Cardiff-Hereford overnight 2B01

[Pokelet]

I've been intrigued for a while that there is a 0030 Cardiff - Hereford service 5 nights per week. It arrives in Hereford just before 2am, shunts between platforms and then returns to Cardiff 3 hours later at around 5am. Occasionally it runs into East Usk Yard and reverses and uses Maindee East Junction to get onto the Marches.

Question is though, is there really that much demand for a service at those times? Cardiff-Newport I could understand. Is it a route retention exercise to retain the shunt move at HFD, but if it is then surely other depots will need that knowledge too? Same with the occasional diversion to Usk Yard.

I can only assume it's a Cardiff crew that operate it? Does the crew basically hang around in the wee small hours in Hereford?

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Its a very long-running service. Until a few years ago on Friday nights it went right through to Shrewsbury, although only advertised as far as Church Stratton due to Shrewsbury station being locked when it eventually got there, and then ran back empty to Hereford.

From memory in the past it was an overnight stable at Hereford for the 0520 Hereford-Cardiff but I have no idea if this is still the case. Given the reputation 2B01 had for drunken antics I can’t imagine it was a particularly pleasant turn for the crew! No idea if this is still the working now though.

 

[Pokelet]

I think the Saturday morning return working used to be though to Barry Island at one point. A Friday night service I could understand, but is there really much demand past Newport on a Wednesday night for example?

 

[warwickshire]

I think the Saturday morning return working used to be though to Barry Island at one point. A Friday night service I could understand, but is there really much demand past Newport on a Wednesday night for example?

Yes it did, and the Saturday working back in the day , more often than not was a 142 pacer working. More than sure most of the time the weekday one was as well. But obviously 150s featured as well.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Its a very long-running service. Until a few years ago on Friday nights it went right through to Shrewsbury, although only advertised as far as Church Stratton due to Shrewsbury station being locked when it eventually got there, and then ran back empty to Hereford.

From memory in the past it was an overnight stable at Hereford for the 0520 Hereford-Cardiff but I have no idea if this is still the case. Given the reputation 2B01 had for drunken antics I can’t imagine it was a particularly pleasant turn for the crew! No idea if this is still the working now though.

Sometimes it does still hang around overnight.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Yes it did, and the Saturday working back in the day , more often than not was a 142 pacer working. More than sure most of the time the weekday one was as well. But obviously 150s featured as well.

It can only have conveyed Pacers in multiple with something else, as 14x are banned between Shelwick Jn and Craven Arms due to non-compatibility with the particularly elderly type of ex-GWR track circuiting not reliably detecting 2-axle vehicles.

 

[warwickshire]

It can only have conveyed Pacers in multiple with something else, as 14x are banned between Shelwick Jn and Craven Arms due to non-compatibility with the particularly elderly type of ex-GWR track circuiting not reliably detecting 2-axle vehicles.

The one I was thinking about was the one which came from Cardiff and terminated at Hereford. Stayed in the platform and went to Cardiff the next morning. Which didn't venture west of Hereford towards Shelwick Junction.
Because in the latter days of 142s and 143s.
The first 142 and 143s on Saturdays stayed overnight at Hereford and worked back to Barry Island.

 

[Pokelet]

I've only known it as finishing/staring at Hereford and previously timed as a Pacer (before RTT had stock allocations).

With 3 hours overnight in Hereford I hope the crew take a book to read!

 

[Oxfordblues]

I had a friend living in Hereford who enjoyed the odd pint of Brain's "Skull Attack". We'd occasionally have an evening out in Cardiff and return on the 00:30 (though I don't remember much about it, strangely!)

 

[Jez]

I'm.sure at one point it was formed of a pair of 153s and ended up forming a service from Hereford to Pembroke Dock therefore merging with the current 06xx service from Cardiff to Pembroke.

 

[class ep-09]

I've only known it as finishing/staring at Hereford and previously timed as a Pacer (before RTT had stock allocations).

With 3 hours overnight in Hereford I hope the crew take a book to read!

Or sleeping bag …

 

[Furryanimal]

I've been on it...and when the main concert venue moves down the Bay I'm likely to be on it more often.
I always thought it was to provide a late night connection with the train from Paddington.
What I don't understand is why there is no train on the Marches between the 2155 departure and this one.
Sure one around 2300 would be popular with concert goers and after other late finishing events.
(There is one on a Sunday although I'm not sure it exists from May 21st.Can't get to appear in journey planners although it is on the timetable booklet on TFWs website).

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I never knew Pacers went to Hereford. Does anyone have any pictures please?

 

[andypops]

I never knew Pacers went to Hereford. Does anyone have any pictures please?

Quite a lot on various photo sharing websites, such as Flickr. And not just from the early/late turns but in full daylight.

 

[Llanigraham]

Its a very long-running service. Until a few years ago on Friday nights it went right through to Shrewsbury, although only advertised as far as Church Stratton due to Shrewsbury station being locked when it eventually got there, and then ran back empty to Hereford.

From memory in the past it was an overnight stable at Hereford for the 0520 Hereford-Cardiff but I have no idea if this is still the case. Given the reputation 2B01 had for drunken antics I can’t imagine it was a particularly pleasant turn for the crew! No idea if this is still the working now though.

Think it was more than a few years ago it stopped coming north of Hereford! It stopped well before I retired from Bromfield and that was 6 years ago.We used to know it as the "drunk express".