james60059
Member
Hi Folks,
Reading some of these threads got me thinking about doing a section for trips too, a case of "If you can't beat them, then join them" so to speak.
Anyway my first trip log is of my journey to Ireland, using the fantastic value Rail and Sail fares, with the outward journey on 23rd September 2017.
Starting off at Hinckley Station, in Leicestershire where Leg 1 would commence for the relatively short hop to Birmingham New Street, the time was 06:08 and CrossCountry Train's 170636 arrived on time working the 05:49 Leicester - Birmingham New Street service, there wasn't much to see as it was still dark all the way into Birmingham.
Arriving into Birmingham New Street, I has 45 minutes to kill before my next leg; the 07:30 to Cardiff Central, so I made my way to the concourse and was most impressed with the transformation of the station - it's been a good few years since I was last there.
Anyway, time flies when you have fun, and soon enough I made my way to Platform 12B for the 07:30 CrossCountry service to Cardiff Central with 170110 providing the horses, boarding the train, I settled down for the journey, the train arrived a few minutes ahead of schedule at 07:23, sure enough we were away, with quite a substantial crowd on, but still a few seats available. Threading our way through the tunnels towards Five Ways and our first stop, University, daylight was beginning to make a good appearance as we headed along the CrossCity line out of Birmingham, parting company with the CrossCity line at Barnt Green and towards the Lickey Incline, ascending the Lickey Incline, the electrification was well under way with the overhead masts encroaching the incline, at the foot of the incline, we passed the newly remodelled station at Bromsgrove, further along at Stoke Works Junction, we met a London Midland Class 170 coming from the Droitwich line. Making good progress through Worcestershire, Ashchurch for Tewkesbury flashed by, then we slowed down for our next call; Cheltenham Spa, where a few people got off, and a few got on. At this point, I was looking at the progress of my train that I would take in Leg 3, using the fantastic diagrams on Railcam. On this particular day, all Great Western Railway services from London Paddington to Swansea were being diverted via the Golden Valley line from Swindon to Gloucester, before continuing down to Newport via Chepstow, so far it was running to time at Swindon........ Leaving Cheltenham Spa, it was a short trip to Gloucester, arriving at Gloucester and another look at Railcam, I seen that the service to Swansea was STILL in Swindon; 10 minutes late and counting, my bum was beginning to twitch as there was only a 15 minute window at Swansea for my connection anyway, several minutes after leaving Gloucester, I checked again and seen my train for Leg 3 had left Swindon - 18 minutes late. Back to the current journey, we were running alongside the River Severn Estuary, looking across the River Severn, you could seen the bridge abutment for the old Severn Bridge which once spanned the River, Lydney Station passed by then it was over the border, into Wales and our next stop; Chepstow. Away from Chepstow, I looked again at Railcam and seen my next train had actually made good progress and was only 15 late now, better than nothing lol. Leaving Chepstow, the 2 bridges of the M48 and M4 loomed into view, you can really appreciate what the navvies did when they were building the Severn Railway Tunnel as the grand structure of the M4 bridge follows a somewhat similar alignment. We met the GWR just before Severn Tunnel Junction, and seen a number of NR contractors and various items of plant machinery doing work on the tracks down to the Severn Tunnel, this would explain the diversions via Gloucester I thought, we passed under the M4 just beyond STJ and along the 4-track section of the South Wales Mainline, passing Bishton Flyover, and the Llanwern steelworks. Further along we slowed down for our next stop of Newport, passing East Usk Yard and then Maindee East and West Junctions - a triangle of lines with the Welsh Marches lines to Hereford and Shrewsbury, over the River Usk and arriving into Newport. Another look at Railcam seen another train coming, the Manchester Piccadilly - Milford Haven service, running to time it was due to arrive at Swansea at 10:55, could this be an alternative service to Swansea for the connection to Fishguard Harbour??, away from Newport we went and through the Hillfield Main Tunnel - the only tunnel on the South Wales Mainline, emerging into the daylight, we pass Gaer Junction which sees the branch to Ebbw Vale diverge, as well as the Newport Alexandra Junction Yard on the left hand side. Speeding past the Wentloog railfreight terminal, we enter the Cardiff suburbs, and we slow down again before stopping briefly, just in time to see 60001 come trundling by on the 6B13 Robeston - Westerleigh loaded Murco tanks. After a minute or so, we were off again, passing under the Cardiff Valley Lines from Cardiff Queen Street and then into Cardiff Central. Leaving the train at Cardiff Central, I checked Railcam again as well as the passenger information display and seen my next train - which I had been checking the progress of since we left Gloucester - was now just 10 minutes late.
Just before 10am, my next train arrived into the platform, with HST power car 43183 leading, also at that point the Milford Haven service also arrived, deciding what train would actually go first the decision was made when the signal cleared for our HST. Boarding the train, the first coach behind the power car was a MKIII TGS vehicle, as with the train from Birmingham, was quite busy but nevertheless was still comfortable.
Leaving Cardiff behind, it wasn't long before we were up to speed, passing through Pontyclun, Llanharan and Pencoed, before slowing down for Bridgend, departing Bridgend, the branch line to Maesteg diverges, and the small station at Pyle whizzes by before we approach Port Talbot, with the steelworks complex dominating the skyline, I'm not 100% sure but was there a level crossing at Port Talbot not that long ago?. Away from Port Talbot, it's amazing to see how they threaded the A48, the M4 as well as the railway between the houses as well as the hills, another small station - Baglan - passed the window before the railway and motorway part company, as the railway turns inland to Neath and the M4 crosses the River Neath, speeding through Briton Ferry, I couldn't help but notice a couple of local youths sitting on the opposite platform with their legs over the edge of the platform, I won't repeat what I thought as I may get the boot
. Arriving into our penultimate station of Neath, leaving Neath, we passed over the River Neath, The Tennant Canal, the A465, and the Vale of Neath line, with the old platform of the former Neath General Station still extant.
Another 2 small stations whizzed by, Skewen, just before we pass under the M4, we pass by the UPS site which was formerly Lynx Express - I worked for both of these companies when they both had parcel hubs in Nuneaton - anyway that's enough reminiscing
, the last small station, Llansamlet was quick passing and soon we were on the viaduct crossing the River Tawe, and passing alongside the Liberty Stadium - home of Swansea City F.C., With Landore Depot passing us on the right, I couldn't help but notice the Swansea Maliphant Sidings have been transformed into a new depot for the Hitachi IEP's - to be fair, it's been about 13 - 14 years since I was last in Swansea as the Fishguard services use to bypass Swansea via the Swansea District Line and one occasion via the line behind Landore Depot. Arriving into Swansea, we were just 10 minutes late, a good run had ensued from Cardiff to Swansea. Getting off of the train, I made my way to Platform 1, where Arriva Trains Wales Class 150208 was there, surprisingly, there was not many people onboard the service, and hardly anyone boarded after getting off of the HST, as 11am approached, the guard announced we would be about 5 minutes late departing as we were waiting for the Milford Haven train to arrive - the train which arrived at Cardiff just after our HST did an hour before - arriving just after 11am, a small handful of passengers boarded, at 11:05 am we departed Swansea, probably with just 20 passengers onboard - one thing I have noticed over the years is that the number of passengers have dwindled on the boat trains - well April 2010 was the exception when the Icelandic volcano ash cloud caused air disruption throughout Europe and many would-be air passengers opted for the train/ferry combo.
Climbing out of Swansea, the tiny DMU quickly built up speed, passing through Cockett Tunnel, and soon through Gowerton at a rate of knots - Gowerton has seen a transformation since I last went through - the old platform has been reinstated, along with the redoubling of the line between Cockett & Duffryn Junctions which occurred in 2013, along with the replacement viaduct over the River Loughor as well as a new footbridge at Gowerton Station. Over the River Loughor, and passing Llandeilo Junction, as well as the Trostre Steelworks, we arrived at Llanelli. Departing from Llanelli it was a spirited run alongside the Gower Estuary to Pembrey & Burry Port, before parting company with the coast, just after Kidwelly - and the associated branch to Coed Bach - we were alongside the River Towy, passing through Ferryside before slowing down, for the triangle of lines with the Carmarthen branch, we didn't call at Carmarthen but instead using the avoiding line between Carmarthen Junction and Carmarthen Bridge Junction, before crossing the River Towy, and heading for Whitland, from Carmarthen the railway more or less parallels the route of the A40 all the way to Fishguard. Another spirited run from Carmarthen to Whitland seen us pass St. Clears in a flash, from Whitland, the branch to Pembroke Dock diverges, and we continue on. Roughly 2 miles from Whitland, the branch to Cardigan diverged, the old line marked by a line of trees, passenger services ceased in 1962, and total closure followed in 1965. The staggered platforms of Clunderwen pass by, before we finally slow down, not for a station stop however. Clarbeston Road is the junction for the Milford Haven line, and also where the double track mainline gives way to a single track branch line for the final 15 miles or so to Fishguard Harbour, therefore the driver stops the train adjacent to the signal box, just beyond Clarbeston Road Station for the single line electric key token for the Fishguard Harbour branch. Departing from Clarby Road, the Milford branch parts company almost immediately, and we continue onwards, before long the jointed track becomes apparent as the wheels start trickety trock trickety trock over the joints, entering a deep cutting we pass into Spittal Tunnel, the former double track formation is clearly evident here, although nowadays, the single track is adequate for the service pattern. Literally just before we pass under the A40, one of the platforms of the former Wolf's Castle Halt is still extant although long out of use, closure happening in 1964, a closure recommendation by the infamous Dr Beeching. In the middle of nowhere, we pass what was the remains of Letterston Junction, and associated loop line, which marks the start of the line to RNAD Trecwn, which has been out of use for many years.
The relatively new Fishguard & Goodwick was our next station, closed in 1964, it was reopened in 2012, a number of people also disembarked, it was pleasing to see the car park full too, there was some people waiting for the train back East, but would have to wait for this train to reverse at Fishguard Harbour for the return trip. Leaving Fishguard & Goodwick, Fishguard Bay came into view, and in the distance our last station; Fishguard Harbour with Stena Line's MS Stena Europe berthed alongside. There was a number of vehicles waiting to board the ferry, especially lorries. Arriving into Fishguard Harbour, there was a small number of passengers waiting for the train back. With the new schedules that Stena Line introduced in May 2017, it was literally a case of just jump off of the train, and head straight to check in.
With check-in complete, it was a walk up the gangway to board the MS Stena Europe which is also Stena Line's oldest vessel, being built in 1981.
An ontime departure from Fishguard Harbour at 13:10, I made my way to the Metropolitan Grill which was formerly Food City, and tucked in to a very tasty Met Burger for my dinner, before getting my head down for a few hours....
Reading some of these threads got me thinking about doing a section for trips too, a case of "If you can't beat them, then join them" so to speak.
Anyway my first trip log is of my journey to Ireland, using the fantastic value Rail and Sail fares, with the outward journey on 23rd September 2017.
Starting off at Hinckley Station, in Leicestershire where Leg 1 would commence for the relatively short hop to Birmingham New Street, the time was 06:08 and CrossCountry Train's 170636 arrived on time working the 05:49 Leicester - Birmingham New Street service, there wasn't much to see as it was still dark all the way into Birmingham.
Arriving into Birmingham New Street, I has 45 minutes to kill before my next leg; the 07:30 to Cardiff Central, so I made my way to the concourse and was most impressed with the transformation of the station - it's been a good few years since I was last there.
Anyway, time flies when you have fun, and soon enough I made my way to Platform 12B for the 07:30 CrossCountry service to Cardiff Central with 170110 providing the horses, boarding the train, I settled down for the journey, the train arrived a few minutes ahead of schedule at 07:23, sure enough we were away, with quite a substantial crowd on, but still a few seats available. Threading our way through the tunnels towards Five Ways and our first stop, University, daylight was beginning to make a good appearance as we headed along the CrossCity line out of Birmingham, parting company with the CrossCity line at Barnt Green and towards the Lickey Incline, ascending the Lickey Incline, the electrification was well under way with the overhead masts encroaching the incline, at the foot of the incline, we passed the newly remodelled station at Bromsgrove, further along at Stoke Works Junction, we met a London Midland Class 170 coming from the Droitwich line. Making good progress through Worcestershire, Ashchurch for Tewkesbury flashed by, then we slowed down for our next call; Cheltenham Spa, where a few people got off, and a few got on. At this point, I was looking at the progress of my train that I would take in Leg 3, using the fantastic diagrams on Railcam. On this particular day, all Great Western Railway services from London Paddington to Swansea were being diverted via the Golden Valley line from Swindon to Gloucester, before continuing down to Newport via Chepstow, so far it was running to time at Swindon........ Leaving Cheltenham Spa, it was a short trip to Gloucester, arriving at Gloucester and another look at Railcam, I seen that the service to Swansea was STILL in Swindon; 10 minutes late and counting, my bum was beginning to twitch as there was only a 15 minute window at Swansea for my connection anyway, several minutes after leaving Gloucester, I checked again and seen my train for Leg 3 had left Swindon - 18 minutes late. Back to the current journey, we were running alongside the River Severn Estuary, looking across the River Severn, you could seen the bridge abutment for the old Severn Bridge which once spanned the River, Lydney Station passed by then it was over the border, into Wales and our next stop; Chepstow. Away from Chepstow, I looked again at Railcam and seen my next train had actually made good progress and was only 15 late now, better than nothing lol. Leaving Chepstow, the 2 bridges of the M48 and M4 loomed into view, you can really appreciate what the navvies did when they were building the Severn Railway Tunnel as the grand structure of the M4 bridge follows a somewhat similar alignment. We met the GWR just before Severn Tunnel Junction, and seen a number of NR contractors and various items of plant machinery doing work on the tracks down to the Severn Tunnel, this would explain the diversions via Gloucester I thought, we passed under the M4 just beyond STJ and along the 4-track section of the South Wales Mainline, passing Bishton Flyover, and the Llanwern steelworks. Further along we slowed down for our next stop of Newport, passing East Usk Yard and then Maindee East and West Junctions - a triangle of lines with the Welsh Marches lines to Hereford and Shrewsbury, over the River Usk and arriving into Newport. Another look at Railcam seen another train coming, the Manchester Piccadilly - Milford Haven service, running to time it was due to arrive at Swansea at 10:55, could this be an alternative service to Swansea for the connection to Fishguard Harbour??, away from Newport we went and through the Hillfield Main Tunnel - the only tunnel on the South Wales Mainline, emerging into the daylight, we pass Gaer Junction which sees the branch to Ebbw Vale diverge, as well as the Newport Alexandra Junction Yard on the left hand side. Speeding past the Wentloog railfreight terminal, we enter the Cardiff suburbs, and we slow down again before stopping briefly, just in time to see 60001 come trundling by on the 6B13 Robeston - Westerleigh loaded Murco tanks. After a minute or so, we were off again, passing under the Cardiff Valley Lines from Cardiff Queen Street and then into Cardiff Central. Leaving the train at Cardiff Central, I checked Railcam again as well as the passenger information display and seen my next train - which I had been checking the progress of since we left Gloucester - was now just 10 minutes late.
Just before 10am, my next train arrived into the platform, with HST power car 43183 leading, also at that point the Milford Haven service also arrived, deciding what train would actually go first the decision was made when the signal cleared for our HST. Boarding the train, the first coach behind the power car was a MKIII TGS vehicle, as with the train from Birmingham, was quite busy but nevertheless was still comfortable.
Leaving Cardiff behind, it wasn't long before we were up to speed, passing through Pontyclun, Llanharan and Pencoed, before slowing down for Bridgend, departing Bridgend, the branch line to Maesteg diverges, and the small station at Pyle whizzes by before we approach Port Talbot, with the steelworks complex dominating the skyline, I'm not 100% sure but was there a level crossing at Port Talbot not that long ago?. Away from Port Talbot, it's amazing to see how they threaded the A48, the M4 as well as the railway between the houses as well as the hills, another small station - Baglan - passed the window before the railway and motorway part company, as the railway turns inland to Neath and the M4 crosses the River Neath, speeding through Briton Ferry, I couldn't help but notice a couple of local youths sitting on the opposite platform with their legs over the edge of the platform, I won't repeat what I thought as I may get the boot
. Arriving into our penultimate station of Neath, leaving Neath, we passed over the River Neath, The Tennant Canal, the A465, and the Vale of Neath line, with the old platform of the former Neath General Station still extant. Another 2 small stations whizzed by, Skewen, just before we pass under the M4, we pass by the UPS site which was formerly Lynx Express - I worked for both of these companies when they both had parcel hubs in Nuneaton - anyway that's enough reminiscing
, the last small station, Llansamlet was quick passing and soon we were on the viaduct crossing the River Tawe, and passing alongside the Liberty Stadium - home of Swansea City F.C., With Landore Depot passing us on the right, I couldn't help but notice the Swansea Maliphant Sidings have been transformed into a new depot for the Hitachi IEP's - to be fair, it's been about 13 - 14 years since I was last in Swansea as the Fishguard services use to bypass Swansea via the Swansea District Line and one occasion via the line behind Landore Depot. Arriving into Swansea, we were just 10 minutes late, a good run had ensued from Cardiff to Swansea. Getting off of the train, I made my way to Platform 1, where Arriva Trains Wales Class 150208 was there, surprisingly, there was not many people onboard the service, and hardly anyone boarded after getting off of the HST, as 11am approached, the guard announced we would be about 5 minutes late departing as we were waiting for the Milford Haven train to arrive - the train which arrived at Cardiff just after our HST did an hour before - arriving just after 11am, a small handful of passengers boarded, at 11:05 am we departed Swansea, probably with just 20 passengers onboard - one thing I have noticed over the years is that the number of passengers have dwindled on the boat trains - well April 2010 was the exception when the Icelandic volcano ash cloud caused air disruption throughout Europe and many would-be air passengers opted for the train/ferry combo. Climbing out of Swansea, the tiny DMU quickly built up speed, passing through Cockett Tunnel, and soon through Gowerton at a rate of knots - Gowerton has seen a transformation since I last went through - the old platform has been reinstated, along with the redoubling of the line between Cockett & Duffryn Junctions which occurred in 2013, along with the replacement viaduct over the River Loughor as well as a new footbridge at Gowerton Station. Over the River Loughor, and passing Llandeilo Junction, as well as the Trostre Steelworks, we arrived at Llanelli. Departing from Llanelli it was a spirited run alongside the Gower Estuary to Pembrey & Burry Port, before parting company with the coast, just after Kidwelly - and the associated branch to Coed Bach - we were alongside the River Towy, passing through Ferryside before slowing down, for the triangle of lines with the Carmarthen branch, we didn't call at Carmarthen but instead using the avoiding line between Carmarthen Junction and Carmarthen Bridge Junction, before crossing the River Towy, and heading for Whitland, from Carmarthen the railway more or less parallels the route of the A40 all the way to Fishguard. Another spirited run from Carmarthen to Whitland seen us pass St. Clears in a flash, from Whitland, the branch to Pembroke Dock diverges, and we continue on. Roughly 2 miles from Whitland, the branch to Cardigan diverged, the old line marked by a line of trees, passenger services ceased in 1962, and total closure followed in 1965. The staggered platforms of Clunderwen pass by, before we finally slow down, not for a station stop however. Clarbeston Road is the junction for the Milford Haven line, and also where the double track mainline gives way to a single track branch line for the final 15 miles or so to Fishguard Harbour, therefore the driver stops the train adjacent to the signal box, just beyond Clarbeston Road Station for the single line electric key token for the Fishguard Harbour branch. Departing from Clarby Road, the Milford branch parts company almost immediately, and we continue onwards, before long the jointed track becomes apparent as the wheels start trickety trock trickety trock over the joints, entering a deep cutting we pass into Spittal Tunnel, the former double track formation is clearly evident here, although nowadays, the single track is adequate for the service pattern. Literally just before we pass under the A40, one of the platforms of the former Wolf's Castle Halt is still extant although long out of use, closure happening in 1964, a closure recommendation by the infamous Dr Beeching. In the middle of nowhere, we pass what was the remains of Letterston Junction, and associated loop line, which marks the start of the line to RNAD Trecwn, which has been out of use for many years.
The relatively new Fishguard & Goodwick was our next station, closed in 1964, it was reopened in 2012, a number of people also disembarked, it was pleasing to see the car park full too, there was some people waiting for the train back East, but would have to wait for this train to reverse at Fishguard Harbour for the return trip. Leaving Fishguard & Goodwick, Fishguard Bay came into view, and in the distance our last station; Fishguard Harbour with Stena Line's MS Stena Europe berthed alongside. There was a number of vehicles waiting to board the ferry, especially lorries. Arriving into Fishguard Harbour, there was a small number of passengers waiting for the train back. With the new schedules that Stena Line introduced in May 2017, it was literally a case of just jump off of the train, and head straight to check in.
With check-in complete, it was a walk up the gangway to board the MS Stena Europe which is also Stena Line's oldest vessel, being built in 1981.
An ontime departure from Fishguard Harbour at 13:10, I made my way to the Metropolitan Grill which was formerly Food City, and tucked in to a very tasty Met Burger for my dinner, before getting my head down for a few hours....
), it was easy to to notice that there was not many foot passengers, when in years gone by I could remember the seating area upstairs being full with foot passengers - a sign of the times I guess, but that said it was easy to see the ferry is well used by road vehicles.
, I found myself in next to one of the sets of doors, a bit of breathing space was acquired when a couple of passengers got off at Coleshill Parkway. Once Nuneaton was reached, and a few more people got off, as well as on, I was well and truly on home turf, with a fast run to Hinckley, after passing over the busy A5, and 10½ hours after leaving Rosslare Harbour I was home 
.
, with time getting on and options running out, I looked at the feasibility of going to Tamworth on the 18:02 departure to London Euston, then doing a trip to Derby on a CrossCountry service and try to get back to plan, but with it looking like I wouldn't be home until nearly 11pm, I decided to take the 18:02 departure as far as Nuneaton.
.