central vehicle housing the diesel generator and the battery for trips off the juice.
756 117 arriving at Taffs Well with 1M42, the 14:51 from Aberdare to Merthyr Tydfil via Cardiff – a typical circular service on the Valley lines.
Pontypridd station is a shadow of its former self but is still a busy interchange with at least 12 services per hour serving Cardiff Central, Queen St and Bay, Merthyr Tydfil, Treherbert and Aberdare. Above:Station buildings on platform 2.
The roof structure over platforms 1 and 2.
150 245 on platform 2 with 2F40, the 14:42 from Treherbert to Cardiff Central. Platform 3 for northbound trains is hidden behind the DMU with its footbridge in the distance.
Lastly, this is the new TFW Taffs Well Metro depot seen from Taffs Well station footbridge full of class 398s, the bi-mode (electric and battery) two-car units scheduled to operate between Cardiff and the heads of the valleys.
From Dave Sallery's archive
37 415 is shunting the acetic acid tanks in Mostyn yard, 13 November 1992
47 206, Llandudno Jct yard, 29 October 1990.
37 428 has several Class 108 DMUs for company on Shrewsbury stabling point, 20 January 1991.
37 428, now in Royal Scotsman livery, leaves Prestatyn on a down train, 6 June 2000.
Looking back: South West and The Marches 1964 - David Pool
The branchline between Hereford and Gloucester via Ross on Wye was due to close in November 1964, and on 7 September 1964 5101 Class tank 4157 was leaving Hereford with the 13:40 to Gloucester – a locomotive type very familiar to me on the Hooton to West Kirby line. 4157 was withdrawn in June 1965.
Bodmin was a town with separate stations for the Western and Southern lines. Most passengers would arrive at Bodmin General from the Western Region main line at Bodmin Parkway, so the Southern station at Bodmin North was little used. On 17 September 1964 an AC Cars Railbus W79977 was working the 10:10 from Bodmin North to Boscarne Exchange Halt, where it would make a connection with the line from Bodmin General to Wadebridge. Three of the five AC Cars Railbuses have been preserved, but not W79977. Today the Bodmin Railway operates between Bodmin Parkway and Bodmin General, plus a shuttle service from Bodmin General to Boscarne Junction, the present terminus on the line towards Wadebridge.
Another passenger service now withdrawn was between Lostwithiel and Fowey. On 17 September 1964 a single Class 121 unit W55031 had formed the 13:30 from Lostwithiel, and was arriving at Fowey. The freight line beyond Fowey to Par was subsequently closed, but freight trains still use the line from Lostwithiel. W55031 was saved for preservation, being currently at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, where it has been stripped for spares, and its future is uncertain.
On 18 September 1964 I was at Saltash station, and this enabled me to get a view of the Royal Albert Bridge from the Cornish side – my shots have usually been from the Devonshire side. Warship D801 Vanguard was on the 10:30 Paddington to Penzance (The Cornish Riviera Express). The semaphore signal on the approach to the station looks rather outdated in comparison with the speed restriction indicator on the left.
The following day I was photographing on the line from Exeter to Barnstaple, and at Egglesford I was rather surprised to see a Swindon Cross Country Class 120 on the 10:50 Salisbury to Ilfracombe. W51575 was one of the Wolverhampton Class 120s, and it would have been interesting to know what diagram it had been working.
The weather had improved when I got to Dulverton. The line from Dulverton to Exeter had closed in 1963, and the line from Tiverton to Tiverton Junction was about to close, but trains still ran between Taunton and Barnstaple. A Birmingham Class 118 W51324 was heading the 1620 from Taunton, which would be terminating at Barnstaple Junction.
Travelling home on 21 September 1964, I stopped at Craven Arms, where 6931 Aldborough Hall was heading for Shrewsbury with a few wagons, the lamps indicating a through freight train.
I got to Shrewsbury in time to see the Cambrian Coast Express arriving from Aberystwyth. 7819 Hinton Manor was drifting down to Sutton Bridge Junction, the trackbed of the Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway being on the left of the image. 7819 is now preserved as a Museum exhibit on the Severn Valley Railway.
Home page | Archive | Previous Notice Board