NORTH WALES COAST
RAILWAY :NOTICE BOARD
Rheilffordd arfordir gogledd Cymru: Hysbysfwrdd
30 March 2026
Next Update:
20 April
Forthcoming events
See our Calendar Page for operator details.
April 2026
Thursday 2 April Clwyd Railway Circle David Parry 'Swiss Rack Railways'
Thursday 9 April Statesman Rail "Royal Windsor Statesman", Chester, Wrexham General, Ruabon, Chirk to Windsor & Eton Riverside. LSL 47 or 57s.
April 11 April: UK Railtours. "The Not Holyhead" tour. Derby to North Wales with rare track etc.
Hanson and Hall's loco 50 008 'Thunderer' was one of two class 50's due to haul on this tour but it failed on an earlier tour . It is not known whether the tour will continue.
Friday 17 April Vintage Trains "The Cambrian Coast Express", Widney Manor to Pwllheli. Diesel hauled by 37240 to/from Shrewsbury, then double headed with a Network Rail 97/3 to Pwllheli.
May 2026
Monday 4 May Intercity/LSL "The Positioning Move". Crewe to Holyhead (and return). 45118 'The Royal Artilleryman'
Monday 4 May Intercity/LSL "The Baywatch Merrymaker" Holyhead to Scarborough (and return). 45118 'The Royal Artilleryman'
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.
June 2026
Saturday 6 June
Railway Touring Company London Euston to Aberystwyth. WCRC 47/57 to Shrewsbury, two Network Rail 97s or one 97 and one WCRC 37 to Aberystwyth.
Saturday 13 June North West Rail and Transport Collectors Fair
July 2026
Saltburn Railtours
3-6 July tour Saltburn to Llandudno, Three days' hotel accommodation with breakfast.
August 2026
Saturday 15 August
Railway Touring Company Oxford to Blaenau Ffestiniog, WCRC diesels TBC
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 To be announced
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 To be announced
November 2026
Thursday 5 November Clwyd Railway Circle To be announced
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
A milestone was met on 30 March: 5Q71 11:09 Holyhead to Crewe, the final unit of the 77 to be seen on test along the coast 197 041, pictured at Conwy by Garry Stroud.
News Pictures
Another view of 197 041, passing the Prestatyn Business Park, which people will remember as the former Kwik Save head office and warehouse. The train was towed - by 66 515 - from storage at Donnington Rail Freight Terminal to Crewe Carriage Sidings on 23 March.
66 798 Janice made a light engine move on 18 March as the 12:23 0M60 from Llanelli Dock Junction East to Worcester, taking the pretty route over the Central Wales Line. Here is an image of “Justine” passing through Church Stretton heading to Shrewsbury to reverse and take a less pretty route through Wolverhampton, Bescot, Birmingham New St, down the Lickey incline and on to Worcester Yard. The reason for this trip was driver training for the 'Britannic Explorer' train which was to run a week later, and indeed did run, apparently smoothly. (Graham Breakwell).
The next planned runs are listed in the bottom of the Forthcoming Events list. Photographers on the Cambrian should note that the train will depart from Barmouth southbound at 09:57 on the third day.
The old Bay platform at Prestatyn has been cleared of trees in preparation for the erection of a ramp from the new (yet to be built) footbridge that is replacing the Sandy Lane crossing (now closed). It has opened up a different view for photography, and here DR75406 Eric Machell is seen passing Prestatyn while working 6J83 10:46 Wrexham General to Rhyl Civil Engineers Siding on 11 March (Ivor Bufton)
On 20 March 37 510 Orion returned from Holyhead and is seen passing Conwy station as 0M57 09:57 Holyhead Car M.D to Derby RTC (Network Rail). It had deposited a TfW Class 231 unit to have its wheels attended to, as seen in the previous issue. Picture by Garry Stroud.
43 062 together with 43 013 on the rear of the New Measurement Train, entering Llandudno Junction with the 1Q30 09-54 Leicester to Holyhead test working. Thursday 19 March. (Garry Stroud).
88 006 Juno together with 68 003 Astute leading cross Llanddulas viaduct on 18 March. (Greg Mape). These runs to Valley appear roughly twice a year to retain their 'path' and staff knowledge, although it's not clear when the 'flasks' will be needed as Wylfa power station is permanently defunct.
DCRail continue to run regular stone trains to and from Penmaenmawr, using 60 046 and 600 55. 60 046 spent an extended time at Penmaenmawr yard due to issues loading stone and it didn't leave Penmaenmawr until Thursday 26 March. Scheduled inbound trains were also cancelled as a result. On Thursday evening 60 028 brought an empty train from Chaddesden Sidings, Derby and successfully let with the loaded train to Willesden the following day. While on Sunday 60 055 brought in another empty train from Chaddesden Sidings
The Llangollen Railway has a newcomer in the shape of a Class 3-car 110 unit, obtained from the East Lancashire Railway to replace the 104 which has been withdrawn because of corrosion problems. These 110s were are were work on the Calder Valley line which needed more powerful engines than the other classes. It's intended to use it as a 3-car set as they've been suffering with overcrowding of the 2-car sets (Dave Sallery).
67 029 Royal Diamond pauses at Shrewsbury on the 10:52 Cardiff to Manchester on 19 March Picture by Geraint Williams. The array of connectors and couplers includes a simple 'bar connector', When would this used?
Borderlands news
The Class 230 units are appearing with colourful decorations on the sides with local scenes; this is 230 010 at Wrexham Central having arrived as the 10:59 from Bidston on 22 March (Charlie Hulme).
Our return journey was disrupted when the conductor was unable to open the doors at Shotton station. Fortunately, after 15 minutes and some phone calls we were 'right away' and everyone breathed again (Charlie Hulme)
It isn’t easy to photograph all the images on the decorated locos away from the terminal stations, and Transport for Wales does not seem to have given much publicity to the train. With no detailed captions, it has been left to the traveller to work out what the images represent and where they might be found. Perhaps the publicity is intended to promote usage of the service by local residents rather than encourage people to visit the area. 230 008 is seen at Heswall (David Pool).
Liverpool is the subject at one end of 008 ...
... and Wrexham at the other end. The extra logo is that of
TfW's plans - by Gareth Marston
To clarify couple of things in the recent in the last issue. As well as the re-vamp of the North Wales Main Line timetable in May, the autumn should see TfW's rolling stock plans finally come to fruition some eight years on from the announcement of Keolis/Amey winning the franchise.
In South Wales the City Link Class 398 Tram Trains will take over the Treherbert / Aberdare / Merthyr services to / from Cardiff initially still with same timetable as today before ramping up to 4 trains per hour at a later stage. This will allow the remaining Class 150s to retire and the Stadler FLIRTs move to the lines they were intended for.
Class 231 (DMU variant) will work Maesteg / Cardiff Central / Ebbw Vale Town / Newport / Cheltenham services.
Class 756 (tri-Mode) will work Coryton - Penarth - Rhymney Valley, Barry and Vale of Glamorgan services.
Class 153 - will work the Heart of Wales Line and some Swansea to Cardiff locals
Class 197s will then deploy on all North Wales coast services / Chester to Birmingham International / Cambrian / Marches / Cardiff to West Wales
Class 158s will be withdrawn, with industry sources hinting they'll end up with GWR in Devon and Cornwall to allow their Class 150s to retire.
37/4s with a PLPR - report by Russell Withington
The four-weekly visit of a Plain Line Pattern Recognition train to the Borderlands line (amongst other places) took place on the evening of 9 March. It is seen here topped and tailed by 37 419 and 37 421 approaching Wrexham General from Chester. The group of coaches seen here make up PLPR1: 72612 (Radio Survey Coach); 975091 (Test Coach MENTOR); 72631 (PLPR); and 6261 (Generator van). It was interesting to see that MENTOR didn’t have its overhead electric surveying equipment turned on - it has been previously when I’ve seen it running through Bagillt, even though there are no wires there either. I didn’t stay on this time but the train reverses at Croes Newydd and comes back through Platform 3 a few minutes later to get onto the Borderlands line.
Wrexham General station.
Classics at Crewe - pictures by Richard Snook
Crewe, 11 March. 'Deltic' D9000 (55 022) arrives with a Sophos charter from London to Carlisle. In the past, electric locos have been used on this leg of the journey, but the famous diesel D9000 which is now in the care of the LSL group.
The Deltic is detached at Crewe ...
... and A4 class 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley takes the train on to Carlisle,
In British Railways days, A4s worked expresses on the East Coast line until the Deltics took over, so this is an appropriate pairing.
From Dave Sallery's Archive
Long since withdrawn Class 25 No. 25 265 comes off the bridge over the River Dee into Hawarden Bridge station on 12 September 1985. The Hydraulic apparatus to swing the bridge was housed in a large brick tower immediately behind the loco and it was demolished in 1980. The tall semaphore has also succumbed to progress and is now a two aspect colour light signal. The train is mainly formed of scrap wagons because at the time the closed former John Summers steelworks was in the process of being demolished.
60 062 at Hawarden Bridge, with empty steel coil carriers for South Wales, August 1994.
25 297 on the afternoon Speedlink service to Warrington. The consist is two ferry wagons of aluminium, seven empty cement carriers and a plate wagon. 31 August 1994.
97 201 Experiment stabled in Crewe, 12 May 1987. Formerly 24 061 it was taken over by the BR Research Department. After withdrawal the loco has found a new home on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
25 212 is a light engine on the down line at Prestatyn, 30 July 1984.
Events in February and March 2026 - David Pool
There was an interesting working on 2 March 2026, when single unit 153 379 had a tour of local lines as 2Q25, 08:04 Coleham to Chester. This is Video Inspection Unit TCMU1, which provides data on the track condition, using video cameras and constant intensity lighting. The image taken at Hooton shows the illumination from the cameras near the front bogie, and the intensity is such that the images are consistent whether they are in sunshine or at night.
A Railtour to the East Lancashire Railway on 7 March advertised haulage by a pair of Class 50s, but one failed en route and was replaced by a Class 66 at Toton. The generous timings and allowances enabled the Railtour to arrive on time at Heywood. The ELR’s Class 56 had been rostered for the train, and I assumed it would have been at Heywood, but I went first to Bury to photograph steam and diesel service trains. The Class 56 appeared from Buckley Wells Depot, but continued to Bury station, and the Railtour duly arrived from Heywood top and tailed by 66 022 and 50 049.
The Mk3 coaches were impressive in the Eastern Rail Services livery, but the last coach was unusual, in that it was a Mk2f brake coach in blue. 50 049 on the rear was in large logo blue, and also in excellent condition with a UK Railtours headboard. I first photographed it in BR blue in 1969 numbered D449, then in Railfreight livery in 1988 as 50 149. By 2004 it was in large logo blue and had regained its original TOPS number 50 049. In 2016 it was back to BR blue, and in 2019 it was in GBRf livery. I think Defiance is an appropriate name for this locomotive!
I drove to Ramsbottom, and was surprised to find that the Railtour had not yet arrived, but soon passed through with the Class 56 double heading with 66 022. It was all rather confusing, since 56 006 was carrying the number 56 002 on one side and 56 004 on the other! I don’t recall any Class 66 previously travelling North from Bury on the ELR, but I may be wrong. The train returned from Rawtenstall on time, an ELR service train being held at Bury as it was running late and would have delayed the Railtour at Ramsbottom. 50 049 slowed briefly for the tablet exchange.
56 002/4/6 was now on the rear. This was one of the original Romanian built locomotives which had been substantially rebuilt to correct faults arising from poor construction. 56 006 was the first Class 56 to be preserved, although the number currently being withdrawn or stored suggests that more will follow.
(More of David's 1971 views in the next issue)
Avocet special
(Nothing to do with North Wales, but understandably very popular with contributors!)
From David Pool:
On 18 March 2026 Locomotive Services Limited arranged for their newly restored 89 001 Avocet to haul a test train from Crewe to Tebay and back. With a fine weather forecast, this was an event not to be missed. Northbound trains are not easy to photograph around noon, and I decided that Moore near Warrington was the best option for a shot. 89 001 arrived on time, double headed with 86 101, the latter being one of the three higher powered Class 86 locomotives, first withdrawn in 2005 but later used on the Caledonian Sleeper service. I remember photographing 89 001 at Crewe in 1987, then ten years later when it was GNER livery working between Kings Cross and Leeds. The Inter City Swallow livery now favoured by Locomotive Services is particularly appropriate.
I spent the next few hours at Lostock Gralam before seeing Avocet on the return journey. I like this location for morning trains heading East from Northwich. A nicely maintained station with no overhead wires and a road bridge with a low parapet is a rare find today, and 66 079 on 6H75, the 11:00 Arpley to Tunstead, makes a pleasing shot. .
From David Hennessey
Friday 20 March 2026 saw a double bill of 'retro action' at Old Alder Lane, just South of Winwick Junction. Firstly, the newly refurbished sole Class 89 electric locomotive 89 001 (Avocet) - currently in the care of Locomotive Services Limited - undertook a second mainline test run from Crewe to Tebay and back, following a similar and successful trip earlier in the week (Wednesday 18 March). Paired with Class 86 loco Sir William Stanier F.R.S and the LSL Intercity Mk3/DVT set, 89 001 ran very much ahead of its schedule on the run to Tebay, followed by a similar pattern going back to Crewe. It is hoped that 89 001 will make a return to charter service soon, after further testing and mileage accumulation.
That same day, 47 810 (D1924) Crewe Diesel Depot took a quartet of ex-EMR HST Mk3 carriages (sandwiched in between two barrier vehicles) from Crewe to Carlisle Upperby, to be placed into storage.
Avocet leads under Old Alder Lane bridge South of Winwick Junction, in company with 86 101 Sir William Stanier F.R.S and the Intercity Mk3 set, as they head towards Tebay on the outward run from Crewe. Picture © David Hennessey
Intercity liveried Mk3 DVT 82139 at Old Alder Lane, while on the outward run from Crewe to Tebay. .Fans of Father Ted may recognise the nameplate! Picture © David Hennessey
47 810 (D1924) Crewe Heritage Centre leads a quartet of former East Midlands Railways HST Mk3 carriages (sandwiched in between two barrier vehicles) North at Old Alder Lane near Winwick Junction, while on an ECS from Crewe to Carlisle Upperby. The Mk3's were on their way to the latter location, to be placed into storage. Picture © David Hennessey
With its second mainline test run successfully under its belt, 89 001 races South of Winwick Junction with the Intercity Mk3 set and 86101 in tow, as the consist careers back to Crewe. Picture © David Hennessey.
From Roger G. Smith: 'In a Class of its own'
The day of the spring equinox brought my very first sighting of Avocet, the name given to the unique Class 89 AC electric locomotive No. 89 001. It was making test runs on the West Coast Main Line. The locomotive was built in 1986 as the production prototype for a fleet that was never built. Outwardly, unlike previous British AC electrics, it has streamlined cab ends, a Co-Co wheel arrangement, and buckeye couplers and rubbing plates. Its shape has earned it the nicknames Aardvark and Badger with the fraternity that like such terms. It is owned by The AC Locomotive Group and is part of the Locomotive Services fleet.
My photographs are from close to Warrington during the locomotive's 20 March empty coaching stock test workings. The entire consist - two electric locomotives, six Mk 3 coaches, and a Mk 3 Driving Van Trailer— was in BR INTERCITY Swallow livery.
Avocet on the northbound 09:29 (5Z31) Crewe Holding Sidings to Tebay test run. No. 86 101 Sir William A Stanier FRS (unpowered, pantograph down) is coupled to it. (Ian Pilkington)
Avocet with the return 13:24 (5Z32) Tebay to Crewe Holding Sidings test run. The Mk 3 Driving Van Trailer (DVT) No. 82139 My Lovely Horse is coupled to it. The Class 86, again unpowered, was at the rear.
Reference: A very good description of No. 89 001 is given by The AC Locomotive Group, who bought the loco in 2006.
Images below by Ian Pilkington
Avocet and 86 101 near Lambrigg, Westmorland with a Crewe-Tebay test train on 18 March 2026.
Near Lambrigg with the return from Tebay to Crewe. (Ian Pilkington)
And from our archive:
26 July 1983: on show at the Doncaster Works Open Day. GNER were the current holders of the East Coast franchise from April 1996 until December 2007 when they gave it back to the Government as they were making a loss.
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