Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway.

11th October 2006

This collection of pictures is dedicated to the WSMR and chronicles the development of the present day Wrexham-London Marylebone services which began on April 28.

Photos will be continuously added as time allows. Much time and effort by many people has rewarded Wrexham and North Wales with a much needed new service, and the photos here can be regarded as a tribute to them. I personally wish them well with this new enterprise.

Many of the pictures are taken around Wrexham General, so a lot of weeds unavoidably appear in a sustantial number!!

Class 67s seen on the new services, since the start on April 28 are: 67001/67002/67003/67006/67007/008/010 (since April 2009)012/013/014/015/017/019/020/021/022/023/024/025/026/028/029/030. (accurate to, and including 8.6.09).

Statistically, there have been many permutations of the pairings too, and to the best of my knowledge, the following pairs of 67s have been seen top and tailing (updated 22.5.09)

67010+67021; 67012+67014; 67012+67015; 67012+67020; 67012+67024; 67012+67025;
67013+67014; 67013+67015; 67013+67022; 67013+67028; 67014+67019; 67014+67025; 67014+67026; 67014+67030; 67015+67025; 67015+67026; 67015+67028; 67017+67001; 67017+67025; 67023+67025; 67025+67026; 67026+67029; 67028+67030; 67003/020(double header)+012; 67003+67012; 67006+67022. I have pictures of all these pairings, but apologise if I've missed any.
(That's 25 different pairings/combinations!)

A double-first on July 17 was 67012/015 working together for the first time, and also the first example of two named W&S 67s on the same train. Strangely, 67012 and 67013 have never yet worked together.

Dedicated DVTs were introduced from October 2008, marking the end of top and tail 67s. Each train is now operated top and tail with a 67 and DVT. The current DVT fleet is 82301/303/304/305.

Normally, you'll see a 3 coach formation, comprising Cargo-D MK3s, but additional coaches can be added, according to demand. A good example of this was on May 22 2009, when the company operated 4, 5 and 8 coach trains for the Shrewsbury v Gillingham Division 2 football play-off final at Wembley. The 8 coach train was unique in as much that 3 MK3s were used, along with 5 Virgin MK2 coaches! All trains were fully booked!

The formations were: 0723 Wrexham-London Marylebone 82305+10215/11029/12119/11065+67015; 0840 Shrewsbury-London Marylebone 82303+12043/11046/11053/11071/10235+67015; 1010 Shrewsbury-London Marylebone 67010+11084/11064/10242+ Virgin MK2s 12054/12094/12117/12124/12053+67021 (A rare 67 top and tail these days!).

Finally, another first was the use of Chilterns Trains Class 168s 168216/217 on a Shrewsbury-Wembley Stadium addditional (1040 Shrewsbury-Wembley), in association with the W&S. A ten car formation and, as with the previous trains, a complete sell out!. A real cash bonanza for the W&S.

Commiserations to Shrewsbury fans on the 1-0 defeat, and in the 90th minute-now that is very cruel. At least Shrewsbury had the experience of playing at Wembley. Somehow, I can't see Wrexham reaching the same dizzy heights of success for sevsral years at least!

1.7.09: Latest news-The company should be taking delivery of their new refurbished coaches within 4-5 weeks. The coaches will match the livery of the 67s so trains will look very distinctive/classy!

September 7: We finally got to see the first set of new coaches, MK3 Open Standards 12127 and 12145, with Buffet/First Open 10208. The new livery is classy and business like. It will attract a lot of attention from enthusiasts and commuters alike.

September 30: The first new set of coaches were put into service, working 1J83 1636 London Marylebone-Wrexham.

October 2. Us northern folk get to see the new set in public service in daylight for the first time!!

Up to date formations as on October 2 2009 are:

82301+10246+11031+12053+67012;
82302 (Chiltern blue and white)+10235+11040+12043+67010;
82305+10208+12145+12127 (all in silver/grey livery)+67015.

**I have NOT been able to get ANY interior photos as I have no privileged access and no time because of work anyway. I am not free to photograph these trains 24/7!**

67014 Thomas Telford accelerates away from Wrexham with 1P13 running about 6 minutes down. 2009-10-12 11:28:00 Buy Print	82305 paired with 67014 approaches Wrexham General with 1J80, passing yet another new signal! 2009-10-12 11:16:00 Buy Print	There's little space to work in here, so this is a wide angle shot of the train from the other side. 2009-10-02 20:39:00 Buy Print	82305 now in the bay and nudging the buffers! 2009-10-02 20:36:00 Buy Print
67015 reay to move the ecs into the bays for the night. 2009-10-02 20:26:00	The only coach with lights on was First Class 10208, hence this shot! 2009-10-02 20:26:00 Buy Print	82305 at Wrexham General having arrived with 1J83 1636 from Marylebone. 2009-10-02 20:24:00 Buy Print	67015 powers 1P13 away from Wrexham with a well loaded train!! 2009-10-02 11:22:00 Buy Print
First and second class comparison. Not only are the doors wider, but they now have easy to use pull down handles for easier opening. 2009-10-02 11:03:00 Buy Print	The new coaches have wider doors for easier wheelchair access, thus addressing the criticisms regarding the original Cargo-D coaches not complying with current legislation for disabled travellers. 2009-10-02 10:58:00 Buy Print	Data panel on Buffet/Open First 10208. 2009-10-02 10:55:00 Buy Print	Another HDR view, this time 82305. 2009-10-02 10:54:00 Buy Print
I had to forego interior shots simply because there were too many passengers loading-a good sign though!! 2009-10-02 10:53:00 Buy Print	HDR image of 67015 at platform 3. 2009-10-02 10:49:00 Buy Print	67015 at the rear of 1J80 (or at the front of 1P13) in platform 3. 2009-10-02 10:48:00 Buy Print	Journey's end for 1J80, with 82305 and 67015 arriving at Wrexham General, and a chance for us northern folk to see the new coaches in public service in daylight!! 2009-10-02 10:43:00 Buy Print
DVT 82302 at Wrexham General with the ecs off 1J83. 2009-10-01 22:33:00 Buy Print	82302 at the rear for the 1P13 service (1123) off Wrexham. 2009-10-01 11:10:35 Buy Print	82302 at Wrexham General in its unique Chiltern livery. 2009-10-01 10:59:00 Buy Print	Chilter liveried blue and white DVT 82302 stands at Wrexham General after arriving with 1J80 0645 ex-Marylebone on October 1. 2009-10-01 10:58:00 Buy Print
Another visit to Wales for Scottish skip 67007. After working the 1J84 2003 ex Marylebone to Wrexham, 67007 was swapped for 67019 so at this time it is now off lease again, desination Scotland soon! 2009-09-23 08:05:00 Buy Print	Through Ruabon. The train looks fabulous in full sun. The understated but classy livery is one of the best on the network. 2009-09-09 13:05:00 Buy Print	A bit hit and miss with the sun, proving taking such pictures is 1% skill, 99% luck. 82305 and 67010 make another test run with the new stock past Rossett. Sun here will show the train at its best! 2009-09-09 12:39:00 Buy Print	2009-09-07 13:08:28 Buy Print
After a lay-over of over 5 hours at Wrexham General, and 67010 providing power at the rear, the train departs on its test run!. 2009-09-07 13:08:00 Buy Print	67010 at the rear of MK3 12127 2009-09-07 11:47:00 Buy Print	Branding on the new coaches. 2009-09-07 11:46:00 Buy Print	Sunny version of Mark 3 Buffet/First 10208, with DVT 82305 at the front. 2009-09-07 11:45:00 Buy Print
Mark 3 Open Standard 12145. You see, I do sunny shots as well! Looks very striking in good light and I emphasise that it does look classy! 2009-09-07 11:44:00 Buy Print	Sunny picture of Mark 3 Open Standard 12127, showing the unique livery to its best. 2009-09-07 11:44:00 Buy Print	The first public appearance (well, at Wrexham General it is!) of the WSMR's new coaches. 67010 is nearest camera, with Standards 12127, 12145, First Class 10208 and 82305 at the other end. 2009-09-07 08:48:00 Buy Print	67010 in the bay with the new stock. An Arriva employee has a good look at the coaches! 2009-09-07 08:40:00 Buy Print
Refurbished Mark 3 Restaurant Buffet/First 10208. 2009-09-07 08:38:00 Buy Print	Refurbished Mark 3 Open Standard 12127. 2009-09-07 08:37:00 Buy Print	Graphics/branding on 12127. 2009-09-07 08:36:00 Buy Print	67012 running back into Wrexham General to use platform 1 for 1P13 1123 departure to Marylebone, instead of platform 3. Reason unknown on this occasion. DVT 82303 is at the rear. 2009-09-04 10:59:00 Buy Print