br2975

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.

. "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........................................

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).

I spent the day in the company of my best friend, and best man, who is visiting from His Majesty's Dominion across the Atlantic. . A former railwayman, and enthusiast I took him to view several locations across the South Wales area working east, back from Margam Knuckle Yard. . With the adjacent Port Talbot steelworks under threat, it is strange to find that the yard has seen an upsurge in traffic of late. . Imported slabs from Newport Docks are worked to Llanwern, where they reverse and run to Margam, likewise (imported ?) steel coil appeared today originating from Cardiff's Tidal Yard. . Whilst the nearby Grange coke ovens have been decommissioned last month, imported coke is railed from Immingham, as required. . Margam is something of a unique place, as a public footpath (known as Heol-y-deiliad crossing) crosses the South Wales mainline, the OVE (Ogmore Valley Extension) and the west/down end yard throat and allows one to get quite close to the shunting, including the Tata Steel internal locos which work into the yard with exchange traffic. .

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. ,

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. .

. Yes, my ears pricked up ! . I have this plan, filleted and filed........................... somewhere. . However, it appears to me that I.A.R. went a bit C.J.F. when designing this - if the grid is composed of 12" squares, as this is a lot to squeeze into a 9'6" x 7'6" space. . Many of the loops are but 24" in the clear, and Tai Bach yard's longest siding (of the two) is but around 36" . I would suggest backdating the idea to a Pannier, or two, and relocating the concept some forty miles up the Severn Estuary to the Forest of Dean . But it does set the brain into a tizz, and sends one off to find some scrap paper and a pencil.

Staple diet on my local line, for the last 15-16 years or so. .

. Me too . Warning contentious comment alert . We have an issue in Cardiff with "Deliveroo" - "Just East" and any other delivery cyclists. . Very few use the extensive network of cycle lanes ( the creation of which that consequently reduced the carriageway width for motor vehicles ), and none observe the traffic signals, including the cycle specific ones - and they weave in and out of the pedestrian areas, and few if any have lights on their machines . . However, what perturbs me the most, is to watch these dirty, unkempt, scruffy individuals lolling and dossing in doorways that the previous night had been public toilets for revellers - and then delivering some poor unsuspecting punters MacDonalds in an oversize greasy back pack that even a Warley-goer wouldn't wear ! .

Whether "the new kids on the block" are up to the task remains to be seen.

. The British Railways publication you probably seek is entitled; . "British Railways" BR.87209 ----------------------- "Naming, lettering and telegraph coding of freight rolling stock, including containers, wagon sheets and ropes" ---------------------- "Identification markings and painted colours of freight rolling stock, including containers and wagon sheets" . Quite a mouthful . I am aware of two 'editions' One dated 31st. December, 1949 and a second dated December, 1958 . You may be able to find one, or both on the Barrowmore MRG site.

. A few contradictions from my files..... .

. Recently, Mrs. br2975 experienced problems with the sight in her one eye. . On the off chance, she popped into the spectacle franchise at our local Tesco hypermarket. . The opthalmic chappie saw her there and then, and conducted numerous tests. . Such was his concern he made an appointment for my wife at the UHW 'Emergency eye clinic" - which was for 8.00am the following morning. . I must say that the staff were excellent at the UHW, carrying out countless tets, and a blood test. . By 4pm we were taken into see the 'head honcho on duty' who bluntly told my wife "you've lost the sight in the eye' . Mrs. br2975 asked "can you operate, what will it entail" . "No" was the terse reply "there is little or no blood supply to....... technical terms followed". . The wife has always had a 'lazy eye' that any responsible parent would have had corrected when their child was young; whereas my mother-in-law spent my wife's formative years enjoying herself................. . Apparently, had the eye been corrected (a simple procedure, ask my son) this issue may never have arisen. . The speed and efficiency with which the wife was seen was excellent, only to be let down a poor bedside manner,

59203 crossing the Ebbw at Bassaleg, bound for Machen Quarry . My photo, dated 7th. April, 2007.

. 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..

. I know this will be much appreciated. . Thank you.

. 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.

. 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..

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.

. 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.

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' 435167716_7525249594198608_6195647865827207728_n.mp4

Glyn Neath. . Rhymney . Dowlais Cae Harris . Abercynon (for Treforest to Tonteg) . All had banking engine turns.

. W123983 . Slough, circa 1971