br2975

. 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.

. "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.