br2975

Best I can do is this, dated May 1979. . A 'namer' with a part-fitted train ex-Radyr, enters Cardiff Central, destination unknown but likely to be the London area. . As mentioned earlier, Cl.47s on unfitted coal in South Wales was uncommon, not unheard of, just uncommon.

. Some 25 or so years ago, I built small modelling 'tray' from an offcut of Formica covered worktop, onto which I stuck graph paper, and then a sheet of plate glass. . Very useful for building things level and square, it was last in use...... this morning.. . In order that everyone at the club knew it was mine, I put my name on the underside. . See what I did there ? .

. My turntable is in the man cave - as are many of my 12" favourites.

. A community, the professional knowledge and first hand experience of whom got me into trouble previously on this site. . And yes, I do agree.

Retirement brought some additional spare time. . As an occasional break from railways I decided to trace my family tree. . My paternal side, I have traced back to the late 17th. Century and the Derbyshire Peak District. . With today being ANZAC Day, I have been enlightening the family with details of the following relative . Ernest David Rolley was born at Herberton, Queensland in 1920, one of five children; whose grandfather, from Bonsall, Derbys. had arrived in Australia in 1877.. . He enisted into the Royal Australian Navy, at Brisbane on 22nd. July, 1940. . Ernest was killed in action aged 21 years on 20th. November, 1941, when his vessel, H.M.A.S. Sydney was lost with all hands (645 souls) in the Indian Ocean - sunk by the German commerce raider 'Kormoran' masquerading as a Dutch trader. . Such is life that I only discovered a branch of my paternal family live in the Atherton / Herberton area of the Tablelands - after - having visited the area twice ! .

. It's all a matter of 'funding' - compounded by ownership / resonsibility . Westminster pulled the plug on electrification of the SWML west of Cardiff to Swansea. . The wires run only as far as the Canton Brickyard opposite the depot, known now as "Line A" . The 'suburban' platforms at Central, namely 6, 7 & 8 are not wired, as seen in my two photos. . We must remember that the CVL (TfW) responsibility ends at the CVL 'West Boundary' which is on the City Line near the Sanatorium Road overbridge, from where the City Line towards Cardiff, through Ninian Park is Network Rail property. . Similarly, the CVL 'East Boundary' is between Central and Queen St, . So from the CVL 'East' to the CVL 'West' around the back of Canton Depot and through Central is Network Rail trackage, and I suspect TfW had no stomach for electrifying NR trackage. . And of course, despite a large proportion of the CVL / Metro improvements being funded by Brussels, the Welsh electorate (in their 'wisdom') voted out in 2016 ! . And now, Wales is suffering financially, so further wiring is highly unlikely in the forseeable future. .

Almost a year has passed since I took these two images showing OHLE work underway at Radyr, on 1st. June, 2023.

A Valley Lines anomaly ? . We are looking east along the South Wales Main Line, or in the 'up' direction as a 'down' Padd - Swansea IET approaches. . Just visible on the right is the 'City Line' which runs parrallel to the SWML for over a mile before crossing it on the former's approach approach to Waungron Park. . At this point, two trains could be heading west on the parrallel lines, with the City Line train being an 'up' service, and the SWML train being a 'down' service. . Both photos were taken from the 'Ely Paper Mill' footbridge around 7.30pm last night, Saturday 20th. April as I stumbled home from Canton RFC, following Cardiff City v Southampton.

The commencement of the OHLE at the "CVL West Boundary". . The image was taken from Landsdowne Avenue West, looking west - or in Valley Lines terms, the 'up' direction. .

Always worth remembering; . " The past is a foreign country, they do things different there " . L.P. Hartley.

. What about 6024 King Edward I aka 'Longshanks' and "The Hammer of the Scots" also invader and conqueror of The Welsh and, amongst other things, responsible for the Edict of Expulsion, a royal decree issued on 18 July 1290 expelling all Jews from the Kingdom of England, the first time a European state is known to have permanently banned their presence.

And with no more 'Tugs' in South Wales, this is what it has come down to................... . 66114 & 66047 with today's (Thursday 18th. April, 2024) 6B13 05:00 Robeston - Westerleigh (Puma) pass Cardiff Central at 09:40

I have an undated image in my records of D8601 in GSYP livery, at Newcastle Central, fitted with snowploughs..... . For copyright reasons I am unwilling to post the image here.

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.