Core Valley Lines Electrification

[br2975]

1 hour ago, 65179 said:

 

3 Class 20s, including 20142, and the barrier wagons currently sat in Pengam Sidings this morning after one of these workings. 

 

Regards,

Simon 

.

20189+20205 which, along with 20142 had top 'n' tailed unit 398002 as the 18:26 Kings Norton O.T. Plant Depot - Radyr.

.

398007 ran ECS from taffs Well depot to Radyr in order to collect 398002.

.

Brian R

[br2975]

History in the making ?

.

This morning (Tuesday, 3rd. April, 2024) saw the first Cl.756 driver training special along The City Line.

.

Sadly, in terrible weather conditions and only captured on my phone, we have 3Z00 07:19 Canton - Pontypridd passing Waungron Park at about 07:22.

.

The Cl.756 units are intended initially for the Rhymney Valley services.

.

Waungron Park and the City Line will see the Cl.398 'tram trains'

[KingEdwardII]

1 hour ago, br2975 said:

in terrible weather conditions

Well done for being prepared to stand there in those conditions - reminds me of my mile long trudge to school in the rain back in the '70s!

 

1 hour ago, br2975 said:

History in the making ?

Definitely. It's a huge step forward. Fantastic to see.

 

Yours, Mike.

[jamie92208]

7 hours ago, KingEdwardII said:

Well done for being prepared to stand there in those conditions - reminds me of my mile long trudge to school in the rain back in the '70s!

 

Definitely. It's a huge step forward. Fantastic to see.

 

Yours, Mike.

You obviously drew on your long experience of standing in the rain in your previous employment @br2975. Though I was always told that it was a poor Bobby that got wet.

 

Nice to see the pictures though. 

 

Jamie

Edited April 3 by jamie92208

[br2975]

12 hours ago, jamie92208 said:

You obviously drew on your long experience of standing in the rain in your previous employment @br2975. Though I was always told that it was a poor Bobby that got wet.

 

.

Part of my first Superintendent's welcome speech on my very first day at Ely (Cardiff)  included

"Always remember this. A good copper never gets wet - at least not on the outside"

The other part of his speech contained several expletives which will not be reproduced here.

.

In addition, that first police station is about a mile and a half from where the unit was filmed, and my last station less than a quarter of a mile away, just out of shot to the right.

[br2975]

Three (not very good) images taken today near the "CVL (Core Valley Lines) Western Boundary" which is located on The City Line about a third of the way from Ninian Park to Waungron Park.

.

Until the recent demolition of a dairy (rather milk distribution depot) the commencement of the OHLE was difficult to see.

.

It is still difficult to photograph due to the site security fencing.

.

The first two images (looking east toward Cardiff ) show the commencement of the OHLE at the CVL (West) Boundary, and I'm led to believe this is a 'neutral section'

.

After the first pair of gantries, for the next 400 yards or so, the OHLE masts are of a lighter nature than the gantries that commence close to the former Ely paper Mills S.B. ( q.v. )

.

The bi-mode Class 398 units will depart Cardiff Central under battery power, with their pantographs down, and, on reaching this spot, the pantograph will automatically raise, and once the neutral section becomes a live section, the unit will take power from the OHLE instead of the batteries.

.

That, is the theory........... and it appears to have been successful during this weeks Cl.756 driver training runs - which are tri-mode units ( diesel / OHLE / battery ).

.

The third photograph was taken about 400 yds further west, and we are looking west, towards Waungron Park and Radyr.

.

The former TVR Ely Paper Mills Signal Box once sat atop the embankment on the left, with its back to the road ( amazingly enough called Paper Mill Road - the mill was on the other , far side of the line)

.

Here we can see where the initial lighter OHLE masts change to the gantry style.

.

The proposed TfW  "Ely Mill" station will eventually be built on the embankment in the distance.

Edited April 6 by br2975

[Goodnight Sweetheart]

On 03/04/2024 at 07:55, br2975 said:

History in the making ?

.

This morning (Tuesday, 3rd. April, 2024) saw the first Cl.756 driver training special along The City Line.

.

Sadly, in terrible weather conditions and only captured on my phone, we have 3Z00 07:19 Canton - Pontypridd passing Waungron Park at about 07:22.

.

The Cl.756 units are intended initially for the Rhymney Valley services.

.

Waungron Park and the City Line will see the Cl.398 'tram trains'

The 756 units have been up and down the City and other valley lines routinely for months now. 

[br2975]

23 hours ago, Goodnight Sweetheart said:

The 756 units have been up and down the City and other valley lines routinely for months now. 

.

Have they ?

.

The 'Railways in South Wales' FB Group has been very quiet on that subject then, despite having more than 4k members reporting their sightings and info.

.

Those members have reported on the Barry - Canton ECS movements of the 756s, and the mileage accumulation runs along the SWML, but they all appear to have missed the 756s "routinely in the valleys" you speak of.

.

The attached was circulated by TfW on 23rd. January this year, and in connection, driver training commenced last Tuesday, 2nd. April with four return trips between Canton and Pontypridd each day  (weekday ?), initially for eight days..

 

Edited April 8 by br2975

[Goodnight Sweetheart]

21 hours ago, br2975 said:

.

Have they ?

.

The 'Railways in South Wales' FB Group has been very quiet on that subject then, despite having more than 4k members reporting their sightings and info.

.

Those members have reported on the Barry - Canton ECS movements of the 756s, and the mileage accumulation runs along the SWML, but they all appear to have missed the 756s "routinely in the valleys" you speak of.

.

The attached was circulated by TfW on 23rd. January this year, and in connection, driver training commenced last Tuesday, 2nd. April with four return trips between Canton and Pontypridd each day  (weekday ?), initially for eight days..

 

In short, yes I’ve signalled them not many spotters out at 0100-0400 in the morning. I, just saying what I’ve seen I don’t need you to believe me.

Edited April 8 by Goodnight Sweetheart

[br2975]

1 hour ago, Goodnight Sweetheart said:

In short, yes I’ve signalled them not many spotters out at 0100-0400 in the morning. I, just saying what I’ve seen I don’t need you to believe me.

.

Any particular routes in those early hours ?

.

I know any number of photographers who'd like to capture them for posterity, regardless of the time of day.

[Goodnight Sweetheart]

13 minutes ago, br2975 said:

.

Any particular routes in those early hours ?

.

I know any number of photographers who'd like to capture them for posterity, regardless of the time of day.

Either off Canton via 2324 Sig or 7318 Sig up Treforest to Radyr then the TAM branch’s.

[Danemouth]

As part of this scheme my local line from Heath Halt (Low Level) to Coryton is also being electrified. Here are some images taken today

 

From the bridge over Caerphilly Road looking towards TyGlas station

 

 

Other side of the bridge with Birchgrove station

 

Now the bridge on Pantbach Road looking towards Birchgrove

 

 

 

and towards Rhiwbina Station

 

@Happy Hippo will know this area well, it was his boyhood stamping ground - there are no blue plaques commemorating that fact 😄

 

and signs have appeared on the bridges

 

 

Cheers,

 

Dave

 

 

 

Edited April 8 by Danemouth
spelling

[jamie92208]

7 minutes ago, Danemouth said:

As part of this scheme my local line from Heath Halt (Low Level) to Coryton is also being electrified. Here are some images taken today

 

From the bridge over Caerphilly Road looking towards TyGlas station

 

 

Other side of the bridge with Birchgrove station

 

Now the bridge on Pantbach Road looking towards Birchgrove

 

 

 

and towards Rhiwbina Station

 

@Happy Hippo will know this area well, it was his boyhood stamping ground - there are no blue plaques commemorating that fact 😄

 

and signs have appeared on the bridges

 

 

Cheers,

 

Dave

 

 

 

Obviously you don't need to warn Hippo's 

 

Jamie

[Goodnight Sweetheart]

They’re taking extended blocks to blitz the job which is a good concept in my view, just like Queen Street saves messing ari7nd with tiny blocks each night. The 20 slack is very long standing for sighting in a foot crossing.

[br2975]

6 hours ago, Goodnight Sweetheart said:

Either off Canton via 2324 Sig or 7318 Sig up Treforest to Radyr then the TAM branch’s.

.

I know this will be much appreciated.

.

Thank you.

[br2975]

1 hour ago, Goodnight Sweetheart said:

They’re taking extended blocks to blitz the job which is a good concept in my view, just like Queen Street saves messing ari7nd with tiny blocks each night. The 20 slack is very long standing for sighting in a foot crossing.

.

Extended blockades are the sensible option - but sadly, there are many out there who can't or won't see it that way - usually fuelled by Wales Online..

[Goodnight Sweetheart]

43 minutes ago, br2975 said:

.

Extended blockades are the sensible option - but sadly, there are many out there who can't or won't see it that way - usually fuelled by Wales Online..

That rag isn’t worth the bandwidth it takes up. 

[KingEdwardII]

6 hours ago, Danemouth said:

my local line from Heath Halt (Low Level) to Coryton is also being electrified

Extraordinary to see my stomping ground of the 1970s being dragged into the 21st century. I shall have to go on a celebratory trip once the electric trains are in service, although I no longer have family living in the Cardiff area - but I do have some still in Aberdare.

 

Many thanks for the photos.

 

Yours, Mike.

[br2975]

Taffs Well station today, showing some of the Metro related works, and also 765116 on a crew training turn.

.

I'm advised that Cl.231 units have been cleared to work the Merthyr & Treherbert lines, and as far as fernhill on the Aberdare line, and

.

Cl.197 units have been cleared to work the Ebbw Vale line from today.

.

 

[br2975]

Taffs Well Metro Depot today.

.

All the Cl.398 units have now been delivered.

.

The pallisade fencing surrounds the park and ride facilities which are currently under construction.

,

[Philou]

Thanks chaps for all the information. A question: Is it intended that the OLE will pass through Taff's Well station? It's looking .... well .... a bit bare in that department.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

[br2975]

The Cl.231 units are similar in appearance to the trimode Cl.756 units.

.

Both were built by Stadler, in Switzerland.

.

The Cl.231s have been in service on the Penarth - Rhymney services for sometime, and were (sort of) rushed into service due to the abject failure of the Cl.769 units which were rebuilds of the former Cl.319 Bed-Pan EMU sets

.

Both the Cl.231 and Cl.756 units are articulated within the set, and have a central power car, as shown in the images here, taken at Llanishen, in northern Cardiff,  on the Rhymney route.

.

After the Cl.142 & Cl.143 Pacers, these new units are an excellent ride, with some pretty exhilirating acceleration (on the 756s at least).

[br2975]

3 minutes ago, Philou said:

Thanks chaps for all the information. A question: Is it intended that the OLE will pass through Taff's Well station? It's looking .... well .... a bit bare in that department.

 

.

"How long, is a piece of string ?"

.

From what I've been told, not in the forseeable future.

.

There are a number of 'hidden' issues within the TfW 'Metro' - one of which has been brought into conversation by several railwaymen friends who formerly worked on 'the real railway' and who's vews and experience  I respect, but now find themselves working for TfW.

.

It appears TfW has recruited many members of supervisory and management staff either straight from university, or with no knowledge whatsoever of railway operations - and whose modus operandi has left many lifelong railwaymen who transferred across, aghast, confused, bemused by the lack of knowledge, but we know best attitude of these 'newbies'

.

I doubt this is the place to air such things, but we can hope for the best........................................

 

[br2975]

Earlier I mentioned the Cl.197 units being cleared for the Ebbw Vale line from today.

.

These units come in both 2-car and 3-car sets, and currently operate extensively on the TfW network, 

eg 

The Marches Line (North & West) from West Wales to the North Wales Coast etc

Maesteg - Cheltenham.

.

The unit in the first photo carries vinyls proclaiming "Made in Wales" which is something of a political / marketing misnomer, as the units are 'assembled' in Wales (at Llanwern, Newport) from parts mainly sourced abroad.

.

They are 'assembled' at a new, purpose built plant by the Spanish company CAF

.

Somewhat tongue in cheek, a railwayman acquaintance tells me " CAF means Call A Fitter" or as his colleague chimed in "No, CAF means Cheap As F*** ! "

.

Having ridden these units I found them pleasant to ride in, esopecially the "Standard Plus" accomodation behind the driving cab.

[Ian Hargrave]

I’ve recently had two return trips Crewe-Chester and regret I’m unimpressed with the rough ride sadly.