If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

North Wales Coast Express

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by RalphW, Aug 1, 2009.

Page 2 of 3
  1. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,514
    Likes Received:
    9,194
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    As it's a WCRC operation then there is only the driver who is WCRC, the fireman is will be a WCRC certified man but not a qualified driver, so yes there will have been a second man to do the diesel driving bits. He will also probably be the one who brought the stock down from Carnforth in the morning. I would guess that although he has not been doing much during the day, his hours would be up and he would not be able to do the stock return movement.
     
    RalphW, Aug 2, 2009
    #21
  2. Cambrian55

    Cambrian55 Member Friend

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2007
    Messages:
    523
    Likes Received:
    245
    Occupation:
    Engineer.
    Location:
    Deganwy mainly.
    I was told that this train did not go into Llandudno as originally planned, anyone know why??
     
    Cambrian55, Aug 3, 2009
    #22
  3. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,514
    Likes Received:
    9,194
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    RalphW, Aug 3, 2009
    #23
  4. D1963

    D1963 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2006
    Messages:
    512
    Likes Received:
    1
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    5B
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The train was too long to clear the track circuits in Llandudno
     
    D1963, Aug 3, 2009
    #24
  5. Jeff Albiston

    Jeff Albiston Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2008
    Messages:
    816
    Likes Received:
    21
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    City of Chester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Hi guys,

    Just the 1 picture from yesterday. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland seen passing pass Conwy Castle en route to Holyhead. Many thanks to acw71000 for the directions. :)
     
    Jeff Albiston, Aug 3, 2009
    #25
  6. Cambrian55

    Cambrian55 Member Friend

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2007
    Messages:
    523
    Likes Received:
    245
    Occupation:
    Engineer.
    Location:
    Deganwy mainly.
    Right thanks, so that explains the early departures from Llandudno Junction.
     
    Cambrian55, Aug 3, 2009
    #26
  7. 6:05 special

    6:05 special Well-Known Member Loco Owner

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2006
    Messages:
    1,122
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    Merseyside
    The addition of the diesel at the rear of the train had made the train too long to fit within the track circuit at LlandudnoTown, a coach should have been detached from the formation in lieu of the diesel that had been added, to keep the train witihn operational length. However all the coaches were more or less full. Numerous seats had been sold from Llandudno Town to Holyhead, the trip having been advertised in the resort judging by the numbers that arrived on the service train from Llandudno Town at Llandudno Junction, onto which passengers had been put. On the return the charter left Holyhead 10 mins early because there was only a 3 minute connection at Llandudno Junction into the last train of the day to Llandudno Town. Once the passengers for Chester / Liverpool had arrived from Llandudno Town at Llandudno Junction the charter was allowed to leave 25 mins early but still managed to arrive back at Liverpool LIme Street 14 mins late! Maybe this problem will not recur in future weeks as this train contained a party on RTC''s "Snowdonia & Northern Fellls" 5 day holiday based in Chester and North Wales who filled one coach.

    Given it wasn't now required to go to LlandudnoTown the cl 47 [245] was switched off for the return journey. I have to say what a magnificent performance the Duchess put in with a load of some 570 -580 tons behind it.
     
    6:05 special, Aug 3, 2009
    #27
  8. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,514
    Likes Received:
    9,194
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    6.05 special, As the train passed me outside Warrington heading south, I'm not sure if the diesel was running then. Listen on my video at about 1.12 as it comes past. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrAC1vXu9bs
    On the return you had to follow the hourly Chester to Warrington service train so that cut down the early running considerably.
     
    RalphW, Aug 3, 2009
    #28
  9. Stepney32655

    Stepney32655 New Member Account Suspended

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2008
    Messages:
    130
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    Grave-digger
    Location:
    Riccarton, Roxburghs
    Re: Classic Conwy Castle photo position

    That trackside vegetation is slowly strangling this classic shot. Is there not anyone out there who can pull a few strings (or perhaps cross a few palms) to get some serious gardening organised here?
     
    Stepney32655, Aug 3, 2009
    #29
  10. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2005
    Messages:
    12,910
    Likes Received:
    1,387
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Birmingham
    Woulden't normally harp on about a photting viewpointbut Conway is a classic, i wonder if it's beyond reason to ask someone at Network Rail to send someone with PTS there with a pair of bushcutters during the next P-way possesion if photters were willing to contribute to the cost of doing so ?.
     
    david1984, Aug 3, 2009
    #30
  11. 6:05 special

    6:05 special Well-Known Member Loco Owner

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2006
    Messages:
    1,122
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    Merseyside
    Yes the diesel was left idling on the outward run because it was fully expected at that stage to have to haul the train out og Llandudno Town. It was apparently only as the train approached Llandudno Junction from Chester that Network Ral realised it was too long. It was for the return journey that the diesel was shut down. However the diesel did nothing on the outward leg, there were 4 spectacular bouts of slipping on leaving Liverpool with driver Bill Andrew in charge. Sounded brilliant, just like duchesses departing for London with a heavy train 50 yars ago. The late return was caused by an unnecessary hold up between Walton Old Jn and Warrington Bank Quay when we were held for over 15 minutes for a Pendolino to arrive from the South. We were then routed fast line to Winwick Junction.
     
    6:05 special, Aug 4, 2009
    #31
  12. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,514
    Likes Received:
    9,194
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thanks for that info 6.05,
     
    RalphW, Aug 4, 2009
    #32
  13. dp266

    dp266 Member Account Suspended

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2008
    Messages:
    374
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    Project Management
    Location:
    County Palatine of Lancaster
    Perhaps I'm being stupid. I can see the need for the diesel at Lime Street before and after. If the NWCE is not going into Llandudno, ther diesel is superfluous. There is plenty time in Holyhead for the steam loco to shunt for itself and not add too much time. So why not run without the diesel and leave it where it really is needed?
     
    dp266, Aug 4, 2009
    #33
  14. Tracklayer

    Tracklayer Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2006
    Messages:
    7,484
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    Employed
    Well it was booked to run to Llandudno, and it was not until they were underway (evidently) that Network Rail said no...

    Time or not at Holyhead, a loco to do the shunt just makes life a little easier...
     
    Tracklayer, Aug 4, 2009
    #34
  15. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2005
    Messages:
    12,910
    Likes Received:
    1,387
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Birmingham
    Keep in mind you'd need the extra paths in and out of Lime St to attach and detach the Diesel there, less than ideal at such a location.
     
    david1984, Aug 4, 2009
    #35
  16. 76079

    76079 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2006
    Messages:
    462
    Likes Received:
    11
    By the time the loco has gone to Valley to turn, water and be serviced and got back, there isnt much time at all
     
    76079, Aug 5, 2009
    #36
  17. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,514
    Likes Received:
    9,194
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Video from 16th now up..

    [youtube]<object width="500" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/uC2TDb3MseE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/uC2TDb3MseE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="315"></embed></object>[/youtube]

    Such a pity that at the first location there is no going away shot as the sound carried on the same for a further minute before fading away.
    They delay on the return meant that I did not get anything as I was at an unlit location, and when 6201 eventually arrived some 45 minutes down it was in total darkness. Glad to find out afterwards that the late running was nothing to do with 6201...
     
    RalphW, Aug 17, 2009
    #37
  18. Jeff Albiston

    Jeff Albiston Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2008
    Messages:
    816
    Likes Received:
    21
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    City of Chester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Hi,

    1 picture from yesterday. 6201 Princess Elizabeth seen going over the Shropshire Union canal at Chester locks. The sun emerging at just the right time.
     

    Attached Files:

    Jeff Albiston, Aug 17, 2009
    #38
  19. acw71000

    acw71000 Member Friend

    Joined:
    May 13, 2008
    Messages:
    873
    Likes Received:
    1,410
    Location:
    Liverpool
    acw71000, Aug 17, 2009
    #39
  20. Jeff Albiston

    Jeff Albiston Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2008
    Messages:
    816
    Likes Received:
    21
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    City of Chester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Tomorrow's trip with 6233 from Liverpool to Holyhead will be the last one for the Railway Touring Company as the trip on the 30th with 60009 has been cancelled.

    Read somewhere that RTC will be looking carefully as to whether to run these next year as they have been 'poorly' attended this year.
     
    Jeff Albiston, Aug 22, 2009
    #40
Page 2 of 3

Share This Page