A day of contrast…

A second day of the real railway yesterday, and one of contrast. Sleepy rural branchline and heavy freight on a double line race track - welcome to the North Wales coast…

I have wanted to witness the stone train at Penmaenmawr for sometime but the concept of blending that with the Blaenau Ffestiniog branch hadn’t occurred to me before now. This rural branchline survivor winds down from Llandudno, through surburban Deganwy to Llandudno Junction and then on to the scenic Conwy Valley, through small villages and lonely halts, via the wooded almost alpine tourist hot spot of Betws-y-coed and beyond to Blaenau Ffestiniog and its mountains of slate. I rode it last year for the first time and was rather taken with the scenery from the train window - if you haven’t been, it is well worth a pilgrimage.

Amongst the curiosities which include a block signalling post where the modern DMU driver exchanges real tokens under semaphore signals at North Llanwrst, and lonely single platforms in the middle of nowhere is the small halt at Tal-y-cafn where a road crossing warrants a full time crossing keeper.

 

The train arrives (here from Blaenau, 197028 running today’s service) and stops at the board, awaiting a hand signal. The crossing keeper has already closed the gates and shows his green flag. The driver acknowledges with a single toot of the horn and slowly proceeds across the road. Today halting to let off a Grandma and her two grandchildren, but this is a request stop only. Lovely to have a brief chat with the crossing keeper who shared his mainline signalling history and the semi-retirement now as part of the small team who provide shift cover to man the crossing here. Magical to consider this survives in today’s modern world…

Onwards and a brief stop at Llandudno Junction - ostensibly to grab a drink and snack but sadly my son and I did without the latter with Asda providing both a carpark and bottle of pop… a parade of 197s and the feeling of a busy junction between much activity! We saw just a pair of 197s, one heading to Manchester as we arrived, and our friend from the morning, 028, on the Llandudno shuttle (before working the branch again later).

We struck out towards Penmaenmawr on the A55 through the tunnels enjoying the noise of the GTIs keen exhaust and induction noise before peeling off and through the sleepy village to the station squeezed between tired Victorian holiday homes, the dual carriageway and the sea beyond. 

It was exciting to see the load of 20 or so 100t wagons all loaded - and an opportunity to see something beyond a 197 as well, as an Avanti Evero hustled through towards Euston…

Having finished loading the driver and Colas ground crew were waiting for departure time. The driver even spending a moment cleaning the numbers on 70809 - as well as a quick hello to my son and I… without warning he pulled forwards to the stop board, the idling GE lump emitting an Alco like plume of black exhaust…

 

… and a few minutes later, after a late running Cardiff bound 197 apologised past on the main it was time to head down to the signal and mainline connection. The driver opening her up, slightly less black smoke this time but the noise was wonderful, considering this is a modern ‘silenced’ diesel… the ground shook, the bogies hunting as the wheels scrambled for grip and the sanders did their thing but despite the show below she dug in and lifted over 2000 tons on old rails almost effortlessly. A very impressive sight…

Leaving her waiting for a green we rushed back to the car and headed towards Conwy - finding this straight (above) to capture the length of the impressive train, even in the mediocre light it is still impressive and she was motoring - maintaining, no doubt, enough speed to stay out of the way of passenger services. A sense that all this was well worth the trip from our sleepy valley near Llangollen.

We stopped on the way home for a coffee and that pastry we missed at Llandudno junction, in the village of Llanrwst - and a check of the essential Real Time Trains showed the train returning from Blaenau - again 028 arrived on time at the ‘town’ station built in 1989 (as the loop, signals and box are just north of the main centre of the village and perhaps not very convenient). This sylvan setting surely a Mosslanda…

Oh yes, I’ve drawn this one before… ‘End of the line’ (excuse the mis-spelling).

All in all a wonderful day out, the contrast only adding to the sense of satisfaction that the modern railway can still offer the enthusiast. Until next time, more soon…

Support my work

I love writing and creating material for the blog. If you enjoy what you read and engage with I would be appreciative of any donation, large or small, to help me keep it advert and restriction free. Alternatively, feel free to buy me a coffee.