br2975

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

W126420 (sans boxed lettering) at Hertford in 1965. . From a print inmy collection, photographer unknown. . .

Or for something slightly different. . Opened in November 1987, Waungron Park (Cardiff) located on 'The City Line' . The 'up' Radyr bound platform supports are built out from the steel girders of the bridge over Waungron Road, and linked to a further, new girder. . Pre-cast concrete platform sections were then lowered into place. . The 'down' (Cardiff bound) platform is atop an embankment. . Both platforms are currently being extended for the Transport for Wales 'Metro' tram-trains (Class 398).

. And the lettering on the model differs from the more normally applied HOUSE COAL / CONCENTRATION located on the two central panels of the welded body wagons, not offset as in the model shown..

. The 'K' suffix does not denote former Private Owner wagons, but that it is a '21 ton' capacity wagon. . The 'K' suffix also appeared on 21 ton minerals (both fitted and unfitted) . An 'N' suffix appeared on 24.5 ton wagons (hoppers and minerals) to identify them also. . I have seen one image of a 24.5 ton mineral ( nicknamed 'bombers' in South Wales) with an 'L' suffix, eg B281478L as running in 1969, but why this should differ from the normal 'N' - I know not . The suffixes were allegedly added to assist NCB personnel identifying different capacity wagons in dark and dingy washery screens. . . As a rough guide the BR built 21 ton hoppers were numbered in the series B41000 to B433749. . There were a number of different diagrams ( 1/141, 1/143, 1/145, 1/146 and 1/149) as well as a greater number of 'lots' built, which incorporated quite a lot of detail differences. . . I suspect that the 'real' B429816K (subject of the model in the OP above) was built with a welded body, not the rivetted body shown - as it was built with vacuum brakes. . .

. D50 was in 'Toton blue' with SYP and no BR totem nor double arrows, at 5th. March, 1967 and was still in this livery at 8th. March, 1969.. It later went into 'standard blue' by 1971. . D57 was in the same 'Toton blue' with SYP and neither totem nor arrows during 1968 . D58 was in the same 'Toton blue' with SYP and neither totem nor arrows at 4th. September, 1967 . Have you tried the BR Transition Liveries thread on RMWeb ? .

Possibly the first occasion a diesel loco-hauled passenger service entered South Wales was a brand new D800 ‘Sir Brian Robertson’ at Cardiff on Saturday 26 July 1958 with the ‘South Wales Pullman’. . This was a VIP special from Paddington to Cardiff on as part of a programme by BR to promote the introduction of the D800 class ‘Warships’ on the Western Region. A white headboard read: "First 2200hp Diesel Hydraulic Locomotive - Built at British Railways Workshops - Swindon Works 1958".

. A number of TfW Cl.153 units are currently undergoing work at Landore Depot, with regard to universal access toilets, and also increased bicycle carrying capacity, in order to use pairs of the Cl.153s on the Central Wales line.

. 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

(D)6889 was reported as headlight fitted in a BR (WR) fleet / allocation ist dated Wednesday, 31st. December, 1968, and although allocated to Landore was at Radyr the previous weekend, having been employed on the Sundays Only 05:05 Cardiff - Treherbert passengers and news . . Just a thought....................... . If, as has been suggested the containers shown in the Cardiff image are insulated, and are heading west from Cardiff, the most likely destination may be either Danygraig, or Fishguard Harbour for 'Irish traffic', and, could they be in the process of delivery, ex-works ? . Commencing with the introduction of the 1969-1970 Winter WTT in October, 1969 the WR had intended for; The 08:00 Paddington-Fishguard Harbour TThSO to pick up Freightliner wagons at Llanelli, which had been worked across by the 10:50 ex-Danygraig. The empty wagons to return on the 13:55 ECS Fishguard – Llanelli from whence they would depart at 15:55 for Danygraig, and on Saturdays to Cardiff, Canton for maintenance. NOTE:- The 'mixed' liner trains to/from Fishguard did not materialise. As a result, the following working was introduced from; 22nd. October 1969 07:00 Danygraig – Fishguard TThSO 12:45 Fishguard – Danygraig TThO 12:45 Fishguard – Cardiff, Canton SO (for maintenance) This was a Cl.47 diagram, although on Saturday 27th. November, 1971 4F35 the 07:00 ex-Danygraig was hauled by 6606..