A few random pictures taken during the heavy snow of early January 2010. Compared to many places, Wrexham was VERY lucky just to get a few inches!!

These are just incidental photos taken on my way to, and home from, a day out in Llandudno. Note that as I was travelling light, I only used a Fuji s100fs for these pictures.

The story is that 3 car 175109 suffered fire damage on August 25 whilst working the 1636 Holyhead-Cardiff. Though the unit is out of service for repairs, damage was confined to car 79759, so to offset the lack of capacity caused by its withdrawal, Arriva have incorporated centre car 56759 from 175109 into 2 car unit 175003. Thus a hybrid unit is formed!

Many thanks to the Mr Hulme's North Wales Coast website for information on this.

I didn't expect to take so many pictures of the unit, so if more than two pictures of it bores you, just look elsewhere LOL!! It just seemed to follow me around!!

The Llangollen Railway's latest acquisition, Class 26 No. 5310 from the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway, was put into public service on September 26. The train successfully hauled 4 return trips between Llangollen and Carrog. These are highlights from the day. The photos also include 2-8-0 No. 3802 which catered for steam buffs.

Another fine show by the Llangollen Railway. Locomotives working were Class 4 Standard Tank 80072, fully operational for the first time in 44 years; Llangollen Railway's 2-6-0 Ex-GWR No. 3802, also working for the first time in over a year; Llangollen's Ex GWR PT No. 6430+autocoaches; Ex-GWR 0-6-2 No. 5643; Ex-LMS 4-6-0 Black 5 No. 44806, celebrating its 65th birthday and guest loco 2-6-0 No. 78019 from the Great Central Railway.

After a long period out of service, the Diesel Group's only surviving resident Class 37. 37240, was in use again on September 5. In the morning it worked a driver experience train, and was set to work 2 return public sevices between Llangollen and Carrog.

However, the 37 developed a fault (water pressure) in the afternoon during its first return trip, returning from Carrog to Llangollen, and was coaxed into Glyndyfrdwy where it failed completely! Rescue was by the Class 57 D1566 Orion, so made for an interesting afternoon!

This may have been the 37s final appearance before undergoing repairs and a repaint.

September 1 and thoughts turn to Autumn, and, of course, the RHTT trains DBS are operating these trains this season, and route learning begam on September 1 along the Marches and between Wrexham and Bidston. The first route learner saw 37401 being used, though subsequebt workings have seen Class 67s operating (67006/020/030 up to September 30-not all photographed).

And of course the single line between Wrexham and Saltney Junction, a line carrying hourly service trains and more freight than the North Wales Coast, has been omitted from the program again. Not even an MPV! If your services suffer delays because of this, lobby Network Rail.

A few pictures from my travels. Includes the North Wales Coast Express and The North Wales Fellsman (2.8.09)

I hope the weather's better tham 2008-first 2 weeks of August look a mix of sun and showers!

It wiil be sad if this is the last season a steam train runs along the Cambrian. I'm making more of an effort to get more pictures this year so I hope you enjoy them, and enjoy a ride on the train itself.

Latest Pictures added 3.8.09.

Photos from 4.7.09 of the 3 day event, 3-5.7.09, featuring 20087, D5054, D7629 (Foxfield Railway, Staffordshire) D6525, D7076, 37109, 37248 (Courtesy of The Growler Group), 37418, 37901, 40145, 47292 (Great Central Railway, Nottingham), 47843, 50015, D1062 (Severn Valley Railway) and 55022. Something for everyone there.

All shots are station based due to time restrictions and using a day rover. Apart from one extremely arrogant lineside photographer who was a complete a******e and showed no respect for the general public, it was a good event.

A new collection specifically about these unique trains which are particularly interesting because of the variety of motive power and the varying number of flasks in the consist.

I have never figured out why so many people are so paranoid about these trains carrying low level radioactive waste for recycling. Greenpeace do NOT help their cause by putting the fear of God into people!! What worries me are the HGVs carrying all sorts of LETHAL loads on our roads, and driven by foreign drivers who can't even speak English and drive dangerously. Rant now over Enjoy the pictures.

As the trains only run about 2-3 times a week, I can only take photos when work allows. I hope to get some nice pics along the coast given time.

Photos from my visit on the Saturday, mainly to see the wonderful A1 Peppecorn Tornado.

Pictures from the 2 day Gala. Class 122 W55001 was visiting from the ELR and Llangollen's Class 104 was repainted into BR blue, making its debut in the new livery. Photos still being uploaded. Captions to follow tomorrow.

Pictures are a little limited in scope as they were taken between night shifts!

Railtours usually happen when I'm working. May 9 was an exception!! I thought I would try to get some coverage of both tours, so a North Wales all zones day rover enabled me to got to Shrewsbury and then onto Holyhead-saving not only £12 against the normal fares, but a fortune in petrol and enjoying a relaxing rail jourmey. The bonus was perfect weather in Holyhead! Many thanks to the Met office.

I was biased towards seeing The Duchess of Sutherland as this was to be her last summer in operation before a major overhaul next year. It was good to see 47798 Prince William as support loco, looking fantastic. This was truly a Royal train tour!!

Photos from the second major Steam Gala at Llangollen from April 18-26 2009. Due to the number of pictures taken, I am still adding captions to the individual photos! I have tried to portray all aspects of the Gala and not just steam n action. I hope you think I achieved this.

Obviously, the seasoned railway photographers won't think much of them, but I hope just ONE person doesn't think my efforts have been a waste of time and money.

Experiments with Tilt/Shift effects. Wilkipedia describes it so: "Tilt-shift miniature faking is a process in which a photograph of a life-size location or object is manipulated so that it looks like a photograph of a miniature scale model." (by selective blurring which mimics the narrow depth of field in close-ups)

Normally you would need specialist lenses costing hundreds of pounds, or Photoshop CS, but anyone can create the same effects for free at :http://tiltshiftmaker.com/
Have Fun! **I should add that the effect suits some pictures better than others, so its trial and error!**

Photos from this years event. A little disappointing as the Class 20 couldn't run, and 37418 was still to have repairs completed. It was also a shame not to see 37109. 37901 Mirrlees Pioneer (not so long ago resident at Llangollen) did appear, though.

This collection has been started as an additional collection to focus on traffic along this route, and particularly to document the enhancements and improvements to the single track between Saltney Junction and Wrexham.

Dedicated to Virgin Trains' Wrexham-London services. There are pictures of the trial run and first services in other collections, but this collection covers workings since then. It will be updated when time allows!!

Photos recording the first visit of the year (and probably the last) by the serco test train, top'n'tailed by 37605/259.

Pictures from the first few days of the timetable, featuring several different services.

The first ever visit of a Class 221 Supervoyager, 221103 Christopher Columbus, to Wrexham, a trial run in readiness for the new Virgin London Service. Primarily this was for platform clearances and "4/5 Car" stop sign siting on platform 1 and 2. They also placed a "Signal Warning C6" sign above the AWS reminder sign at the end of Platform 2! Wrexham General is suddenly awash with warning signs!!

The Voyager was only in Wrexham for 45 minutes, before departing back to Chester.

No, not the Wife and Girlfriend Express, but the new Welsh Assembly Government's prestigious service from Holyhead to Cardiff (and by passing Wrexham-so I call it the Wrexham Avoiding Government Express!).

I shouldn't be too critical, considering all the extra services that the Welsh Assembly have invested in, and now news of £20m to create improvements along the single line between Saltney Jct. and Wrexham, creating passing loops. Its a shame that the single span Wrexham by-pass bridges over the line prevent the redoubling of the complete stretch.

Anyway, the reliveried 57s do look smart, as does the stock. Loco hauled rail travel is the only way to travel in comfort-look no further than the W&S London services. And, as it happens, the 0725 to Marylebone from Wrexham connects with te train at Shrewsbury at 0805, so travel from Wrexham to Cardiff is loco hauled all the way after all!!

And I am no expert on photography at night, so those pictures may not be up to anyone else's standards. Getting an accurate colour balance is most tricky, though is easy to adjust in the RAW files. Any advice on this is appreciated! More pictures will be added as the service develops!

The Llangollen Diesel Group operated their Class 20 D8142 for the last time on December 7, before it is sold to an as yet unknown buyer!
Not only were bashers treated to some authentic EE noise and clag, but the scenery was fantastic too, with frozen fields and winter sunshine combined.

Pictures from Rood Aston Hall's farewell Tour on November 22 and 34067 Tangmere with the Cathedrals Express Railtour on November 29.

Just one 37 on 3J96, and no coverage-again-of the single line between Wrexham and Saltney Junction, not even a once weekly run, despite the tree lined line and Gresford Bank. If your train slips to a halt, I'm not to blame!

3S71 is difficult to photograph as it often runs very early in darkness, and doesn't make a pathing stop!. However I'll get at least one shot of it if its the last thing I ever do!

And don't expect "sunny" pictures, as I do not have control over the weather (unlike some) when I'm off-which is very rare.

Pictures from the three day event, taken over the three days.

There's no Diesel Gala at Llangollen this year, so instead I had a look at 37240 working in place of the usual DMU on september 27. Some pictures of this, and also 3802 for steam fans. A second consecutive glorious Saturday too!

In aid of Hope House Hospice. The Severn Valley Railway Gala must have caused this event to take a big hit on visitors attending. Still, those who went had glorious weather.

Pictures from the visit of the two Mendip 59s-59005/104-hauling the tour.

Photos of the railtour at Chester. (As usual for me because of work!) Unusually, the tour departed from Platform 7-there were no Merseyrail services operating due to flooding between Chester and Hooton.