Birdbrain
Member
- Joined
- 16 Jun 2007
- Messages
- 398
I thought I'd write up a little report of my trip to North Wales at the weekend.
The trip started on Friday lunchtime when I left work early and headed for the Red Jet at West Cowes. Found a free parking space in Cowes and headed for the Jet. I stood in the booking office and quite a few people were buying rail tickets to Salisbury, Eastliegh ect. At 13.15 Red Jet 4 duly appeared for the trip to Southampton, it was a calm crossing and quite busy, only one ferry operates per hour during the off peak. I arrived at Town Quay Southampton and took the free city link bus to Central where I met my Brother who was going with me. Through the barriers with the £7.90 advance to Cardiff, Bargain! Didn't grab the number of the 158 that took us through to Cardiff but we settled into our seats in coach A. We arrived at Bristol on time and reversed left but soon realised we were headed out towards Bath again! We had realised that we were going via Dr Days junction as a 150 had failed on the bit just outside Bristol towards Filton. The Tm came onto the PA and announced that we would be taking a different route to Cardiff. Panic ensued among our fellow passengers who starting phoning people to say they would be late. We reversed again via the rhubarb curve and were soon at Filton abbey wood only about 5 mins down. I think the passengers were shocked to realise where we were! We headed into the tunnel and arrived at Cardiff not too behind time.
We headed out of the station where the RPI's seemed very busy, they pulled me aside to check my railcard. We then met a friend who lives in Cardiff for dinner. As it was St David's Day I had a special pie and chips for £6.95, lovely! We returned to the station at 18:00 and headed through the barriers, via the RPI's again! The DVT pulled in pushed by 67002 for the trip to Holyhead. We didn't go 1st as we had already eaten but I think it must be tried one day. No hot counter either tonight due to staff shortage so its good we had eaten. What a good job arriva have done with the refurbed mk3's
Left Cardiff on time but we built up delay all the way and arrived into Holyhead around 2300. Super trip though, it seemed fitting that the only way to arrive in Holyhead was loco hauled. Took some photos and viewed some of the shunting before heading over the road to the Travelodge for the night. The travelodge seemed like it had a refurbishment and was good enough for the money.
Next morning we got up early and headed to the station for the 0635 to Cardiff that we would take as far as Llandudno Junction to start our North Wales Rover. 175005 was the traction for the trip along the coast. The scenery on this bit was fantastic, the sun was rising with low lying mist and Snowdonia in the background. We were the only people who boarded at Holyhead followed by 1 man at Valley. At Llandudno we took the 0739 to Blaeneau Ffestiniog formed of 150254. Again stunning scenery with the rising sun. The section out of bwets-y-coed was a bit thrash and then the long tunnel before ffestiniog was absolutely freezing at that time in the morning! We arrived and took more photos before visiting a hellfire bakery for a sandwich. As the ffestiniog railway wasn't working today we took the Express Moters service 1B for a spirited run through to Porthmadog.
We knew that the Cambrian Coast was next so we visited Tesco to take on some supplies. We wandered round to view the platforms of the highland and the highland heritage railway, surly these get confused?? Before taking the 1050 to Pwlhelli which was 158839. Again these 158s are super inside and a great stock to be on for such a long journey by modern standards. The section through Cricieth was scenic and we arrived in Pwlhelli which is rather a modest terminus these days. We returned to our seats on 158839 for the 1130 back to Machenclyth. This section really didn't dissapoint. The train stopped at almost all of the request stops and the train was fairly well loaded. The section after Minnfford was beautifull with the view of Portmerrion. After Barmouth station as the view of the bridge approaches you get a sense on scale! We trundled over before the stop at Morfa Mwacach. After Fairbourne we climbed along the cliffs offering great views back towards Barmouth. Later we arrived in Aberdovey where you can start to see the other side of the estery, still surrounded by the hills. We past Dovey Junction before alighting at Machenchlyth. I would reccomend this line to anyone, and is the most scenic I have been on!
After a wander round the station and viewing the attaching of the Aberysywth portion we boarded the 1448 to Aberysywyth 158833. The scenery between Dovey and Borth was similar to the Cambrain section and we arrived on time into Aberysywth. We needed a break from the trains so took a look around the town. The Vale of Rhidol platform looked fairly new, did it used to come in on the platform next to the BR platform? We then went to view the cliff railway before going to the station weatherspoons for a burger. We took the 1730 back to Shrewsbury where we would spend the night, the service was full and standing leaving Aberyswyth. The guard came to check tickets and a man opposite me didn't have a ticket. The guard tried to sell him one but the man only had a card and her machine was broken. Aberyswyth was staffed so he had the opportunity to buy one before boarding! The guard told him to alight at Machynclth and buy a ticket there but he didn't, I hope he met the barriers at his destination! We arrived into Shrewsbury at 1930 and we headed for our B & B
A good sleep was had and a very big breakfast which was great! We headed back to the station to find not much was happening on a sunday. We viewed the first service to Aberysywth of the day at 1127 before boarding our Heart of Wales service at 1207. This was the first trip of the day and much to our surprise it was not a 153! The traction was 150260. The automated announcer at Shrewsbury was great too! Not many people on board we headed for the H-O-W. I found this a lot less scenic than the Cambrian but it seemed to have a charm of its own. The bit after Knuclas was scenic and the bit after sugar loaf was too. We passed the other train at Llandridnoid which was a 150 and a 153! How often is the HOW 3 coaches? After reversing at Llaneli we arrived at Swansea at 1600. It went really quickly as each section of the line was different. I noticed that the 150 we traveled on was then going to form the 1730 to Manchester Piccadilly - Ouch!
150213 pulled in with a service to Pembrooke in its new livery., I thought this looked really smart and suited the class well. I think this is the first one the be repainted, picture below. We boarded our booked HST with 43069 leading. It was very full, especially after Cardiff and we arrived into Bristol Parkway with 10 minutes to wait. We then, as booked, reversed to travel via dr days non stop through Bath and Chippenham to Swindon. This confused other passengers who seemed to think they were going back to Cardiff! We alighted at Reading where we took the full and standing 1953 voyager back to Southampton.
After a short walk to town quay, as the bus doesn't run after 2030, we boarded Red Jet 4 for the trip back to Cowes. All in all it was a great trip and I really enjoyed the Cambrian line, its helped my route coverage map no end too! ATW seem to have got it right too. There trains were comfortable to travel on and mostly on time.
Hope you enjoyed reading.
The trip started on Friday lunchtime when I left work early and headed for the Red Jet at West Cowes. Found a free parking space in Cowes and headed for the Jet. I stood in the booking office and quite a few people were buying rail tickets to Salisbury, Eastliegh ect. At 13.15 Red Jet 4 duly appeared for the trip to Southampton, it was a calm crossing and quite busy, only one ferry operates per hour during the off peak. I arrived at Town Quay Southampton and took the free city link bus to Central where I met my Brother who was going with me. Through the barriers with the £7.90 advance to Cardiff, Bargain! Didn't grab the number of the 158 that took us through to Cardiff but we settled into our seats in coach A. We arrived at Bristol on time and reversed left but soon realised we were headed out towards Bath again! We had realised that we were going via Dr Days junction as a 150 had failed on the bit just outside Bristol towards Filton. The Tm came onto the PA and announced that we would be taking a different route to Cardiff. Panic ensued among our fellow passengers who starting phoning people to say they would be late. We reversed again via the rhubarb curve and were soon at Filton abbey wood only about 5 mins down. I think the passengers were shocked to realise where we were! We headed into the tunnel and arrived at Cardiff not too behind time.
We headed out of the station where the RPI's seemed very busy, they pulled me aside to check my railcard. We then met a friend who lives in Cardiff for dinner. As it was St David's Day I had a special pie and chips for £6.95, lovely! We returned to the station at 18:00 and headed through the barriers, via the RPI's again! The DVT pulled in pushed by 67002 for the trip to Holyhead. We didn't go 1st as we had already eaten but I think it must be tried one day. No hot counter either tonight due to staff shortage so its good we had eaten. What a good job arriva have done with the refurbed mk3's
Left Cardiff on time but we built up delay all the way and arrived into Holyhead around 2300. Super trip though, it seemed fitting that the only way to arrive in Holyhead was loco hauled. Took some photos and viewed some of the shunting before heading over the road to the Travelodge for the night. The travelodge seemed like it had a refurbishment and was good enough for the money.Next morning we got up early and headed to the station for the 0635 to Cardiff that we would take as far as Llandudno Junction to start our North Wales Rover. 175005 was the traction for the trip along the coast. The scenery on this bit was fantastic, the sun was rising with low lying mist and Snowdonia in the background. We were the only people who boarded at Holyhead followed by 1 man at Valley. At Llandudno we took the 0739 to Blaeneau Ffestiniog formed of 150254. Again stunning scenery with the rising sun. The section out of bwets-y-coed was a bit thrash and then the long tunnel before ffestiniog was absolutely freezing at that time in the morning! We arrived and took more photos before visiting a hellfire bakery for a sandwich. As the ffestiniog railway wasn't working today we took the Express Moters service 1B for a spirited run through to Porthmadog.
We knew that the Cambrian Coast was next so we visited Tesco to take on some supplies. We wandered round to view the platforms of the highland and the highland heritage railway, surly these get confused?? Before taking the 1050 to Pwlhelli which was 158839. Again these 158s are super inside and a great stock to be on for such a long journey by modern standards. The section through Cricieth was scenic and we arrived in Pwlhelli which is rather a modest terminus these days. We returned to our seats on 158839 for the 1130 back to Machenclyth. This section really didn't dissapoint. The train stopped at almost all of the request stops and the train was fairly well loaded. The section after Minnfford was beautifull with the view of Portmerrion. After Barmouth station as the view of the bridge approaches you get a sense on scale! We trundled over before the stop at Morfa Mwacach. After Fairbourne we climbed along the cliffs offering great views back towards Barmouth. Later we arrived in Aberdovey where you can start to see the other side of the estery, still surrounded by the hills. We past Dovey Junction before alighting at Machenchlyth. I would reccomend this line to anyone, and is the most scenic I have been on!
After a wander round the station and viewing the attaching of the Aberysywth portion we boarded the 1448 to Aberysywyth 158833. The scenery between Dovey and Borth was similar to the Cambrain section and we arrived on time into Aberysywth. We needed a break from the trains so took a look around the town. The Vale of Rhidol platform looked fairly new, did it used to come in on the platform next to the BR platform? We then went to view the cliff railway before going to the station weatherspoons for a burger. We took the 1730 back to Shrewsbury where we would spend the night, the service was full and standing leaving Aberyswyth. The guard came to check tickets and a man opposite me didn't have a ticket. The guard tried to sell him one but the man only had a card and her machine was broken. Aberyswyth was staffed so he had the opportunity to buy one before boarding! The guard told him to alight at Machynclth and buy a ticket there but he didn't, I hope he met the barriers at his destination! We arrived into Shrewsbury at 1930 and we headed for our B & B
A good sleep was had and a very big breakfast which was great! We headed back to the station to find not much was happening on a sunday. We viewed the first service to Aberysywth of the day at 1127 before boarding our Heart of Wales service at 1207. This was the first trip of the day and much to our surprise it was not a 153! The traction was 150260. The automated announcer at Shrewsbury was great too! Not many people on board we headed for the H-O-W. I found this a lot less scenic than the Cambrian but it seemed to have a charm of its own. The bit after Knuclas was scenic and the bit after sugar loaf was too. We passed the other train at Llandridnoid which was a 150 and a 153! How often is the HOW 3 coaches? After reversing at Llaneli we arrived at Swansea at 1600. It went really quickly as each section of the line was different. I noticed that the 150 we traveled on was then going to form the 1730 to Manchester Piccadilly - Ouch!
150213 pulled in with a service to Pembrooke in its new livery., I thought this looked really smart and suited the class well. I think this is the first one the be repainted, picture below. We boarded our booked HST with 43069 leading. It was very full, especially after Cardiff and we arrived into Bristol Parkway with 10 minutes to wait. We then, as booked, reversed to travel via dr days non stop through Bath and Chippenham to Swindon. This confused other passengers who seemed to think they were going back to Cardiff! We alighted at Reading where we took the full and standing 1953 voyager back to Southampton.
After a short walk to town quay, as the bus doesn't run after 2030, we boarded Red Jet 4 for the trip back to Cowes. All in all it was a great trip and I really enjoyed the Cambrian line, its helped my route coverage map no end too! ATW seem to have got it right too. There trains were comfortable to travel on and mostly on time.
Hope you enjoyed reading.
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