Wales v England

3rd February 2001

The dull morning had brightened into a beautiful sunny day with a hint of spring. We passed an utterly wedged pacer at Queen Street as the entire population of South Wales appeared to be converging on the Millennium stadium. Just before Llanishen, 37 412 flashed past, a locomotive that was to evade us today. I've enjoyed DJE's exploits on the coast, up the Marches and from Bath to Weymouth but not so far on the Rhymney Valley line. 37 611 was full of life, its fruity exhaust echoing as we climbed up the valley. This train carried just half a dozen railfans so again there was little competition for a forward seat.

Rowan was keen to get back to see 33 108 arrive with the 10:28 special from Crewe, so we bailed at Hengoed. During the few minutes before 37 419 called to collect us, we lost the sun! Our return transport is seen here approaching with the 12:15 from Rhymney.

37 419 carries a souvenir of its life in the far north.

We merged into a sea of red, green and white. At each station I marvelled at how it was possible to squeeze yet more people on board, then we arrived at Queen Street where the majority alighted.

Coach numbers were 35513, 4876, 5278, 4854

We saw a lot on our brief return. First, 47 721 Saint Bede arrived with a Pullman set. Central's crowd control measures isolated us on platform 6/7 so we were struggling to get decent photographs.

The First Great Western HSTs continued to pour in, while the Pacers buzzed about.

A few minutes later, royal 47 799 Prince Henry brought in the second Pullman, followed by 60 023 with a load of tankers. The Crompton was due at 13:40, but instead we saw 37 428 belting through the far side of the station to rescue it, the silly thing having expired in deepest Herefordshire. Ten minutes later, 37 419 returned to collect us and we were off, this time on the full trip to Rhymney.

All the way