17th October 1998

Hertfordshire Rail Tours
Trawsfynydd Lament

Locos Used 47785, 56108 & 86401
Stock Used 3150+1696+3127+3123+3114+1679+17023+4925+5023+4986+5027+5037+5007

Route : 1T70 throughout

Loco(s) Route
86401 London Euston - (via WCML, Northampton & Trent Valley) (5) - Crewe
47785 (1) Crewe - Chester - Rhyl - Llandudno Junction
56108 (2) Llandudno Junction - Bleanau Ffestiniog - Trawsfynydd
47785 (1) Trawsfynydd - Bleanau Ffestiniog - Llandudno Junction
56108 (2) Llandudno Junction - (reverse of outward route) - Crewe
86401 Crewe - (reverse of outward route) (5) - London Euston

Notes :
(1) 56108 on rear.
(2) 47785 on rear.
(3) Train was some four hours late back to London owing to the diesel locos being late onto the train at Crewe and the path being lost on the Blaenau Ffestiniog branch.
(4) Howard Parker comments: It was understood that the original diesel locos supplied were not deemed acceptable as sanding equipment was either non-existent or defective, this being considered essential for the branch. The replacement had to come from Warrington, hence the delay. Having visited Trawsfynydd, the train returned north but was held south of Blaenau Ffestiniog station. The service train timetable was such that no path was available along the branch for a considerable time as we were rather late. John Farrow offered to run the special north stopping at all stations to carry any intending passengers if the service train could be cancelled but the service train company wouldn’t go along with this. We therefore all sat there watching it get dark with only the occasional sightseer from the local population to entertain us. At least the train crew were able to alight and were seen coming back from the nearby fish & chip shop with their tea! I had travelled to Nuneaton by train from Leicester, as had several others and arrived back at Nuneaton well after the last train. However, comprehensive arrangements had been made by Hertfordshire and a taxi was provided for travel back to Leicester. The final instalment was that a refund of half the fare was received several days later, as the freight loco operator had acknowledged they were to blame.
(5) Confirmation required of the route south of Nuneaton (in both directions).

Sources : Alex McGlasham (joined/left the train at Watford Junction), Kevin Driscoll
& Howard Parker (joined/left the train at Nuneaton)

Photo Review


86401 at Crewe (photo: Howard Parker) - 'all well so far!'


56108 at Bleanau Ffestiniog North station (photo: John Cowlishaw)


47785 just north of Trawsfynydd PS sidings (photo: John Cowlishaw)


View from the train...for 3 hours! (photo: Howard Parker)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from
Howard Parker)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Euston 07.57d ?   21.48a ?
Willesden WL Jn 08/04 ?   21/41 ?
Harrow & Wealdstone 08/10 ?   21/30 ?
Watford Junction 08.15a ~ 08.17d ?   21.16a ~ 21.17d ?
Tring 08/30 ?   21/05 ?
Ledburn Jn 08/35 ?   20/55 ?
Bletchley 08/46 ?   20/46 ?
Milton Keynes Central 08.49a ~ 08.51d ?   20.35a ~ 20.636d ?
Hanslope Jn 08/56 ?   20/30 ?
Northampton 09/15 ?   20/12 ?
Long Buckby 09/26 ?   20/02 ?
Rugby 09/43 ?   19/52 ?
Nuneaton 09.56a ~ 09.57d ??.?? ~ 09.58   19.39a ~ 19.40d 23.44 ~ ??.??
Tamworth LL 10/15 ?   19/27 ?
Lichfield TV 10/22 ?   19/21 ?
Armitage Jn 10/26 10/20 [DS]   19/17 ?
Colwich Jn 10/30 10/24   19/13 ?
Stafford 10/36 10/30   19/08 23.10 ~ 23.15
Norton Bridge 10/41 ?   19/04 ?
Madeley Jn 10/50 ?   18/57 ?
Basford Hall Jn 11//02 ?   18/53 ?
Crewe 11L05a ~ 11L31d 10.51 ~ 12.24   18L28 ~ 18L51d 22.25 ~ 22.46
Crewe Steel Works 11/34 ?   18/26 ?
Beeston Castle & Tarporley 11/43 ?   18/19 ?
Chester 11/53 12/54   18/09 21.58 ~ 22.01
Saltney Jn 11/57 ?   18/05 ?
Rockcliffe Hall 12/04 ?   17/49 ?
Holywell Jn 12/10 ?   17/49 ?
Rhyl 12/21 13/21   17/32 ?
Colwyn Bay 12/32 13/44   17/23 ?
Llandusno Junction 12.36 ~ 12.57 13.48 ~ 14.04   17.03 ~ 17.18 2.42 ~ 20.52
North Llanwrst 13*15 ~ 13*17 14.24 ~ 14.44   16*32 ~ 16*42 20.18 ~ 20.19
Bleanau Ffestiniog 13*54 ~ 13*56 15.21 ~ 15.31   15*54 ~ 15*56 19.38 ~ 19.42
No4 Ground Frame 14*00 ~ 14*02 15.33 ~ 15.34   15*49 ~ 15*51 16.52 ~ 19.34
Trawsfynydd 14.54a 16.07   15.05d 16.20

   
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