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).
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.
During the Chester era any of its two-car sets could be found on the services, mainly Class 100, 101, 103 and 108s.
An updated posted for The Conwyn Valley Line in the 1990s shows the Class 101 repainted into green.
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 inclusive 1957
This measured 4 3/4" x 6 1/2" when folded (single fold).
9th June to 14th September 1958
This measured 4 3/4" x 6 1/2" when folded (single fold).
12th June to 9th September 1961
This measured 4 3/4" x 6 1/2" when folded (single fold).
2 May 1977 to 6 May 1978
This measured 3" x 4 1/8" when folded (two folds).
12 May 1980 to 9 May 1981
This measured 2 7/8" x 4" when folded (two folds).
Summer 1982
Something a little different, this is 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.
If you have any timetables that could be added here please get in touch.
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 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.
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.
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.
2nd September 1968
A GRC&W / Park Royal hybrid DMU is seen at Blaenau Ffestiniog having just arrived from Llandudno on the 2nd of September 1968. The KDH Archive.
2nd September 1968
A Park Roya (in blue) / GRC&W (in green) hybrid DMU is seen at Blaenau Ffestiniog waiting to leave for Llandudno on the 2nd of September 1968 while the post is loaded from the Morris 1000 van. The KDH Archive.
2nd May 1970
A Llandudno to Blaeneau Ffestiniog (Park Royal) DMU seen leaving Betws-y-coed on the 2nd of May 1970. The KDH Archive.
16th May 1970
On 16th May 1970 a Park Royal class 103 DMU forming a Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llandudno Junction service passes the abandoned Llechwedd exchange sidings at the foot of the narrow gauge railway incline and is about to enter Ffestiniog Tunnel, at 2 miles and 333 yards long. Gordon Edgar.
June 1970
Park Royal set CR107 entering Blaenau Ffestiniog in June 1970. Steve Davies Collection.
Unknown date
Class 103 set CR219 at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Steve Davies Collection.
Unknown date
Class 103 set CR219 at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Date unknown. Steve Davies Collection.
Unknown date
Class 103 set CR219 at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Date unknown. Steve Davies Collection.
Unknown date
Class 103 set CR219 at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Date unknown. Steve Davies Collection.
Unknown date
Class 103 set CR219 at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Date unknown. Steve Davies Collection.
Unknown date
Class 103 Park Royal set CR219 on its way to Llandudno. At Dolwyddelen, unknown date. Steve Davies Collection.