Prototype PhilH's miscellaneous photo album
- Thread starter PhilH
- Start date
PhilH
Western Thunderer
47489 on the 13.39 Manchester to Bangor leaving Penmaenrhos Tunnel 2/7/1981
Just beyond the tunnel the line crosses the new A55 Road on a reinforced concrete bridge. In order to construct the bridge on the original alignment a temporary diversion of the line was required round the construction site. "Celebrity" Class 40 No.40106 on the 11.49 Bangor to Manchester passes over the diverted line on 19/2/1983
Another loco in BR heritage green livery D6607 (37403) passes over the completed bridge on the 16.21 Crewe to Bangor 7/7/1999.
Viewed from the Penmaenrhos Headland, 37421 on the 12.08(SO) Llandudno to Birmingham crosses the A55 on 18/9/1993
47508 "Great Britain" on a London to Holyhead train crossing Old Colwyn Viaduct 30/3/1981
The n28ew road now occupies the area in front of the viaduct.
The n28ew road now occupies the area in front of the viaduct.
Late on a summers day the sun comes round to the sea side of the viaduct. 37417 on the 18.24 Crewe to Bangor 27/6/1995
37407 on the 12.23 Bangor to Crewe 29/7/1995. From Old Colwyn to Mochdre the A55 Road runs alongside the line. Colwyn Bay Pier and its pavilion in the distance have since been demolished although there are plans to replace it with a similar structure.
On the opposite side of the A55 Road to the main railway line a 101/4" gauge miniature railway operated from 1991 to 1995 on a circular track in the Council's Eirias Leisure Park. On 18/6/1995 46203 is passing on the main line with the miniature train in the foreground.
A double header with steam and battery power
Last edited:
PhilH
Western Thunderer
40117 on empty ballast hoppers to Penmaenmawr crossing the viaduct just east of Colwyn Bay Station on 31/3/1981. This view is also now obscured by the new road. The flat roofed building in the shadow on the opposite side of the left hand viaduct pier is the former loco shed of the miniature railway, which ran on the promenade side of the railway embankment towards the pier.
40013 on a Bangor to Manchester train at the same location 31/3/1981
37429 on the 15.30 Crewe to Holyhead approaching Colwyn Bay station with a HST leaving on the 15.41 Holyhead to London 18/6/1995
37429 + 37417 on the 15.30 Crewe to Holyhead at the same location 2/7/1995
47760 on the 12.23 Bangor to Crewe leaving Colwyn Bay 7/3/1996
37405 on the 12.23 Bangor to Crewe leaving Colwyn Bay 4/5/1996
Last edited:
PhilH
Western Thunderer
37408 on the 14.30 Holyhead to Crewe at Colwyn Bay 19/6/1993
A freshly painted 37407 "Blackpool Tower" on the 11.55 Holyhead to Crewe at Colwyn Bay 21/2/1995
37414 + D6607 (37403) on the 18.22 Holyhead to Birmingham with approaching sprinter 18/7/1999
31423 on the 11.31 Bangor to Crewe arriving at Colwyn Bay 16/9/1995
37431 at Colwyn Bay Station. The "Platform 3" leisure facility (see next post) on the right has been demolished and the site cleared, leaving just the steam locomotive to be removed. The large glass screen provided on the sea side of the platforms to shelter the station from northerly winds has also been removed.
Last edited:
PhilH
Western Thunderer
In 1988 the redundant up slow line platform at Colwyn Bay Station was developed into a leisure facility known as "Platform 3". This incorporated a restaurant in a Mk 1 coach obtained from Steamtown Carnforth. To accompany it a steam locomotive was obtained, also from Steamtown, as a static exhibit. The development was also intended to provide a number of retail premises including a model railway shop, although this was soon relocated to the existing station building on the other side of the track.
The locomotive was built by Hudswell Clarke in 1952 for the National Coal Board and latterly at Newmarket Colliery, Yorkshire. It was moved to Steamtown in 1979 where it was named FIREFLY. The conical chimney denotes that in the 1960s it was fitted with the Kylpor Exhaust and Hunslet underfeed stoker and gas producer combustion system, measures adopted by the NCB to comply with the Clean Air Act
The development was not a success and after closure and several years disuse was demolished in 2000. The locomotive went to the Dartmoor Railway and here awaits removal at the west end of the station, now in green livery with a red (!) chimney
In October 1988 the loco arrived on a low loader from Steamtown, its ultimate destination being behind the glass screen on top of the embankment behind the loco
The coach followed with the bogies being lifted separately
The loco and coach were later moved into the required position under the platform canopy in the distance
The locomotive was built by Hudswell Clarke in 1952 for the National Coal Board and latterly at Newmarket Colliery, Yorkshire. It was moved to Steamtown in 1979 where it was named FIREFLY. The conical chimney denotes that in the 1960s it was fitted with the Kylpor Exhaust and Hunslet underfeed stoker and gas producer combustion system, measures adopted by the NCB to comply with the Clean Air Act
The development was not a success and after closure and several years disuse was demolished in 2000. The locomotive went to the Dartmoor Railway and here awaits removal at the west end of the station, now in green livery with a red (!) chimney
Last edited:
PhilH
Western Thunderer
Colwyn Bay Goods Yard occupied the site of a former gravel pit and was accessed by a steeply graded branch which passed under the station forecourt in a tunnel.
The site was originally excavated during the building of the Chester & Holyhead Railway to provide material for constructing the embankment to the east of Colwyn Bay Station. Later maps show it either as a ballast pit or gravel pit with a siding connection so evidently further excavation took place there later in the 19th Century. In 1904 it was opened as the new goods yard as the first part of a comprehensive scheme which included quadrupling the main line west to Llandudno Junction and building a new Colwyn Bay Station with four platforms instead of two. It was closed in 1981 and replaced by a new yard at Llandudno Junction to make way for the new A55 trunk road and a shopping centre.
The following photos were taken in April 1982, just before the track was lifted the following month.
Notice on the retaining wall just beyond the western entrance
The site was originally excavated during the building of the Chester & Holyhead Railway to provide material for constructing the embankment to the east of Colwyn Bay Station. Later maps show it either as a ballast pit or gravel pit with a siding connection so evidently further excavation took place there later in the 19th Century. In 1904 it was opened as the new goods yard as the first part of a comprehensive scheme which included quadrupling the main line west to Llandudno Junction and building a new Colwyn Bay Station with four platforms instead of two. It was closed in 1981 and replaced by a new yard at Llandudno Junction to make way for the new A55 trunk road and a shopping centre.
In March 1976 a Class 25 on a short train is waiting to depart.
In March 1981 40098 is about to depart on a train of 10 empty 16t mineral wagons
and joins the main line after ascending the gradient from the yard
On 24th September 1981 a Class 40 cleared away the remaining wagons in the yard. This was probably the last train out as the yard was officially closed on 28th September 1981.
The following photos were taken in April 1982, just before the track was lifted the following month.
View towards the exit tunnel, Colwyn Bay Station is beyond the trees to the right
The eastern end of the tunnel was originally just a road bridge over the siding serving the gravel pit and it was later extended under the new station forecourt
Western end of the tunnel
Notice on the retaining wall just beyond the western entrance
Last edited:
PhilH
Western Thunderer
A Class 47 on Holyhead to London train approaching Colwyn Bay in September 1980. This was originally a four track section to Llandudno Junction. To accommodate the new A55 road here the line was diverted to the north (right of photo).
40106 on a Bangor to Manchester train approaching Colwyn Bay in February 1983. Work is underway on the new formation for the BR line to the right.
In November 1983 tracklaying was in progress on the new diversion with 47298 on the track panel train.
The track panels were laid by a mobile road crane. The hillside on the right has been excavated away for ..the new formation and supported by a new concrete retaining wall alongside the line..
The same view with the new road completed and 37429 on the 11.22 Bangor to Crewe 8/6/1996
47786 on the 16.21 Crewe to Bangor viewed from the Station Road overbridge at Mochdre 4/5/2000. Up to this point the railway is still on the new formation, the original trackbed being under the new road.
37717 on empty hoppers returning from the Holyhead Aluminium Works 7/1994. View westwards from the same overbridge at Mochdre from where the line regains its original course. This was the location of Mochdre and Pabo Station which was closed in 1931, although the actual station site is under the new road. The world's first water troughs were provided at Mochdre in 1860, but moved to Aber in 1871 where there was a more reliable water supply. From about 1913 to 1944 a siding branched off to the right where it connected with a short aerial ropeway to serve a shale quarry in the nearby hillside. The quarry had a small 2ft gauge system worked by a Kerr Stuart 0-4-0T.
37407 on the 9.13 Bangor to Crewe between Mochdre and Llandudno Junction 16/5/1996
Between Mochdre and Llandudno Junction the new road was built on an embankment of PFA brought in by rail from Fiddlers Ferry Power Station during 1982-3, with usually two trains per day. A total of 300,000 tonnes was used and this was unloaded at a purpose built facility at Llandudno Junction. In September 1983 56087 has backed its train of HAA hoppers over the drops for unloading.
From here the material was distributed to the construction site by road transport
Last edited:
PhilH
Western Thunderer
37417 on the 16.24 Crewe to Bangor passing under the new link road between the A55 and Llandudno on the approach to Llandudno Junction 8/7/1995
The driver of 37414 on 10.24 Crewe to Bangor returns to his cab after telephoning control when stopped by a red signal on the approach to Llandudno Junction 9/9/1995
Nameplate of 37414
37413 on 11.16 Bangor to Birmingham leaving Llandudno Junction and passing under the bridge that carries the main road into the town 22/5/1999
D6607 (37403) on the 12.22 Bangor to Crewe at the same location 24/7/1999
A view from the same road bridge with 37230 on a ballast train from Penmaenmawr Quarry 29/8/1997
37670 + 37401 on a Compass Tours special from Holyhead to Carlisle leaving Llandudno Junction 2/8/2009
Last edited:
PhilH
Western Thunderer
37421 on the 11.55 Holyhead to Crewe leaving Llandudno Junction Station 7/7/1994
37425 on the 16.58 to Crewe leaving Llandudno Junction and about to pass under the Queens Road Bridge 17/7/1994
37414 on the 14.24 Crewe to Holyhead arriving at Llandudno Junction 9/9/1995
37422 on the 12.00 from Holyhead arriving at Llandudno Junction 22/1/1994
37402 on the 8.50 London to Holyhead heading the failed HST at Llandudno Junction 30/1/1994
Last edited:
PhilH
Western Thunderer
37418 on the 10.06 Birmingham to Holyhead at Llandudno Junction 29/4/1995
37418 "East Lancashire Railway"
37420 on the 13.24 Crewe to Holyhead leaving Llandudno Junction 4/8/1995
37426 on the 10.06 Birmingham to Holyhead leaving Llandudno Junction with 31420 and 31110 on the weedkilling train 15/7/1999
37412 on the 19.54 Llandudno to Manchester rounds the curve into Llandudno Junction 5/7/2000
37713 backing a coal train from Daw Mill Colliery into Llandudno Junction Goods Yard 22/6/1999
Last edited:
PhilH
Western Thunderer
37412 on the 17.19 Manchester to Llandudno alongside the Conwy Estuary between Llandudno Junction and Deganwy 20/7/2000
37428 on the same train at Deganwy Station 28/6/2000. In the right background is the Deganwy Slate Quay, built by the LNWR for slate traffic from Blaenau Ffestiniog in competition with the Festiniog Railway and Portmadoc. Since the photo was taken it has been developed for housing, a hotel and marina.
37425 on the 12.50 Llandudno to Crewe at Deganwy Station 5/9/1993
37408 on the 15.06 Crewe to Llandudno at Deganwy level crossing 5/9/1993
Last edited:
PhilH
Western Thunderer
37422 on the 7.35 Birmingham to Llandudno passing the golf course at Maesdu on the approach to
Llandudno Station 1/9/1993
37421 on the 12.06(SO) to Birmingham departs from Llandudno on 11/9/1993. The new housing on the left occupies the former site of the turntable and extensive carriage sidings required for the holiday traffic - when holidaymakers used to travel to the seaside by train !
37425 shunting empty coaching stock at Llandudno for the 12.50 departure to Crewe 5/9/1993
31455 waits to depart on the 17.27 to Manchester and 37408 on the 17.10 to Birmingham 5/9/1993.
The end of the wall behind 37408 shows the extent of the overall glass roof which covered all five platforms and was removed in stages until it covered only the concourse. The station was redeveloped in 2013/4 and the disused platforms 4 (where 31455 is standing) and 5 turned into a car park.
37426 at the buffer stops after arriving on the 17.19 from Manchester, with the truncated remains of the station's overall glass roof 22/6/2000
47779 on "The Victoria 2000" special at Llandudno, run in conjunction with the town's Victorian Extravaganza Festival 30/5/1994
7008A13 on the North Wales Coast Express at Llandudno 7/8/2011
Last edited:
LarryG
Western Thunderer
Regarding " 60061 + 60044 on down passenger train approaching Penmaenrhos Tunnel 11/8/1991." 60 044 Ailsa Craig and 60060 Alexander Graham Bell were working one of several special Coal Sector enthusiast trains throughout the day (11.8.91) to Llandudno. The timing for the 60's was 15.36 Colwyn Bay down. Other trains among the specials were pairs of Class 37's, 56's. 20's and 58's. I covered the event at Llandudno and Deganwy.
Overall, a neat set of pictures. Good to see someone using a standard 50mm lens for a change instead of the more usual 85mm and 105mm. One of your shots is a reminder of how weed infested Abergele (and other places) was allowed to get, in fact it got worse before something was done.
Overall, a neat set of pictures. Good to see someone using a standard 50mm lens for a change instead of the more usual 85mm and 105mm. One of your shots is a reminder of how weed infested Abergele (and other places) was allowed to get, in fact it got worse before something was done.
PhilH
Western Thunderer
37425 on the 9.50 Manchester to Holyhead leaving Llandudno Junction carrying a headboard "The Irish Mancunian" 30/8/1993
37407 on the 12.00 from Holyhead waits to enter Llandudno Junction as 37418 leaves on the 11.33 Crewe to Holyhead 27/5/1994
37401 on the 10.48 Holyhead to Birmingham approaching Llandudno Junction on the causeway leading from the Conwy Tubular Bridge 7/4/2000
Last edited:
PhilH
Western Thunderer
5690 "Leander" passing Conwy Castle on the North Wales Coast Express 3/9/2005
37429 on the 11.33 Crewe to Holyhead exits the tubular bridge 1/9/1993
37429 on the 12.51 Holyhead to Crewe passing a Cl.156 on the 12.20 Crewe to Holyhead at the archway through the Conwy Town Wall 5/5/2000
or at the same location, there's a red one - 37426 on the 12.51 Holyhead to Crewe 2/5/2000
or a grey one - 37412 on the 13.23 Holyhead to Manchester 24/5/2000
or a maroon one - 37428 on the 12,25 Bangor to Crewe 10/6/2000
or if you prefer something a bit steamier - 45407 running as 45157 "The Gordon Highlander" on the Ynys Mon Express
Last edited:
PhilH
Western Thunderer
From the other side of the arch you can clearly see the notches cut away on each side for more clearance.
By the way that's 71000 approaching on the North Wales Coast Express 8/5/2005
60009 on the North Wales Coast Express passes through the arch on 19/8/2012
45231 on the North Wales Coast Express 4/8/2013
37403 on the 12.51 Holyhead to Crewe at Conwy Station 15/7/1999
37426 on the 13.23 Holyhead to Manchester exiting the short Conwy Tunnel, taken from the end of the down platform 5/5/2000
Last edited:
simond
Western Thunderer
Phil
there’s a chap, Anthony, in Brisbane who might be really very interested in your photos as they move towards Conwy & Bangor.
his model is quite, er, ambitious...
North Welsh Coast Railway - Welsh Dragon Rail
unfortunately, he’s not on WT, though he could, perhaps, be persuaded to join.
Atb
Simon
there’s a chap, Anthony, in Brisbane who might be really very interested in your photos as they move towards Conwy & Bangor.
his model is quite, er, ambitious...
North Welsh Coast Railway - Welsh Dragon Rail
unfortunately, he’s not on WT, though he could, perhaps, be persuaded to join.
Atb
Simon
