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It really is a rare experience in 1999 to travel on a commuter service, 4 intermediate stops for a 7-mile trip, on a loco-hauled train. These trains are a class apart from the pacers used on the other valleys commuter services and I wonder how the locals view them and their impending demise. Internally they are similar to the Mk 2 stock used on the North Wales Coast but better cared for and dignified with names and a pleasing dark blue and white livery. Today's rake comprised Georgia, Felicity, Deborah and Wendy while yesterdays quartet were named Catherine, Beverley, Sarah and Carol, the last-named being a Mk 1 buffet, the remainder Mk 2 TSOs. Having just eaten we didn't avail ourselves of the delights Carol had to offer but just enjoyed the ride. Most of the passengers alighted at Queen Street while we continued to Central.
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Cardiff Central: the very clean nameplate from the smartly turned-out 47 756 and a shot of 37 423 departing. |
On arrival 37 892 Ripple Lane was stabled at the west end of
the station
We spent 6 hours at Newport broken only by a lunch break in the town, much improved by extensive pedestrianisation since my last visit. Passenger services were as dull as expected, comprising units and fGW HSTs. The station was busy with freight comprising classes 37(1), 47(2), 56(2), 58(2), 60(lots) but the boring new class 66 is really making its presence felt now. I photographed pretty well all the freight that moved but the results were disappointing - my digital camera performs badly in very bright sunshine, rendering shadows pitch black. Its at its happiest in bright diffused light but I've picked out the best from the day. Rowan is gleefully anticipating that his will turn out better but he'll have to wait until the film is developed.
At 10:00 60 041 passes through west to east
This was the only 37-hauled freight we saw all day - 37 709 heads east
at 10:47
...followed immediately by 47 722, a royal engine in charge of the
Royal Mail
This was our first sighting of the new Wales and West livery as applied to
a 158
60 012 is caught travelling west at 14:11
The second RES 47 of the day passes through at 15:40 - 47 793 Saint
Augustine
The last of many we saw today... shiny shed 66 133 trundles through
at 15:45 as we prepare to take the 15:45 Cardiff to Manchester Piccadilly
service, changing at Crewe for class 37 haulage back to Bangor. However Wales
and West were poised to wreck our plans. All went well until Cwmbran where
the unit expired with a broken air pipe. The packed 158 disgorged its contents
onto the small narrow platform and limped off down the track while we were
told to take the stopper to Abergavenny where "arrangements will be made for
your onward journey". After a short but unpleasant trip on a hot wedged 143
we spilled out at the terminus to find as I'd expected that the "arrangements"
were to wait for the next scheduled service from Cardiff - so we could have
stayed at Cwmbran and saved the discomfort of the 143. As I surveyed the squalid
interior of the 158 I mused on the many trips I'd enjoyed along this line
in the seventies in standard class compartments with class 31 haulage - every
one on time and no breakdowns.
Eventually we arrived at Crewe,
busy with Friday evening holiday departures but after such a long trip on
a 158 I headed straight into the buffet for a pint of Guinness so you'll have
to imagine 90 031 passing on a mail train and a variety of Virgin west coast
services. Ours was the Virgin Euston to Holyhead service and 47 849 made such
light work of the 8+dvt train that there were long waits at each station -
this set the passengers grumbling, seemingly unaware that we departed every
station bang on time!
Sky Motel by Kristin
Hersh (4AD CAD9008CD) is available at all good record shops, maybe even
a few bad ones.
Class 66 locomotives are just as easy to find but don't sound so interesting.
Refer to www.castlewales.com for
everything you ever wanted to know about Welsh castles.
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