DMU Operations: London Midland Region
Llandudno - Blaenau Ffestiniog
A promotional poster showing a Derby Lightweight 'near Llanrwst'.
DMUs were introduced to these services on Monday 5 March 1956 using Derby Lightweights allocated to Llandudno Junction depot (6J).
In July 1956 the London Midland Region announced that since their introduction, the Blaenau Ffestiniog service had carried 30,144 passengers, a 27% increase over 1955.
By 31st October 1956. the passenger figures on the line had increased by 39% since their introduction, amounting to 43,673 more passengers than the same period in 1955.[1]
Blue square units would begin to be seen from July 1957, the first being new GRC&W twin sets borrowed from the Scottish Region, running with their Sc vehicle prefixes. These would be short lived but replaced by five Cravens power/trailer sets which only lasted a few months, they were joined by Park Royals, also short term - in summer 1958 the Llandudno Junction allocation would be back to just Derby Lighweights.
1959 saw four Blue Square Derby Lightweights (Class 108s) allocated to Llandudno Junction for most of the year, 1960/1 saw a different four allocated, the 1961 summer season also had a couple of BRC&W sets. All the blue square sets departed in December 1961 to be replaced by a 108 and two 104s in February 1962. After that Llandudno's allocation was fairly constant until January 1965 when all the Derby Lightweights left to be replaced by Met-Camms and additional 104s. All the 104s departed at the end of the summer timetable in September 1965 leaving only the Met-Camms. In October 1966 Llandudno Junction losts its DMU allocation, the fleet moving to Chester (6A) who then supplied the DMUs for the diagrams.
An updated posted for The Conwyn Valley Line in the 1990s shows the Class 101 repainted into green.
During the Chester era any of its two-car sets could be found on the services, mainly Class 100, 101, 103 and 108s.
Chester depot closed in 1992, the DMUs were now supplied by Longsight depot in Manchester. They were soon predominately two-car Regional Railway liveried Class 101s but two centre cars were kept to create three-car sets for the summer months. One of the three-car sets - 101685 - was repainted into a British Railways green livery for the line.
The last year of first generation DMU operation would be 2001.
Sample Timetables
17th June to 14th September 1957
4 ¾" x 6 ½" when folded.
9th June to 14th September 1958
4 ¾" x 6 ½" when folded.
12th June to 9th September 1961
4 ¾" x 6 ½" when folded.
2 May 1977 to 6 May 1978
3" x 4 ⅛" when folded.
12 May 1980 to 9 May 1981
2 ⅞" x 4" when folded.
Summer 1982
For a series of summer Sunday services sponsored by the local County Council.
1985
Another non-BR timetable but produced as a joint effort with them and many other parties such as local Councils.
Images
spring 1956
A London Midland Region publicity image (negative DM449) showing "Conway Valley - diesel railcar on Llandudno Junction - Blaenau Ffestiniog service". No date, probably around spring/summer 1956, and seen between Glan Conwy and Llandudno Junction where it runs along the east bank of the River Conwy. The leading (but not the rear) set is a power twin and the closest vehicle appears to be M79185 - a vehicle that would be allocated to Llandudno Junction several times in its short 11 1/2 year career. British Railways.
circa mid-1956
A Derby Lightweight twin in Betws-y-Coed station circa mid-1956. Closest is M79657, presumably working with M79136. Stuart Mackay Collection.
2nd July 1956
Two Derby Lightweights twins depart from Betws-y-Coed station with a Llandudno - Blaenau Ffestiniog service on 2 July 1956. Stuart Mackay Collection.
summer 1956
A Derby Lightweight twin in Blaenau Ffestiniog North station with a service for Llandudno. Undated, DMBS M79143 looks fairly new, it arrived at Llandudno Junction depot in April 1956 after a few weeks at Monument Lane, Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa 1957
A LMR publicity image showing two two-car Derby Lightweight DMUs passing along the side of the River Conway in the Conway Valley circa 1957. British Railways.
1958
No doubt this is the photographers wife posing in front of a Park Royal set in a wet and dreary Blaenau Ffestiniog during Easter 1958. Note the 6G (Llandudno Junction) shed code painted in the bufferbeam. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1958
A Cravens DMU in Blaenau Ffestiniog station with a Llandudno service in the spring of 1958. The five LMR power-trailer sets from the first batch (with the blanked off top marker lamp) were allocation to Llandudno Junction for around six months at this time, the arrival of Derby Lightweights from Monument Lane allowed them to move to Toton. British Railways.
Unknown date
A Derby Lightweight DMU heads to Llandudno after passing Llandudno Junction, date unknown. John Horne Collection.
Unknown date
A Derby Lightweight DMU alongside Fowler 44525 in Blaenau Ffestiniog station, on a rainy day circa late 1950s or early 1960s. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa 1959
A Derby Lightweight twin, M79132 closest, at Llandudno Junction circa 1959. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa 1959
A new blue square Derby Lightweight DMU at Llandudno Junction circa 1959, seemingly changing platforms. Note the destination blind (Blaenau Ffestiniog North) at this end is in the angled overlapping format, the one on the opposite end (Blaenau Ffestiniog) was a single line. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa 1959
A new blue square Derby Lightweight DMU at Llandudno Junction circa 1959, seemingly changing platforms. Stuart Mackay Collection.
July 1961
A Derby Lightweight DMU enters Tal-Y-Cafn station on the Conwy Valley line in July 1961. Image by Derek Chaplin. Peter Brabham Collection.
22nd July 1962
Oops! A Derby Lightweight vehicle has suffered a broken axle on the cab end bogie and the passengers have been detrained. There were no details with the negative but it seems to be the same incident as captioned Colour Rail image reference 30136 making it M79185, near Pont-y-Pant on the Blaenau branch on 22 July 1962. Stuart Mackay Collection.
22nd July 1962
Oops! A broken axle and badly twisted bogie frame on the cab end of a Derby Lightweight vehicle are being inspected. There were no details with the negative but it seems to be the same incident as captioned Colour Rail image reference 30136 making it M79185, near Pont-y-Pant on the Blaenau branch on 22 July 1962. Stuart Mackay Collection.
22nd July 1962
Oops! A Derby Lightweight vehicle has suffered a broken axle on the cab end bogie and the passengers have been detrained. There were no details with the negative but it seems to be the same incident as captioned Colour Rail image reference 30136 making it M79185, near Pont-y-Pant on the Blaenau branch on 22 July 1962. Stuart Mackay Collection.
15th April 1963
The view from the front seats of a Derby Lieghtweight as the train chases sheep near Cethin's Bridge on the Blaneau Festiniog branch, 15 April 1963. John Cosford.
15th April 1963
Crossing Cethin's Bridge over the Afon Ledr between Pont-y-Pant and Betws-y-Coed on the Blaneau Festiniog branch on board a Derby Lightweight DMU, 15 April 1963. John Cosford.
15th April 1963
Approaching Llandudno Junction station on the branch train from Blaneau Festiniog formed of a Derby Lightweight DMU, 15 April 1963. John Cosford.
circa September 1967
A Met-Camm in green and a Park Royal in blue with yellow cab doors arrives into Blaenau Ffestiniog. The slide process date was September 1967. Stuart Mackay Collection.
References
- ⋏ p12 January 1957 Railway Observer (Railway Correspondence and Travel Society)