Front cover of the book of postcards.
GORDON COLTAS
POSTCARDS
A selection
of old black and white photographs
from the lens of Gordon Coltas
The photographs for this page were supplied
by John Powell.
John purchased several of them in 1976/77 and found some more in a book
of Gordon Coltas's work.
John has acquired permission from the
publishers at LOCOFOTO'S
to publish Gordon's work on the website.
John was informed by LOCOFOTO'S that Gordon
Coltas
passed away in June 2006.
Once again we are indebted to a deceased
photographer for his dedication and
obvious love of steam in our area, which will give so much pleasure
to so many enthusiasts of the railway long gone.
Front cover of the book of postcards.
This is the frontispiece of the book.
There were as many as ten excursions every summer Saturday
during the 1950s. "Black Five" 44833
near Abergele with one such excursion.
Drifting into Conway in the summer of 1964 is 2-6-0 46470
passing the latest in caravans at Morfa Caravan
Park.
The "Welsh Dragon was a small push
& pull train running between Rhyl and Llandudno.
Seen here approaching Old Colwyn station on July 20th 1951.
Llandulas (circa 1950) and LMS compound 41103 with an
"up" express from Holyhead.
A local passenger train for Llandudno Junction passes
Penmaenmawr in June 1964, with 2-6-4T in charge.
A "Butlins Excursion" is pictured between Rhyl and
Prestatyn in 1950, with "Black Five" 44762 in charge.
About to pop into the Conway Tunnel in June 1963 is
"Black Five" 45034
with a down express for Bangor.
BR Standard 4-6-0 75013 heads for Holyhead with a
"down" express through Colwyn Bay in 1957.
A "down" express passes Colwyn Bay hauled by
"Royal Scot" class 46125 "3rd Carabinier" (circa 1960)
"Black Five" 44821 is pictured on freight at Conway (circa 1963)
A great nostalgic shot for the cars as well as the locomotive.
An express to Llandudno coasts into Llandudno Junction with BR Standard 73134
in charge during August of
1961.
An "up" express arrives at Bangor station in 1962, with
"Black Five" 44760 in charge.
"Black Five" 44864, with an eleven coach express to Bangor floats
effortlessly
through Colwyn Bay in the early 60s.
The end of steam is near and "Coronation" class
"City of Coventry" 46240 (without nameplates)
is demoted to a London bound parcels train, passing Penmaenmawr in June 1964.
The London bound "Irish Mail" has just passed Old Colwyn station with
"Royal Scot" class 46112 "Sherwood Forester" in charge.
(circa mid 1950s)
Not emerging , but entering Penmaenrhos Tunnel is 2-6-2T 41230
pushing the
"Welsh Dragon" back to Rhyl. (circa 1950)
"Black Five" 45311 emerges from the Conway Tubular Bridge in 1958
with a
stopping train for Bangor.
An unidentified un-rebuilt "Royal Scot" class enters
Llanfair P.G. (circa 1930s)
"Black Five" 45089, with an excursion for Llandudno, enters
Llandudno Junction August 8th 1961.
A Llandudno to Chester train crosses Colwyn Bay viaduct hauled
by " Compound" class 41119 (circa 1948)
Rhyl station. The "Welsh Dragon" auto train
is ready to leave for
Llandudno with 2-6-2T 41320 in charge.
Rhyl station. The push end of the "Welsh Dragon" (
circa 1952 )
The London bound "Irish Mail" has just crossed over from
Anglesey with
"Royal Scot" class 46106 "Gordon Highlander" in
charge. August 1954.
The "Welshman" crosses the
Britannia Bridge hauled by "Black Five" 44986 on August 12th 1960.
(note the self weighing tender)