I ticked something off my 'Railway Bucket List' yesterday with a trip on the Heart of Wales line stopping at Sugar Loaf, which i believe is the least used station on the entire line. Indeed it was once the least used station in Wales but I believe Roman Bridge now holds that record.
It was just as well I didnt opt for the 0856 from Swansea as this was cancelled, albeit it with road replacement transport provided, but if I'm doing this I want to arrive on a train. My planned journey time 1251 from Swansea was indeed planned to run to time so I took a gamble and headed to Swansea via the Swanline service with 197043. It was about 10 late but there was plenty of time at Swansea.
5 minutes before departure there was an announcement that no services were heading to West Wales due to a signalling issue. I had feared the HOWL would be cancelled but it turned out the issue was at Ferryside. Indeed the announcer then advised any Goweton and Llanelli passengers to board the HOWL service as nothing else was planned going West for a while. The service formed of 150235 was a little busier than i've seen HOW services before for this reason. But still plenty of spare seats.
The conductor said to me on checking my ticket are you definitely getting off at Sugar Loaf! I asked which door would be used, he said he would have go and check with the driver. He came back to me a while later and said he would check with the driver after Llandovery. He came back and said it would be the small door at the very front of the train. I then decided to move to be as close as possible to the front. By this time the train was quite empty. Quite a few people had alighted at the likes of Ammanford, Llandybie and Llandovery. The train arrived at Sugar Loaf around 10 mins late so i had just short of 90 minutes before the return train.
The plan was either to walk to Llanwrtyd Wells and pick up the train there at 1605, a walk of around an hour. But the path was so bad I didnt fancy it and being quite a hot day i wondered if i would make it in time. So i opted to just do a shorter walk and then went back to the station. I can see why Sugar Loaf is the most remote station on the HOWL there is literally nothing there but the A road which every so often a car would pass or sometimes a few cars at once then a long gap. A few farms and lovely scenery. I just took some photos and enjoyed the peace and quiet.
On return, the same door was used right at the front of the train. A 150 again, this time 150279. The door which is not meant for passenger use normally! I'm sure it says 'train crew only' on it or something similar. I wonder why that door is used, I know its a short platform but it isnt that short. I should have asked the conductor. He was really helpful actually and it must have been so obvious I was an enthusiast! I doubt anyone else uses Sugar Loaf. I wonder how often each conductor has to stop at Sugar Loaf. Maybe as it was a 150 which must be ever more rare for stopping at Sugar Loaf was the reason he had to check.
I noticed on the up train the only request stop missed was Cynghordy. I dont think anyone got on and off at Llanwrda either but the train stopped and the doors were opened. On the down there was a call at Cynghordy but Llanwrda was missed this time (it didnt stop). It even called at Bynea both directions, and quite a few got off on the return trip. A first for me calling at Bynea. The return journey was overall quite quiet compared to the up journey and that was only busier for the first bit as far as Llandovery. Bonus was getting a new 197 - 197029 for my Swanline journey home.
Overall an enjoyable afternoon. Very lucky it all went to plan. Im always a bit wary of the HOWL due to many cancellations. That's probably why my last journey was Feb 2024 to Llandovery. Id love to do the line more often and tick off more stations. So far ive done Pontardulais, Llandovery, Llanwrtyd, Garth and now Sugar Loaf (not counting Swansea, Gowerton and Llanelli). And my first time ever getting a 150 on the HOWL (not just 1 but 2!) Probably done about 12 journeys on the HOWL and its always been a 153 (mostly a single 153!) Im glad I got to ride a 150 on the HOWL before they go. As much as I slated the 150s being used on the long distance Manchester-South Wales route I dont mind them when they are on their 'correct' journeys. I found the views fine from the 150s. Leg room not so good but i was lucky to get a table to myself on the return as it was quiet. Not sure about keeping to time as it did lose 10 minutes on the up journey. The return was more or less on time, only losing time due to being held outside Swansea due to congestion at the station.
It was just as well I didnt opt for the 0856 from Swansea as this was cancelled, albeit it with road replacement transport provided, but if I'm doing this I want to arrive on a train. My planned journey time 1251 from Swansea was indeed planned to run to time so I took a gamble and headed to Swansea via the Swanline service with 197043. It was about 10 late but there was plenty of time at Swansea.
5 minutes before departure there was an announcement that no services were heading to West Wales due to a signalling issue. I had feared the HOWL would be cancelled but it turned out the issue was at Ferryside. Indeed the announcer then advised any Goweton and Llanelli passengers to board the HOWL service as nothing else was planned going West for a while. The service formed of 150235 was a little busier than i've seen HOW services before for this reason. But still plenty of spare seats.
The conductor said to me on checking my ticket are you definitely getting off at Sugar Loaf! I asked which door would be used, he said he would have go and check with the driver. He came back to me a while later and said he would check with the driver after Llandovery. He came back and said it would be the small door at the very front of the train. I then decided to move to be as close as possible to the front. By this time the train was quite empty. Quite a few people had alighted at the likes of Ammanford, Llandybie and Llandovery. The train arrived at Sugar Loaf around 10 mins late so i had just short of 90 minutes before the return train.
The plan was either to walk to Llanwrtyd Wells and pick up the train there at 1605, a walk of around an hour. But the path was so bad I didnt fancy it and being quite a hot day i wondered if i would make it in time. So i opted to just do a shorter walk and then went back to the station. I can see why Sugar Loaf is the most remote station on the HOWL there is literally nothing there but the A road which every so often a car would pass or sometimes a few cars at once then a long gap. A few farms and lovely scenery. I just took some photos and enjoyed the peace and quiet.
On return, the same door was used right at the front of the train. A 150 again, this time 150279. The door which is not meant for passenger use normally! I'm sure it says 'train crew only' on it or something similar. I wonder why that door is used, I know its a short platform but it isnt that short. I should have asked the conductor. He was really helpful actually and it must have been so obvious I was an enthusiast! I doubt anyone else uses Sugar Loaf. I wonder how often each conductor has to stop at Sugar Loaf. Maybe as it was a 150 which must be ever more rare for stopping at Sugar Loaf was the reason he had to check.
I noticed on the up train the only request stop missed was Cynghordy. I dont think anyone got on and off at Llanwrda either but the train stopped and the doors were opened. On the down there was a call at Cynghordy but Llanwrda was missed this time (it didnt stop). It even called at Bynea both directions, and quite a few got off on the return trip. A first for me calling at Bynea. The return journey was overall quite quiet compared to the up journey and that was only busier for the first bit as far as Llandovery. Bonus was getting a new 197 - 197029 for my Swanline journey home.
Overall an enjoyable afternoon. Very lucky it all went to plan. Im always a bit wary of the HOWL due to many cancellations. That's probably why my last journey was Feb 2024 to Llandovery. Id love to do the line more often and tick off more stations. So far ive done Pontardulais, Llandovery, Llanwrtyd, Garth and now Sugar Loaf (not counting Swansea, Gowerton and Llanelli). And my first time ever getting a 150 on the HOWL (not just 1 but 2!) Probably done about 12 journeys on the HOWL and its always been a 153 (mostly a single 153!) Im glad I got to ride a 150 on the HOWL before they go. As much as I slated the 150s being used on the long distance Manchester-South Wales route I dont mind them when they are on their 'correct' journeys. I found the views fine from the 150s. Leg room not so good but i was lucky to get a table to myself on the return as it was quiet. Not sure about keeping to time as it did lose 10 minutes on the up journey. The return was more or less on time, only losing time due to being held outside Swansea due to congestion at the station.
