The Wrexham to Bidston railway
The Borderlands line
Shotton

(also known as Shotton High Level)

37901 tackles the 1 in 53 up to Hawarden on the stormy morning
of the 12th of January 1993.


In the attractive Loadhaul livery, 56083 rumbles downhill between Hawarden and Shotton on a Margam - Dee Marsh coil train.  The date is April 24th 1998 and the scene is already history - all Class 56's have since been withdrawn and the steel coil is now carried in fully enclosed wagons.


A long train of steel coil is seen descending the steep gradient into Shotton
on May 1st 1997.  Motive power is provided by Cardiff Canton based 56018.


Re-engined class 37 No. 37902 is having little trouble bringing a short train of
covered coil carriers up the 1 in 53 out of Shotton on the 21st of  February 1992.  In
the left background can be seen part of the Shotton steel coating plant.
The Wirral peninsula is on the horizon.



56088 storms out of Shotton on 3rd June 1997.


Another re-engined Class 37/9 No. 37904 brings an early morning coil train into Shotton station on the 27th March 1992.  At the time these locos were daily visitors to the line and were considered equal to a Class 56 in tractive effort.   The stiff gradient off the end of the platform stands out.


56034 on timber empties passes through on May 23rd 1997.  Shotton station is an interchange with the North Wales coast line. 


Merseyrail liveried 150201 enters Shotton on May 4th 1993.  These 2 car units now work all services on the line.


47226 brings a single wagon off the Dee bridge and through Shotton station on May 4th 1993.  The wagon is French registered and was used to convey liquid sodium to the now closed Deeside Titanium plant.  There was formerly a South to West connection here leading to exchange sidings with the ex LNWR line and the docks at Connahs Quay.


Class 20 No. 20902 brings up the rear of the weedkilling train as it returns to Wrexham on June 3rd 1997, 20901 was on the other end.   These locos are now owned by Direct Rail Services and generally haul nuclear flask trains.  This train would also have sprayed the Merseyrail Wirral lines to New Brighton and West Kirby.


66127 is seen on the 8th of September 2004.The train is passing
over the North Wales coast main line at a location that sees more trains than
anywhere else in North Wales.


Next page: Hawarden Bridge and Dee Marsh

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