Met Driver
Established Member
- Joined
- 8 Jun 2005
- Messages
- 1,734
I met everyone at Paddington at around 0915 (Marc, Galvanize, Yorkie, Chris). A certain someone was ever so slightly late, so we had to be quick at getting the tickets.
We departed Paddington on the 0945 Swansea service (joy54 joined us at Reading), the journey on which was quite uneventful, that is, until we reached Bristol Parkway!
As we approached Parkway, the conductor informed us of a major power blackout in the Newport area over the PA. All trains were terminating at Temple Meads, with replacement busses being sent in to take passengers across the Severn.
No buses showed up, so we decided to wait for another train instead. We caught a Wessex 158 to Cardiff Central, where we arrived over two hours later than planned! Thankfully, we did arrive in good time to catch a Rhmyney service.
Our loco was EWS liveried 37405, hauling four ex-Virgin MKII coaches. We made our way up through the valley and arrived at Rhymney. Unfortunately it was raining, and thus it was hard to take some decent photos. DLA365 joined our train at Rhymney for the return journey.
We returned to Cardiff Central behind the same loco. FGWFan and HSTFan also joined us somewhere along the branch, but being a rather forgetful chap, I 've forgotten which station! DLA365 and joy54 also left us at another station, but again I have forgotten which one!
We took some photos upon arrival at Cardiff (where we left FGWfan & HSTfan), and then we sprinted over to platform 2 so as not to miss our return HST which was pulling into the platform!
Galvanize and Marc left us at Paddington. Yorkie, Chris and myself decided to go to Willesden Junction to take some photos. We stayed there for a few minutes and then made our way back into London on the Bakerloo Line.
We all alighted at Baker Street. Yorkie left us here in order to get his train home from Kings Cross. Myself and Chris decided to go and catch a Refurb D stock to Olympia.
We boarded the Refurb at High Street and made our way round to Olympia. There were several enthusiasts at Olympia, who seemed to be waiting for a charter to come through. After about 10 minutes, three-cylinder BR '8P' 4-6-2 No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester pulled in with a special. After taking many photos, I filmed the train departing on its way back to Alton.
Chris and myself returned to Earls Court where we went our seperate ways.
We departed Paddington on the 0945 Swansea service (joy54 joined us at Reading), the journey on which was quite uneventful, that is, until we reached Bristol Parkway!
As we approached Parkway, the conductor informed us of a major power blackout in the Newport area over the PA. All trains were terminating at Temple Meads, with replacement busses being sent in to take passengers across the Severn.
No buses showed up, so we decided to wait for another train instead. We caught a Wessex 158 to Cardiff Central, where we arrived over two hours later than planned! Thankfully, we did arrive in good time to catch a Rhmyney service.
Our loco was EWS liveried 37405, hauling four ex-Virgin MKII coaches. We made our way up through the valley and arrived at Rhymney. Unfortunately it was raining, and thus it was hard to take some decent photos. DLA365 joined our train at Rhymney for the return journey.
We returned to Cardiff Central behind the same loco. FGWFan and HSTFan also joined us somewhere along the branch, but being a rather forgetful chap, I 've forgotten which station! DLA365 and joy54 also left us at another station, but again I have forgotten which one!
We took some photos upon arrival at Cardiff (where we left FGWfan & HSTfan), and then we sprinted over to platform 2 so as not to miss our return HST which was pulling into the platform!
Galvanize and Marc left us at Paddington. Yorkie, Chris and myself decided to go to Willesden Junction to take some photos. We stayed there for a few minutes and then made our way back into London on the Bakerloo Line.
We all alighted at Baker Street. Yorkie left us here in order to get his train home from Kings Cross. Myself and Chris decided to go and catch a Refurb D stock to Olympia.
We boarded the Refurb at High Street and made our way round to Olympia. There were several enthusiasts at Olympia, who seemed to be waiting for a charter to come through. After about 10 minutes, three-cylinder BR '8P' 4-6-2 No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester pulled in with a special. After taking many photos, I filmed the train departing on its way back to Alton.
Chris and myself returned to Earls Court where we went our seperate ways.