Day 2 – Track coverage to Pwllheli, request stops, and failed bus moves 15 August
The main aim of today was to try to score some of the stations I missed out doing yesterday, plus completing the track to Pwllheli. My original plan was to take a run to Llandanwg, which I substituted yesterday in place of Harlech, head to Fairbourne, walk to Morfa Mawddach, then all the way to Pwllheli. I would head to Tygwyn, bus to Talsarnau, train to Abererch, onwards to Penrhyndeudraeth, walk to Llandecwyn, train to Penychain, bus to Cricceith, train to Pensarn, gentle stroll to Llanbedr, train to Minffordd, and back to Machynleth for the train to Aberystwyth. I would see how the day would progress, as I could switch a couple of moves around, however, I would have to rely on buses appearing and for the trains to run to time. When I finalised the plans, I had identified a bus move between Pensarn and Llanbedr off the 08:52 ex Machynlleth, but it was due a couple of minutes after the train would arrive at Pensarn, therefore I was not expecting to pull of this move. If need be, I would be happy to drop the passing loop stations (Tywyn, Barmouth, and Harlech, with me intending to score Porthmadog tomorrow as I will be walking across town to the harbour for the Ffestiniog Railway) and concentrate on scoring the request stop stations where the bus service seems to be sparse at some of them.
After a good night’s sleep, I was out of the door just after 08:15 for the walk to the station, with me having already put my cagoule on as there were heavy showers. It was soon onboard required 158841 that was on the 08:30 Birmingham International for the run to Dyfi Junction, where it was a simple transfer to Platform 1 to await the 7 minutes delayed 08:58 Pwllheli formed of dud and what seems like a serial stalker 158837 for the run to the request stop of Pensarn, with the train regaining time after departing Barmouth, arriving on schedule at 10:15. This is where I would attempt an unlikely bus move to Llanbedr, as it is due to arrive at 10:18. Having fastened the gate when leaving the platform, I made my way to the main road to locate the bus stop, and just before I reached the end of the road from the station, I saw the bus approaching and with nobody waiting at the stop, I knew it was going to sail by, which it did.
Anyway, I returned to the platform (there was still showers) to await the 10:37 ex Pwllheli for the run to Fairbourne on dud 158835. As I was originally going to walk to Morfa Mawddach, I abandoned that and got some tea and something light from the store adjacent to the station. When I returned to the platform, there was a group of 5 young lads who were on the Outward Bound Trust having completed a walking activity going by the very large Ordnance Survey map they had. It was soon onboard the 11:49 ex Birmingham International for the run all the way to Pwllheli on dud 158824, where I had a quick wander around town to a pet shop to pick up some dog treats and back to the station to get a tea before boarding the same train that was due to depart at 13:38. Around 40 minutes or so later, I bailed from the train via the local door (short platform) at the request stop Tygwyn to attempt another bus move.
I had left the station via the level crossing for the walk along to the bus stop at the junction with the main road arriving 5 minutes later just before 14:25. When I checked out the bus times, the Traveline website had stated that it was due at 14:26, but upon checking the timetable poster at the stop, it had it departing at 14:31. Being as I had a 6 minute walk at the other end to reach Talsarnau station, and with the train due there at 14:37, I felt it would be sailing a bit too close to the wind, therefore I decided to head back gently to Tygwyn station at 14:29, with the bus passing me when I was halfway to the station. Upon reaching the platform and having checked the screen, I noticed that the train that was due at 14:35 was delayed by a few minutes, and I was left kicking myself that had I hung around at the bus stop for a couple of minutes more, I would have been able to have pulled this move off after all due to the train being delayed.
It was onboard the aforementioned delayed 14:35 after signalling for the driver to stop, with me getting wet as the showers had turned into a heavy downpour. It was dud 158833 that would be my chariot to another request stop, this time Abererch. It is noted that it was my intention to hang about for the train to come back and bail at Penrhyndeudraeth and walk to Llandecwyn, but decided to get Talsarnau out of the way so as not to leave that one hanging. Furthermore, I had also identified a possible bus move to Penychain so as get that done out of the way. After alighting from the train, I had made my way to the bus stop near the main road, which would be due at 15:25. Having hung around at the bus stop until 15:32 and with no sign of the bus arriving, I headed back to the station to re-board 158833 that was on the 15:40 ex Pwllheli to the request stop Talsarnau.
After a fester of around 25 minutes and with it being light drizzle, it was onboard the 6 minutes delayed 16:35 Pwllheli with the chariot this time being dud 158823 for the run to Penychain (pronounced “Pen-oo-kyan” according to the automated announcements), which is/was the site of the Butlins caravan park, now run by Haven. Having alighted from the train, I walked along the footpath to the main road for a planned bus move to Cricceith with the Arriva 3B being due at 17:20, arriving at Cricceith just over 20 minutes before the train would be due. I had hung around at the bus stop until 17:35 and with no sign of the bus arriving (it must have either been early, delayed, or missing) I made my way back to the station platform to re-board 158823 on the 17:48 ex Pwllheli for a run to somewhere, which that somewhere would have been Tywyn (which I would have been intending to do tomorrow). It is noted that my original intention here was to have bailed at Pensarn, with me having a gentle stroll to Llanbedr, but having done Pensarn earlier, I had initially decided upon Tywyn, but before boarding the train I had decided upon bailing at Llanaber so as not to leave that request stop hanging. Arrival at Llanaber was 7 minutes behind schedule at 18:58, which gave me just over an hour before a Pwllheli train would be due.
Eventually, I reached the main road after exiting the station via the steep footpath, and the heavy showers had started again. I went for a brief wander along the main road in the Barmouth direction until I found a place for a bite to eat and a tea, having spotted a sandwich board sign at the entrance to the Hendre Coed Isaf caravan park that advertised meals were served. My luck was in, as I was able to be slotted in as it was a busy evening, and having had a vegetable pasta bake that was served with some salad and potato wedges, and a pot of tea, it was a gentle stroll back to the station in the light showers to board the 20:08 Pwllheli formed of dud 158824 for a run to Penrhyndeudraeth. It is noted that my original intention was to take this train to Minffordd and meet the Machynlleth bound train there as these are the ones that pass each other at Porthmadog.
Having alighted from the train, I then walked over the road bridge to the request stop Llandecwyn, and with the showers becoming heavy, I was greeted with the platform screen displaying the 21:06 Machynlleth was delayed by 25 minutes. The automated announcements appeared to be stuck in a loop until the train arrived. Eventually, it was onboard perennial and evergreen dud 158837 for the run to Dyfi Junction (my intention was to head all the way to Machynlleth, but due to the delay there would only be 1 minute to switch platforms there, as the ex Birmingham – Aberystwyth was running to time that is helped by a 35-40 minute layover at Shrewsbury), having made up 4 or 5 minutes upon arrival. I hung around in the shelter until 5 minutes before the 23:13 Aberystwyth was due and had a gentle stroll along to the far end of Platform 2 beyond the point where the Down Loop rejoins the running line, and hopped onboard dud 158838 for the run to Aberystwyth and settle for the night. It is noted that having checked online, the ex Pwllheli arrived into Platform 1, with the Aberystwyth train departing Platform 2 at Machynlleth.
Overall, I have covered all of the track to Pwllheli, which means that as things presently stand, I have also completed all of the track of the former Great Western Railway routes that has scheduled passenger services, with my start point being the former Stourbridge Railway (which was a constituent part of the GWR) and my then local station of Cradley Heath back in 1988. Note the phrase “as things presently stand”, as should if the extension of the Midland Metro trams eventually progress, there will be the section of the former heavy rail route between Stourbridge Junction and Dudley that was once part of the former Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton Railway that became a constituent part of the GWR.
Also, I did not have much luck with the various bus moves today, but settled upon concentrating to get the request stops done out of the way so as not to leave those hanging for a future visit, plus I got 1 more required 158.
Stay tuned for Days 3 and 4.
