Merseyside, Chester & North Wales
Meeting Reports
Monday 16th January 2012
TERMINUS PART 3
Barry Shore
The Chester meeting of 16th January enabled members to continue following Barry Shore’s series of Terminus presentations. Barry highlighted scenes where trains ended their journeys particularly at preserved railways across England, Wales and Ireland as well as the Isle of Man. Looking at the pictures of what was happening over 20 years highlights the fact that many preserved railway station sites have improved their infrastructures since then and that without Woodham’s yard there would be few steam hauled operations today on our preserved lines. Some of the liveries used on diesel units were somewhat unique. Minature railways also came into the picture with an array of their different gauges. There was even a picture of the late Alan Bloom at Bressingham working Hunslet tank 316. Tramways were not forgotten either with those Blackpool trams which served the system so well now of the past. The Holyhead breakwater line with its Cl.01 diesel was also given due mention. Barry’s research into the history of the railway lines seen as well as of the careers of locomotives and units made this a fascinating meeting.
Tuesday 10th January 2012
Observation at Stafford
Unlike the previous two winters, that of 2011–2012 has in contrast been mild and this was the case at Stafford for our first outdoor fixture of 2012. The day was generally sunny with a light westerly breeze and the beautiful day no doubt contributed to an attendance of 12 members covering a period of almost 6 hours. Stafford rarely disappoints and traffic levels were healthy and there was undoubtedly more freight, particularly coal traffic, than the fixture at the same location 9 weeks previously. It was hoped one of the newly arrived Cl.70 locomotives would appear but our disappointment was tempered by the appearance of Cl.31, 31601 now in its 52nd year having been new as D5609 on 21st April 1960.
Monday 19th December 2011
MEMBERS EVENING
The members’ evening of 19th December at Chester in the newly refurbished Town Crier produced a bumper evening of delights and surprises. Geoff Morris highlighted a visit to Ireland highlighting most of the main stations there, Alan Donaldson revisited 1991 in which he highlighted the liveries and units still to be seen then, Barry Shore showed past double headed workings including several that started out from Birkenhead’s Cavendish sidings, John Feild highlighted scenes from 2011 including those from Warrington Bank Quay the week before, Geoff Coward covered most of the world from Oxenholme to China and to Cuba, David Miller highlighted quirks and anomalies in the world of railway ticketing including a 1960’s Southern Region ticket for Gloucester (London Road) and as to how German rail tickets could be amended to fit changed journey requirements, John Cowlishaw highlighted how one can improve digital prints from those scanned black and white pictures which included the painting out of scratches and blemishes and David Jones highlighted a rail special on the Wrexham-Bidston line complete with Cl.40 locomotive 40145 with the latter greatly pleasing the Branch Chairman.
Tuesday 13th December 2011
Observation (Xmas social gathering) at Warrington Bank Quay
The now traditional pre festive season gathering at Warrington Bank Quay station took place on 13th December with the usual craic and banter all helping to make the day for the eight members present. The station was still in the throes of its improvements of longer platforms etc but which reduced viewing points to a minimum because of so many areas being fenced off. This necessitated the occasional gallop to the southern end of platform 3 to check the numbers of locomotives and units that had by passed platform 1. Not only was there the Fiddlers Ferry power station coal traffic that day but also the additional Royal Mail services in which most of the Cl.325 units were logged. The two members journeying out from Liverpool Lime Street had the delight of travelling aboard the recently transferred Centro green liveried 150115.
An illustrated report appears here.
Monday 21st November 2011
NORTH EASTERN PART 1
David Rapson
In a different meeting setting at the Queen Hotel the Chester meeting of 21st November saw the advertised presentation but with a substitute speaker in David Rapson standing in for Edgar Richards who was awaiting an operation later that week. The subject was North Eastern Region part 1 in which Edgar covered the ECML from Berwick on Tweed to Durham interspersed with the many lines he had visited in Northumberland, Tyneside and North Durham. Scenes from 1947 right up until relatively recently showed how the North Eastern Railway complete with its locomotives, station buildings and signal boxes dominated the area. Edgar has the knack of capturing the heart and soul of railway operations right down to the most humble of station lamps. The transition of the Tyneside suburban electric services, complete with stock livery changes, into the Metro system was also worth an evening on its own and Edgar also included industrial and preservation scenes. Thanks go to David Rapson for presenting the show and hopefully Edgar will have made a good recovery by the time he reads this review.
Tuesday 8th November 2011
Observation at Stafford
This fixture saw five branch members joined by two former members of the erstwhile Stoke on Trent Branch, with Max Birchenough remembering Richard Neale from his Cheltenham Branch days. Many of the other regulars seen at Stafford tend to frequent the waiting rooms in between coming out to take photographs of locomotive hauled trains. The weather was decidedly murky but the selection of trains passing through maintained interest throughout the day. In addition of course the journey to Stafford allows opportunities to see from a distance what is at Basford Hall and in the L&NWR yard to the south of Crewe station. For a change that day nothing elsewhere appeared to be affecting operating patterns across the rail network. It was noted that behind the TESCO superstore one can see train movements to the south of the station near to Stafford No.4 signal box although the palisade fencing does not help when taking pictures. London Midland services seemed to have more 3502xx units than usual and Pendolino 390054 graciously slowed enabling several photographs to be taken. Freight traffic was of some interest what with several GBRf workings and 70001 complete with a miniscule Olympic logo also slowing to a stop in platform 4. As ever the exchange of good humour was to the fore even when it came to noting the present Manchester United manager’s 25 years of continuous service. As ever the station staff on duty were pleasant and courteous through the day. The Pumpkin station café was visited several times. Stafford will be revisited again on 10th January subject to weather conditions when soup and cake is likely to be a popular choice of fare for some.
An illustrated report appears here.
Monday 17th October 2011
GREAT RAILWAY PHOTOGRAPHERS
Brian Stephenson
Brian Stephenson’s visit to Chester on 17th October produced one of that venues highest ever attendances and those present were not disappointed with what was seen in his presentation of so many well known and highly respected railway photographers during the one hundred years covered. Naturally much interest was shown with the pre 1923 grouping pictures and as to the fact that much of the L.& B.S.C.R.’s electric infrastructure was still on view long after the Southern went all 3rd rail. Much interest was shown by what were then new locomotives at work as with the Southern’s ‘Schools’ class 4-4-0 s when they first appeared with smoke deflectors and nameplates. The Grantham pictures with those East Coast Main Line locomotives of the 1930s were much enhanced by those Great Northern somersault signals. The experimental Hush Hush LNER locomotive 10000 was also seen on a passenger working. Chester shed scenes in the shape of a 47xx 2-8-0 and a 26xx ‘Aberdare’ 2-6-0 were much appreciated. Views of Euston station before its 1960s rebuild were also greatly appreciated as was the view of two streamlined ‘Coronation’ Pacifics. The Scottish scene was also covered with such views of the North British Atlantics both at Carlisle and in Edinburgh in the 1920s. One picture taken at the eastern portal of Standedge tunnel with a ‘Patriot’ locomotive emerging may have been worthwhile but it showed maintenance workers standing on scaffolding as the train passed underneath. So much for Health & Safety practices in those days. Not only did Brian portray others’ excellent photographic work but also of his own as with his many scenes of changes in the Kentish railway scene involving Eurostar and the like – so much so that he showed two shots taken from the day before the meeting, one of which highlighted a blue Cl.67 at work in that county. His overseas visits to France, Switzerland and Germany were also well detailed with him covering steam, diesel and electric traction aspects of operation. We look forward to a further visit from Brian.
Tuesday 11th October 2011
Observation at Newport & Cardiff
A total of eight members including two ex branch members now allocated to south west branches attended the station observation fixture at Newport and at Cardiff on 11th October to watch and observe the high traffic levels at these locations. The ATW Club 55 offer was utilized with the majority of the M.C & N.W contingent travelling both ways on the locomotive hauled Holyhead–Cardiff service with 57315. At Hereford the RHTT Train (3S59 21.07 Barton Hill – Barton Hill) was seen top and tailed by 66175/76. Freight appeared somewhat reduced compared to previous visits although the area is still busier than most. The party stayed at Newport until 13.00 travelling on to Cardiff on the 11.41 Taunton-Cardiff aboard recently reallocated ex LM units 150102/108, which remain in Centro livery minus decals. A feature of these outdoor fixtures is the inevitable banter enjoyed by all and this fixture was no exception so not withstanding the reduced level of freight traffic a great time was had by all.
A full list of sightings, provided in good faith from observations made by Alan Turton, can be found here.
Sunday 2nd October 2011
Wirral Bus &Tram Show
The annual sales stand at the 14th Wirral Bus & Tram Show in Pacific Road, Birkenhead of 2nd October was an enjoyable affair for those of us manning the stand: namely Gordon Davies, Alan Donaldson, Norman Jackson, Allan Lewis, Geoff Morris and Richard Neale. Less than a handful of branch members turned out to support us – the takings from such a sales stand help to ameliorate the costs of free members’ admission to our indoor meetings. The hot weather of the preceding days disappeared with drizzly rain being in evidence for some of the day when a selection of vintage buses and trams were there to be ridden around the surrounding area.
Branch Committee members await potential purchasers Richard Neale
A potential customer inspects the one of the RCTS publications at Birkenhead Bus & Tram Show Richard Neale
Monday 19th September 2011
TEENAGE MEMORIES OF THE EARLY 1960S
Bob Casselden
The opening Chester meeting of the season was on 19th September when we welcomed back Bob Casselden with his nostalgic Monochrome Memories 1960-66 presentation entitled Teenage Kicks. Having converted his black and white prints into digital format Bob went through his 233 pictures giving as much detail as to the locomotives and the workings they were involved in, which gave us all a complete picture of what was happening in the Yeovil area and the lines that served its three stations in the years that he was a schoolboy and beyond. Bob was fortunate that his parents encouraged his railway interest and their family holidays took him to places where he could see a different railway scene as for instance with a 1965 stay in Carlisle enabling him to visit the Newcastle and Edinburgh areas. Bob highlighted the transitions between steam and diesel as well as the changes when the Western Region took control of the former Southern Region lines and sheds in the West Country but the picture that really intrigued us was of Jubilee 45595 Southern Rhodesia working a Weymouth-Crewe special freight through Yeovil Pen Mill in September 1964.
Tuesday 6th September 2011
Observation at Carlisle (and Annan)
The station observation at Carlisle of 6th September was not without incident as the eight members travelling there were delayed by flooding on the WCML in the Galgate area between Preston and Lancaster. Consequently Virgin train services were the subject to delay for the rest of the morning. The blustery weather conditions that day meant that it was more congenial to stay within the shelter of the station rather than at the platform ends. Most of the group journeyed briefly (so as to pass Kingmoor DRS depot etc) to and from Annan and at that station they were caught up in a tremendously powerful storm complete with hailstones. One of those on Carlisle station we were delighted to meet up with was Malcolm Riley, former Society Hon. Outdoor Fixtures Secretary, and his knowledge of the train workings was of great help in identifying particular coal trains as they passed through the station. The new Pendolino 390054 was seen in service and we were delighted to see that Pendolino 390022 now carries the name Beth Tweddle on both cab fronts as she lives within our Branch area. The variety of train workings passing through Carlisle makes it a worthwhile destination and future visits there are assured.
An illustrated report appears here.
Tuesday 9th August 2011
Observation at Water Orton
The station observation fixture of 9th August at Water Orton enabled six members to join up during the day to watch the many freight and engineers’ trains passing, including those with 66706 and 70006, in addition to the many passenger workings. The decrepit Water Orton station facilities are such that it is our practice to go to the footbridge just beyond the range of the local shops, which also provides a satisfying fish and chips take away. Word must have reached the local constabulary as they too came to check those on the footbridge. The sparseness of services serving Water Orton meant that the nearby new Coleshill Parkway station was used as well as it giving a greater opportunity of service availability. Free parking is available there for a further 15 years. As ever some of the group availed themselves of day ranger tickets to cover visits to Nuneaton, Leamington Spa (for locomotive hauled Chiltern Trains services) and Worcester (enabling a sighting of GWR 4566 with the LNER ‘teak’ carriage set at Kidderminster SVR).
An illustrated report appears here.
Saturday 30th July 2011
Coach outing to Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
The Wirral Transport Users Association kindly invited RCTS members to accompany them on their coach excursion to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway of 30th July although none took up the offer apart from those members already WTUA members. A stop was made in Buxton for a visit to the pavilion where preparations were well under way for the annual Gilbert and Sullivan festival. We later continued to Wirksworth where lunch was taken before departing for Ravenstor by dmu. The severity of the 1/27 gradient was made evident by the efforts of the engine. The return to Wirksworth at enabled us to catch 10 minutes later the 14.20 service to Duffield which was reached at 14.50. Mainline services were observed here including the Matlock Derby service together with a very rapid HST. A stop was made at Ashbourne on the return home.
Tuesday 12th July 2011
Observation at Warrington Bank Quay
When a date is decided for a fixture several months in advance as at Warrington Bank Quay on 12th July it can be something of a lottery. Who for example could have predicted that this fixture would coincide with a two week shut down at Fiddlers Ferry Power Station with the resultant disappearance of virtually all coal traffic through Warrington Bank Quay. Nevertheless 10 Members [including a Lancs & North West Branch Member] gathered at the north end of the “up” platform. Inevitably freight traffic was much reduced but there was enough of interest including the sight of two Cl. 31’s both dating from 1960. By way of contrast two Cl.70’s were seen, one of which was on driver training duties.
A full list of sightings, provided in good faith from observations made by Alan Turton, can be found here.
Tuesday 14th June 2011
Observation at Doncaster station
Eight members including an East Midlands one attended the Doncaster station observation on a very hot day on 14th June. More like the Costa del Doncaster as members had to retreat at times into the shade for comfort and to find a vacant seat or two. Doncaster’s constant flow of passenger trains interspersed with daytime freight workings is a real delight. The morning observations appeared to be the victim of a level crossing incident north of Doncaster when some main line trains were being held for up to 20 minutes to the south of the station and when a Grand Central Cl.180 from Bradford was shunted back into bay platform 2 to await its path south. Afternoon operations were normal and we were delighted to see the on hire EMT HST in East Coast markings. Caroline with 37423 briefly appeared at the north end of the station and two coaches from a Merseyrail unit were seen outside the WABTEC works. The day concluded with great satisfaction for the two Johns when they saw 180101 to clear that type of unit.
An illustrated report appears here and a full list of sightings, provided in good faith from observations made by Alan Turton, can be found here.
Tuesday 10th May 2011
Observation at Warrington Bank Quay station
Ten members attended the informal station observation at Warrington Bank Quay station on 10th May. The platform works at the south end of the station were noted although the group generally stayed out of the prevailing wind at the north end. As is usual at such events the progress or otherwise of football clubs within the branch’s territory added to the general banter so welcome at these fixtures. The usual mix of passenger and freight working were to be seen in addition to a West Coast Railway Co’s stock transfer with two Cl.47 locomotives. The interest in the Cl.70 workings is to be seen by more of the railway fraternity than usual recording such activities at the station and in the Arpley area with one of the RCTS group delighted to see his first Cl.70.
An illustrated report appears here.
Monday 18th April 2011
Another Australian Adventure
Geoff Morris
The final meeting of the Chester season ended in fine style on 18th April with Geoff Morris showing highlights of his 2010 visit to Australia. Using the digital projector with helpful captions and with railway maps we were reminded of the different gauges across the states and of how standard gauge is being used for inter state services. We had a mixture of the present day railway scene as well as of preserved and tourist lines in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. A new livery in Victoria has given rise to the nickname of the Cheeseburger. The Puffing Billy line claims to be the busiest narrow gauge railway in the world and the trestle bridges are still a sight to behold. The Maitland Steam event in New South Wales,which included a Great Train Race with three steam trains running on parallel lines was the highlight of Geoff’s tour. Moving on into Queensland Geoff moved up to Cairns and a journey on the Savannahlander tourist train included the sight of a kangaroo being literally levered away from the track on which it had been resting. We look forward to Geoff’s next exciting show.
Saturday 9th April 2011
Industrial Day Out
Saturday April 8th saw 18 members participating in an Industrial-themed day out around Stoke-on-Trent. In the morning we visited the Moseley Railway Trust’s extensive collection of narrow gauge locos, based at the Apedale Valley Light Railway. We were offered unlimited rides behind Kerr Stuart 2395/1917 (Stanhope) which operated the passenger service (footplate rides were also available). Additionally, a diesel-hauled rake of tippler wagons operated for us to photograph and a Ruston diesel was available for members to drive, under supervision, in the shed yard. In the afternoon we visited the standard gauge Foxfield Light Railway, at Blythe Bridge, where we rode behind WB 3059/1954 (Florence No. 2) to Dilhorne Park and back. A photographic false start was made for us at the start of the return journey leg. Of particular interest in the sheds were 2 crane tanks, one of which is operable. Many members ended a superb sunny day by photographing 6201 Princess Elizabeth heading through the environs of Stoke on a charter from Chester to Tyseley.
An illustrated report appears here.
Monday 4th April 2011
Branch AGM (Members Only)
Our AGM held at Port Sunlight on 4th April was one of the most significant in the branch’s history. The meeting accepted by a large majority the committee’s proposal to have just one monthly indoor meeting, to be held at Chester. This signals the end to RCTS indoor meetings on Merseyside after almost 60 years. Warm tributes were paid to Geoff Morris, who is stepping down after five momentous years as outdoor fixtures secretary although he will be continuing as our website correspondent. The remaining committee members were duly re-elected namely Gordon Davies, Alan Donaldson, Norman Jackson, Richard Neale and Alan Turton with Allan Lewis joining as indoor sales officer. Gordon Davies was presented with a commemorative mug complete with pictures of himself and preserved locomotive Gordon suitably enhanced with WGD 60. The mug's ability to change colour when filled with hot water left Gordon speechless - but not for long! Geoff Morris then highlighted scenes from the branch’s 2010 outdoor fixtures and Barry Shore delighted us with B&W scenes of 1960s steam. As a finale, Geoff Morris showed us topical scenes of GWR rail motor 93 at work on the Llangollen Railway.
Tuesday 29th March 2011
Visit to the Siemens/Trans Pennine depot at Ardwick.
A party of 12 members visited the Siemens Train Maintenance Depot at Ardwick on Tuesday March 29th. The class 185s operated by First Trans-Pennine are based here and we had a comprehensive tour of the site. With 90% of the fleet required in traffic only 6 units were on site, the most notable being 185144 which was damaged in a derailment, caused by a large block of ice that had fallen from a ventilation shaft, in Summit Tunnel in December. One car of this was away for repair at Wolverton giving us the unusual sight of an incomplete unit. Our 2-hour visit included a building evacuation due to smoke detectors being triggered when a newly-overhauled engine was started up. We would like to thank Becky Patterson for facilitating the visit and Matt Jones for acting as our guide and giving us such a comprehensive and enlightening tour. A donation has been made to Ardwick’s chosen charity (the Railway Children) as a result of the visit.
An illustrated report appears here.
Monday 21st March 2011
From Blue and Grey to Black and Green
Paul Chancellor
The Chester meeting of 21st March had as its speaker Paul Chancellor, who took as his subject “A Colour-Rail Journey”. As in other meeting reports Paul not only reminded the attendance of the problems with copying very old colour slides but also of the need for such material to be saved in the first place. Using a wide selection of colour slides from the past 60 years or so we had nostalgic scenes of long lost branch lines and of shed scenes from the days when regular visits were made to them either officially or unofficially. Each of the four pre-grouping company areas were covered in details with Scotland as a fifth. Some locomotives have hardly been photographed so there is plenty of future scope for Colour-Rail enthusiasts. To finish off the evening Paul showed us some delightful scenes of today’s Severn Valley Railway. We were pleased to welcome back Edgar Richards to our meetings following his bad fall in December and his recent short spell in hospital
Tuesday 15th March 2011
Station observation at Newport and/or Cardiff
Using the ATW Club 55 £15 Return Ticket offer, nine members made their different ways to Newport on 15th March for a station observation in bright sunny weather. It was good to meet a group of South Wales Branch members on the station who supplied useful information about local operations. However, with such a paucity of morning freight workings and with some HST workings being diverted to Cheltenham for the National Hunt Festival, it was decided to move on with one group travelling through to Swansea, noting the new football stadiums and Margam steelworks from the train, whilst the remainder either stayed on Cardiff General station watching the constant procession of the Cardiff Valleys services, took a trip to Ebbw Vale, or viewed the new GBRF-operated freight shunting operations at Cardiff Tidal with the Cl.73 locomotive which by chance has the name of the Branch Treasurer’s wife. Everyone travelled back in good spirits together on the 16.15 W A G Holyhead Express to either Crewe or Chester.
An illustrated report appears here.
Monday 7th March 2011
21st Century Steam featuring steam in the UK, USA, China and the Ukraine
John Day
The Port Sunlight meeting of 7th March saw John Day of Ipswich replace an indisposed Edgar Richards for an evening of 21st Century Steam featuring steam in the UK, USA, China, New Zealand and the Ukraine. John gets around these days since his retirement and besides lengthy stays in the USA with his family he has been able to visit China twice as well as with visits elsewhere. Preserved steam runs out of Chicago and in California were certainly his favourites and like previous speakers the final years of steam on the Ji Tong route were well photographed. However, for many of the audience John’s pictures of steam specials on his beloved GE route and on the North Norfolk Railway amongst others captured the essence of steam preservation today. John not only describes the locomotives and their workings, but also as to how he reaches his photographic locations having sometimes walked either eight miles in the snow in East Anglia or having driven over forty miles to reach the right side of an American Freeway to park his car.
Friday 25th February 2011
Trip on the Welsh Highland Railway
Friday February 25th saw a party of 40 members, family & friends join a chartered coach which took us to Porthmadog for a trip on one of the first scheduled services over the full length of the Welsh Highland Railway to Caernarfon. Our motive power was the former Tasmanian Railway Beyer-Garratt K1 and the replica Lynton & Barnstaple 2-6-2 tank Lyd, the latter resplendent in an attractive lined BR black livery and carrying the (fictitious) number 30190. Unfortunately most of the journey was through low cloud. The locos struggled with the 10-vehicle train in the testing conditions and a couple of unscheduled stops caused a 25-minute late arrival at Caernarfon. However, one in the Aberglaslyn Pass gave us a chance to appreciate the achievement in reinstating the line here. Overall it was a superb experience with everyone experiencing a number of “firsts” - not least the sight, at Rhyd Ddu, of a complete Ffestiniog Railway train (hauled by Blanche and Merddin Emrys) running in service on WHR metals.
An illustrated report appears here.
Monday 21st February 2011
Members' Show
The Members’ Evening held in Chester on 21st February produced both the usual and the unusual in the different contributions John Feild covered the past year or so with his many digital observations around the country complete with Tornado and of other rail outings. Gordon Davies produced digital scenes of the British scene and he of all people had received the hostility of Blackpool North station staff to railway photographers. John Cowlishaw took us on a digital tour of London railways in a day with the new East London line and other Transport for London routes creating much interest. After the break we reverted to the slide format with Alan Donaldson harking back to 1990 both at home and in Norway, Denmark and what was then still West Germany. Mike Martin’s slides from 1975 and his look at scrap yard and industrial scenes were almost unique in their content as was his picture of the railway system at Ashington Colliery. Barry Shore then took us through his slides of December scenes especially with such memories of the iron ore workings to and from Shotton and of locomotive hauled trains from York to Liverpool.
last updated: 06/02/12