HOMEPAGE

NORTH WALES COAST STEAM

FROM THE GOLDEN YEARS
UP TO THE PRESENT DAY.

THIS PAGE SHOWS NOSTALGIC SHOTS OF WORKING
STEAM ENGINES, ON THE NORTH WALES COAST LINE ,
FROM THE HEYDAY OF STEAM, UP TO THE PRESENT
DAY PRESERVATION SPECIALS.

THE PHOTOGRAPHS ON THIS PAGE WERE TAKEN BY VARIOUS
PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ENTHUSIASTS.

The usual copyright rules apply so please contact this website
through the email link on the HOMEPAGE,
if you wish to contact the photographers.

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November 12th 2008.

On it's first visit to North Wales, 4472 " Flying Scotsman " passes through Rhyl station
on route to Llandudno Junction on June 6th 1966.

I purchased this photograph 3 weeks after it was taken, and it has been in my collection since then.
(John Powell)

November 12th 2008.
LMS Webb tank ( LNWR ) at Bangor shed. No 6681. Whit Monday. 1947

October 21st 2008.
Black 5 No. 45184 passes Colwyn Bay in September1961 (Photo : G. Holt)

October 19th 2008.
John Powell has sent in this rare photo of a 4-4-0 "Precursor" class 3P No. 25297 "Sirocco".
She is standing next to the old water tower at Bettws-y-Coed station on June 17th 1947.
The engine usually worked from Chester (6A) to Llandudno/Holyhead,
so this was possibly a replacement for a failed engine.

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September 25th 2006.

Another email from Chris Evans, is reproduced below plus the three slides he promised.

Hello again Geoff,

Thanks for your email and for putting mine on your site with the pics - which incidentally were taken in August 1961 (sorry I don't know the precise date but I was only 14 at the time!). I am going through the process of scanning and editing the other black and white pics I took at that time. Attached are the colour slides of the three now famous locos I mentioned, which all happened to be on 6G one day in the last week of July 1965 - again sorry I don't know the precise date. There are some more colour slides taken at the station and at Bangor which again I will scan and send to you as soon as time allows.

Meantime, best wishes,

Chris

Jubilee class 45562 Alberta at 6G in July 1965. Britannia class 70000 "Britannia" on 6G same period.

70013 "Britannia" class Oliver Cromwell at the side of 6G July 1965.

The three great shots above were taken by Chris Evans.

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Two photo's and two emails sent in by Chris Evans are reproduced below,

Photo (1) shows Black 5 44936 at 6G.
Photo (2) shows 0-6-0 class 4F, 44389 at the Junction. (both undated)

Below is the first email I received on September 9th 2006 from Chris Evans who created the 6G model railway layout and the web site that was recommended on 6G HOMEPAGE . There is now a link on the "LINKS" page to this excellent site.

Hello Geoff,

Have just found your website and am really impressed, not least because you have included a link to my own!

I have found some of your photos, and the story by Tom Slaven, helpful for my purposes of trying to make operating of my layout of the Junction as accurate as possible. I'm pleased you like the photos on my website and I am hoping to add some more in the near future. If you would be interested in my 'fuzzy black and white photos' of 6G - and also the station area and at Bangor - do let me know. Most of them are really not at all bad and I've attached a couple of samples for your interest. I also have some very interesting colour slides taken at the shed in July 1965 which include three locos later preserved - 45562, 70000 and 70013!

As Tom was working from 6G in 1961, the date when my layout is set, I wonder whether he has any other recollections of workings which may be helpful for me. I have copies of both the passenger and freight working timetables for that year but of course they don't include information on loco diagramming which I have had to research from books and photos or otherwise make assumptions. No doubt somebody like Norman Kneale may be able to help in this respect. I was hoping to contact him whilst a member of LCVRS for several years but let my membership lapse as it was impossible for me to get to their evening meetings from down here in Surrey!

Anyway, thanks for the link; I'm not sure whether it's possible for me to link to your site from mine but will certainly look into it. Meanwhile, keep up the good work!

Kind regards,

Chris Evans.

Another email from Chris, received September 17th is reproduced below
with the offer of more photo's of 6G.

Hello Geoff,

Thanks for your reply and I hope you had a great holiday. I've been busy this past week and have not yet had a moment to contact Tom Slaven but will send him a mail today. It would be really useful to hear from someone so familiar with 6G at the time in which my layout is set - 1961.

My website does include a bit of background as to why I chose 'the Junction' as my project. As you may have gathered from my surname, My ancestors were Welsh, my father having been born in Mochdre and lived in Colwyn and then Llandudno (where his father owned a music shop in Mostyn Street for many years in the early 1900s). So it was not surprising that, although I myself never lived in Wales my father having moved south soon after he left school, we used to have some of our summer holidays there. The first for me was in 1959 when I was just 12, but most memorable was when we returned there two years later and I was absolutely amazed at the fantastic number and variety of trains, nearly all steam-hauled of course, that ran along the north Wales main line. We used to stay at a small farm just outside Betws on the Llanrwst road and it was only a short walk to Betws station, over the 'bouncy' suspension bridge, for me to get to the Junction with my camera while the rest of the family took off into the mountains or went to the beach. On another occasion I was deposited at Bangor station and some of the photos I took there. I made a couple of visits to 6G itself and always found the shed staff friendly and helpful, considering I was an unaccompanied, and probably fairly irresponsible (but equally determined!) young lad.

I will let you have any more background detail you would like (so far as I can remember) from those holidays and in due course I will scan all the photos (around 20 -25) I took at the time. I still have my Ian Allan books from the period, but sadly not my spotting notes, so I have only been able to work out the probable locos I saw by those underlined in my combined volume that were allocated to the area, my only other spotting trips in those days being confined to around London. I do remember that I cabbed all the stored locos standing on the old Blaenau branch behind the brickworks as they are all specially marked in my ABC - I must have come back filthy dirty (but extremely happy) that day!

I will also let you have any further detail you may like to have of my layout, which was started in 1982 and took 12 years to complete. It's magic to be able to escape for a few hours by running the trains just as they were in 1961!

My most prized railwayana possession is a Llandudno Junction totem in excellent condition which hangs proudly on my railway room wall. I also have one from Dolgarrog which may be unique - I was lucky enough to obtain it whilst on a visit in 1965 shortly after the station re-opened when the nearly new totems were being replaced by 'modern image' signs and I believe it was the only one on the short platform.

I'll be in contact again with the photo's for you and please do feel free to include them on your excellent website.

Kind regards,

Chris Evans.

Many thanks Chris, and I look forward to seeing your other shots......... Geoff.

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Three photo's and some interesting detail from Alan Roberts on the Colwyn Bay
Goods Yard is shown below

Three photos showing the tunnel leading to the goods yard at Colwyn Bay are shown below. The tunnel measured 66 yds and was partly a cut and cover rather than a proper tunnel which burrowed beneath the station car park. Shunting was carried out by gravity i.e. the loco hauled wagons from the yard, through the tunnel up the steep gradient leading to the main line. The shunter communicated with the guard by means of a gong to advise when road was set. The guard would then uncouple opposite a notice board and the wagons ran down by gravity in to their proper sorting mode ready for departure.

Photo below shows a 1980 view from the top of the incline leading to the goods yard at Colwyn Bay. Its hard to imagine nowadays that the A55 runs at this point and partly through the goods yard. The rest of the goods yard is now where the Bay View Shopping Centre now stands.

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August 8th 2006.

An email and interesting old postcard view of Conway Bridge from Alan Roberts is shown below.

Geoff,

Please find enclosed a LNWR postcard showing an early view of Conway Tubular Bridge.

Alan Roberts

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July 31st 2006.

I have received this photo taken by John Powell of an unidentified Tank and one coach ,at Colwyn Bay Station (circa summer 1988). John says he can't remember why this engine was in
Colwyn Bay and he would appreciate any help in identifying it and why it was there.

PHOTO : JOHN POWELL

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July 29th 2006.

I have just received the photo below from John Powell. It shows 35028 "Clan Line" arriving at Prestatyn on her way to Holyhead with the "North Wales Coast Express" on the day steam came back to North Wales on February 14th 1989. ( the class 25 was "Ethel" [ex 25314] providing heat)

I am in the process of publishing a new page titled
"THE JOHN POWELL COLLECTION"
which includes some great shots of working steam in the 50s and 60s by John Powell and other
photographers, supplied by John from his collection.

CLICK THUMBNAIL
(PHOTO: JOHN POWELL)

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1Z60 0635 Tyseley - Holyhead
1Z61 1646 Holyhead - Tyseley

Saturday 1st July 2006

Hauled by 4936 KINLET HALL

Outward journey was ok until it left Rhyl when it developed problems in the firebox and came to a stand at Abergele. It was found that a too much ash was the problem and much of it was emptied when it stood in Abergele for 40 mins or so. It then proceded as far as Llandudno Junction where it was booked to take water. It failed again on the approaches of Llandudno Junction with the same problem but managed to get enough steam to arrive at platform 4.

It stood in Llandudno Junction for over an hour having missed its margin to Holyhead. It eventually departed Llandudno Junction at 1250, running approx 90 mins late.

With the dry weather about it caused 4 lineside fires between Gaerwen and Valley and arrived Holyhead at 1420, some 95 late.

On its return working it left Holyhead on time and was due at Llandudno Junction at 1746 for water. It followed a late running passenger train from Holyhead and finally arrived Llandudno Junction at 1809. Because of the class of locomotive (applies to all GWR engines!) the normal move to platform 1 for steam trains was barred because of clearance. This meant they had to divert the hosepipe to Platform 3. It was then found out that the hosepipe was not long enough to reach the loco. The only solution then was to detach the loco and move it to the tamper siding alongside platform 1 to be watered.

Departure of 1Z61 was 1900 (40 mins late) following the 1H95 1847 Llandudno - Manchester Piccadilly.

Alan Roberts.

CLICK THUMBNAIL

PHOTO ALAN ROBERTS

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June 7th 2006.

An email from Richard Hearne of Western Australia , and a photo of him at 6G, is reproduced below.

Congratulations on the web site.

I really was amazed to discover it over here in Australia.

Although I have been here for 35 years I grew up in The Junction and was a keen train spotter/railway fanatic in the early 50's/late 60's.

I have many fond memories - particularly of bunking around 6G on a regular basis.

I only have a few photos left that were taken in those days, one of me on 40635 on the old scrap line, by the estuary and what was the brickworks.

I will try to e-mail them to you and hope they get through.

Great to see mention of "Tommy Gill". He really was the ace driver in his day. Used to work the Club train to Manchester.

I am 58 - How old are you?

I have good memories of the train spotting at the weekends on the bridge at the junction of the COB/GLAN-Y-MOR Rd and getting a frozen jubbly from Harrison's shop - if you had the money. Magic days ! !

I will be away for the next two weeks so if you get in touch there will be some delay in my responding.

What I do have, stuck in an album, is a set of good photos of the train crash at either Penmaenmawr/Llanfairfechan of, I believe, either the Irish Mail or Emerald Isle Express in the 40's/50's. Not sure of the date.

Would you be interested if it is possible to scan them?

Cheers from

Richard Hearne

Esperance

Western Australia

CLICK THUMBNAIL

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May 20th 2006.

LMS Class 5XP 4-6-0 Jubilee "Leander" 45690, rests at the Junction on a very wet
Saturday May 20th 2006, with the "North Wales Coaster"( Tyseley-Holyhead-Tyseley).
PHOTO. GEOFF POOLE

CLICK THUMBNAIL

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May 13th 2006

LMS Coronation Class 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland" passes Mochdre, on her way
to the Junction with the" Ynys Mon Express" Crewe-Holyhead, on Saturday May 13th 2006.
PHOTO. GEOFF POOLE.

CLICK THUMBNAIL

May 13th 2006

Below is another shot of the "Duchess" taken slightly later
as she leaves the Junction with the same train.
PHOTO. ALAN ROBERTS

CLICK THUMBNAIL

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April 22nd 2006.

LMS Princess Class 6201 "Princess Elizabeth" visits Llandudno Junction
with the Royal Dalesman Crewe-Holyhead-Manchester Victoria.
PHOTO: GEOFF POOLE.

CLICK THUMBNAIL

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ALAN BARTLETT OF CHATHAM, KENT, SENT ME THIS SELECTION
OF SHOTS, THAT HE TOOK, WHILST ON HOLIDAY WITH HIS FAMILY,
AS A YOUNG ENTHUSIAST IN THE SIXTIES. ON ALAN'S OWN ADMISSION
THE SHOTS ARE QUITE RAW, BUT I THINK THEY ARE A FANTASTIC NOSTALGIA TRIP
BACK TO THE "GOLDEN YEARS".
ALL ALAN'S PHOTO'S WERE TAKEN DURING MAY 1964.

CLICK THUMBNAILS TO ENLARGE

An unidentified Class 5, 4-6-0 pulls off 6G while in the background a standard 2-6-2 clatters back into the station after some smart shunting in the carriage sidings.

Class 5, 4-6-0, 44783 passing Abergele with a down express.

Class 5, 4-6-0, 44891 at abergele.

Alan Bartlett leans from the footplate of LMS Fowler 4F , 0-6-0, 44525 at 6G.
In the background 2-6-2 T, 84020. Both in store.

LMS Stanier 6P5F, 2-6-0 42957 heads light engine towards Abergele station.

Britannia Class 70045 “Lord Rowallan” at Abergele.

Class 5 , 4-6-0, 45311 pulling a train from Holyhead and carrying Alan
back to Abergele.

Coronation Class 46235 “City of Birmingham” (now preserved at Bressingham )
starts carefully out of Llandudno Junction Station.

Coronation Class 46235 “City of Birmingham” at 6G.

Class 5 , 4-6-0 44661 at 6G.

Britannia class 70045 “Lord Rowallan” at Abergele.

2-6-2 T, 84020 in store at 6G.

8F , 2-8-0, 48246 waits at Abergele.

Unidentified Black 5, at Abergele.

THE NEXT FOUR SHOTS ARE FROM THE JOHN POWELL COLLECTION.

CLICK THUMBNAILS

March 10^th 1956 and Jubilee Class, 45556, “Nova Scotia” approaches Llandudno Junction
with the Conway Valley Branch line on the right. PHOTO (John Powell)

4-4-0, (3 cylinder) Compound 4P, 41157, in store at 6G on May18th 1957.
PHOTO. (F.W.Shuttleworth) John Powell collection.

4-4-0 (3 cylinder) Compound 4P, 41119 and 4-4-0 2P. 40580 in store at 6G on May 18^th 1957.
PHOTO (F.W.Shuttleworth) John Powell collection.

Class 5, 45004 at Llandudno Junction on May 18^th 1964.
PHOTO ( F.W. Shuttleworth) John Powell collection

JOHN ALSO SENT IN THE FOLLOWING SHOTS OF CORONATION CLASS 46229
"DUCHESS OF HAMILTON" PULLING THE "YNYS MON EXPRESS"
ON THE NORTH WALES COAST MAIN LINE, ON MAY 4th 1991.

I have included John's notes with the shots.

CLICK THUMBNAILS

Whilst waiting to photograph 4472 on May 5^th 1991, which unknown to me had failed at Crewe, what a lovely surprise this was to see the “Duchess” after 27 years since she last appeared on the North Wales Coast line. “Long may she reign”. Coronation Class 46229 “Duchess of Hamilton”. (John Powell)

May 4^th 1991 The "Duchess" rests at the Junction (John Powell)

May 4^th 1991 and 46229 leaves the Junction. “Farewell until the next time” (John Powell)

THE NEXT TWO PHOTO'S SHOW THE "CONWAY COB" LEVEL CROSSING
AT LLANDUDNO JUNCTION.

CLICK THUMBNAILS

This photo shows the level crossing at the Llandudno Junction end of the
Conway Cob prior to the building of the flyover in 1966.

Taken from almost the same position but looking in the opposite direction
on August Bank Holiday 1957.
Where is all the traffic?

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