DMU Operations: London Midland Region
Wrexham Central - Chester Northgate - New Brighton
DMUs were introduced to this service on 4 January 1960 using Blue Square Derby Lightweight twin DMUs.
Services on the Chester part of the route were withdrawn on 9 September 1968, with Sealand and Blacon stations closing.
Sample Timetable
12th September 1960 to 11th June 1961
4 3/4" x 6 1/2" when folded.
Images
4th January 1960
Adorned as the 1,000 railcar built (by Derby), M51562 is seen here on its first day of passenger service - 4 January 1960 working a New Brighton service at Blacon on the day DMUs took over the line. David Faircloth.
4th January 1960
M51562, the 1000th diesel railcar built by Derby Works, seen in Chester Northgate on 4 January 1960. It was an a New Brighton train, this was the first day of DMUs on the services, and unusually it sits in platform 1 at Northgate normally only used by services over the CLC to Manchester Central. David Faircloth.
1962
A (blue square) Derby Lightweight twin at Sealand on the former Chester and Connahs Quay Railway between Chester Northgate and Hawarden Bridge sometime in 1962. Stuart Mackay Collection.
28th April 1962
M51561 leads two two-car Blue Square Derby Lighweight DMUs with the 4.05pm Chester Northgate-Wrexham (Central) service seen getting underway from Penyffordd on 28 April 1962. Michael Mensing.
7th August 1965
A two-car Blue Square Derby Lightweight DMU in Wrexham Central on 7 August 1965. New Brighton is on the destination blind. Harvey Scowcroft / Nigel Valentine Collection.
circa 1966
BRC&W and Derby Lightweight (blue square series) DMUs in Chester Northgate station circa 1966. From here the former normally operated Manchester services, the latter New Brighton / Wrexham services. David Faircloth.
4th September 1968
Five days before the Station closed a (Blue Square) Derby Lightweight DMU on the 13.55 Chester to New Brighton service is calling at Blacon on the 4th of September 1968. The KDH Archive.
6th September 1968
Passing through Saughall Station on the 6th of September 1968 is a Met-Camm DMU on the 13.55 Chester to New Brighton service. According to disused stations Saughall closed to passengers on the 1st of February 1954 but it looks like someone was still living in the house and attending to the garden. The KDH Archive.
7th September 1968
Arriving in Sealand Station on the 7th of September 1968 is the 15.30 Chester Northgate to I guess Manchester or possibly New Brighton service. The station closed two days later. The KDH Archive.
7th September 1968
Two days before it Closed I think this will be a Manchester or New Brighton to Chester Northgate DMU arriving at Blacon on the 7th of September 1968. The KDH Archive.