6G HOMEPAGE
STEAM DAYS
The bustle of Llandudno Junction in the 1950's is recaptured in
this shot of the east side of the station. A Caprotti shunts the
stock of the "Palethorpes" parcels and van train as a sister Black
Five No. 45348 double heads a standard class 4 on an English bound
excursion. One of the local Push-Pull sets occupies Bay 4 and
across the river a train from the west approaches.
[ Harry Rogers Jones ]
The shed was an oasis for the steam and diesel loco's that needed
service and a rest on their long haul from London to Holyhead. As
North Wales was a very popular holiday destination the summer
timetable was hectic and consequently 6G was a very busy and
important shed.
To anyone who remembers the old shed it must be upsetting to
see what has taken it's place. a way of life has disappeared to make
way for another cinema and fast food outlets. MacDonald's and the
like can't be blamed , of coarse , as the site was neglected long
before they took an interest in it. It's just a shame that a once
important and majestic building can fall into such a pitiful state
and be surplus to requirements to be swallowed up by progress.
This photograph was taken the week before the new multiplex
cinema opened on the site of the now demolished carriage shed. [
Geoff Poole]
The following extract is from "Reflections on a Railway
Career" by J.M.Dunn,( Published by Ian Allen Ltd), who was Foreman
Fitter at 6G between 1935-39. Below he describes the preparations
that were taken ,at 6G , to arrange for the historic running of
three trains plus a press and film camera train, all running
together, on the four track main line , from Llandudno junction to
Colwyn Bay, to commemorate the Royal Trains of 1835, 1911 and 1937.
The old Liverpool and Manchester Railway engine Lion and a
train of replica contemporary coaches having been recently engaged
in the making of the film on the life of Queen Victoria, “Sixty
Glorious Years”, it was decided that a cinematograph film should be
made of Lion and its train of 1835, the coronation and its train of
1911 and the “streamlined” (or tinned—as I prefer to call it)
Coronation and its train of 1937. To this end arrangements were made
for the respective engines and trains to run specially for the
purpose over the main-line between Llandudno Junction and Colwyn
Bay.
Lion and her train arrived on the night of Thursday, the 10th
June 1937 from Bricket Wood on the St. Albans branch where they had
been previously performing. They were all loaded up on crocodile
trucks and ran as a special train, the Crewe 36-ton crane coming
down to unload them in the morning. On Saturday, the 12th June we
had Lion in steam and ran some trial trips about the yard when she
acquitted herself well. Later in the day the other two trains
arrived and at 5.30 on the morning of Sunday the 13th June I went to
the shed in readiness for the event.
The three engines that made the historic run are shown above in
this shot by Harry Rogers Jones . "Lion" and her special train on
the turntable at 6G, with Streamlined "Coronation" class 6220
"Coronation" (left background} and " George the Fifth" class also
named "Coronation" ( right background)
There had been a thunderstorm over night and the light was
very bad but I chanced it and took several photographs all of which,
fortunately, came out well. All four lines between Llandudno
Junction and Colwyn Bay were closed to ordinary traffic from 7.30 to
9.0 am. and given over to the three trains and the one carrying the
cinematograph camera. The trains travelled, each slightly in advance
of the other, on adjacent lines and the journey was made without
mishap. It was thought that Lion would be unable to propel her train
back to Llandudno Junction in “back-gear” so an engine was sent to
pull the old train back but this precaution proved to be unnecessary
as Lion, like the two Coronations easily shoved her train back to
the starting place, a distance of 4 miles. It was a wonderful
occasion as Lion was the oldest workable steam locomotive in the
world and it was a great privilege to be associated with and present
at a run of such a historic machine under its own steam. The old
engine ran wonderfully well but was of necessity “light” at the
safety valves owing to the age of the boiler.
The Crewe crane came again on Monday the 14th June to load-up
Lion and the coaches, the former being sent to Crewe Works for a
"wash and brush up" before being replaced on its pedestal at Lime
Street Station, Liverpool.
The coaches which were merely replicas and lettered on one
side only, were returned to store at Derby Works.
Above is an undated shot by Harry Rogers Jones of Royal
Scot No 46125 "3rd Carabinier" on the turntable at 6G. Behind her
is one of 6G's 2P 4-4-0's, in store.
A proud princess 46200 "The Princess Royal" in immaculate
condition at 6G in July 1962 from home shed 12A Carlisle Kingmoor.
(photo A.Tyson)
Only two years later in 1964, the same engine, 46200 with
motion removed awaiting her premature removal for scrapping at
Carlisle Upperby.
(photo D.H.Ballantyne)
A rare photo (copyright NRM) of the three locomotives being
filmed by the newsreel cameras to commemorate the royal trains of
1835, 1911 and 1937 (described above) is reproduced below.
[ Harry Rogers Jones]
June 1937, Liverpool and Manchester Railway engine "LION"
alongside "Coronation Class" 6220 "CORONATION" at Llandudno
Junction, for the filming of the "Royal Trains" celebrations
described above.
The historic run described above was included in a promotional
film to celebrate the introduction of Staniers "Coronation" class
locomotives. Keep a close look out for William Stanier himself as he
gives a wave from the footplate early in the film and then keep a
watch for the run
described above.
LMS 6220 briefly held the world speed record for steam
traction with a speed of 114 mph until it was broken by the German
State Railway 4-6-4 No 05.002 which achieved 124.5 mph, on the flat.
On July 3rd 1938, LNER A4 "MALLARD" 4468, achieved 126 mph to
take the all time record.
There is a case to be made for the performance of the German
State Railway engine being equal or even more impressive than the
record run by "MALLARD" as the German engine's run was on the level
as against "MALLARD's" which was downhill, but there is no disputing
"MALLARD's" 126 mph record speed , which stands to this day.
The table below shows the fastest recorded speeds of
British Locomotives.
LNER A4 4-6-2 MALLARD 4468 126 mph
LMS "CORONATION" 4-6-2 CORONATION 6220 114 mph
GWR "KING" 4-6-0 KING RICHARD lll 6015 108 mph
LNER A3 4-6-2 PAPYRUS 2750 108 mph
BR (SR) rebuilt "MN" 4-6-2 CLAN LINE 35028 104 mph
GWR "CASTLE" 4-6-0 CRANBROOK CASTLE 7030 103 mph
LNER "A1" 4-6-2 POMMERN 60133 102 mph
LNER "A2" 4-6-2 SUGAR PALM 60526 102 mph
SOURCE: SPEED RECORDS ON BRITISH RAILWAYS OS NOCK (DAVID
AND CHARLES, 1971)
6G HOMEPAGE