Trip report, Valleys challenge, 5th April

[Kite159]

Another early start for me for my first forum challenge, up at 6 for the early morning drive to Salisbury station, arriving around 6:45, with 45 minutes to kill before my train was due to come I decided to confuse the ticket office seller to purchase a Valleys Lines day explorer, after a couple attempts to find it (£60-ish came up at one point) he found it.

Cash paid, just as I was passing though the open barriers he called me back to replace the ticket with one with my name on. The Cardiff service was due to depart from platform 4 so I took a sit to watch the various SWT trains come in and out, I'm pretty sure the 7:20ish service to Waterloo was a 9 car train. Anyway just before 7:30, 2 3 car 158s pulled in, the rear 3 wasn't for public use, front set was 158954, didn't get the number for the second set as it departed at Westbury, where I met up with Heart of Wessex.

Onwards to Cardiff via Bristol, a piece of track I've haven't traveled by service train for a good few years, nothing much has changed although is that a new line being put in north of Abbey Wood (just north of another single line)? Reversing at Bristol Temple, though the tunnel linking England with Wales, and to the capital, units spotted passing were some 220s (or 221s), 150s, 153s, 175s, HSTs, 158s, 170s and a freight train. Nearly forgot my backpack getting off the train at Cardiff! Doh.

At Cardiff it was a good hour and a bit before we were due to meet up with the others so a trip to the pub was in order for some breakfast, afterwards to a book shop, nice railway books in there, I could spend a lot of money if I wanted to, but didn't. Walked back towards the station via a Londis to pick up lunch. At the station we met up with the others, less Brian who was running late, so we started without him and went rebel, 9 people, spilt into 2 singles with the remaining 7 heading to Merthyr Tydfil on 150231, eventually after a chaotic train before with 4/5 people shouting at each other.

Once at Merthyr Tydfil, it was a quick transfer to the bus station which was very oddly shaped, 4 out of the 7 managed to get onto a number 9 bus, myself and 2 others (forgotten your names, sorry ) got on the number 6 bus, 47236, 10 minutes later, number 6 was scheduled to take 10 minutes shorter to Aberdare, so it was a race!

At the bus station after a moment of chaos waiting for GPS on phones to load we dashed towards the train station, only to be beaten by the other team on 142075 towards the very odd pontypridd station where to get to the other platform you need to go out of the ticket barriers, go over a bridge, onto the other new platform and though another set of barriers, Heart of Wessex decided to stay on the train heading towards Cardiff, 143624 & 143625 pulled in to take us towards Treherbert, where the light rain decided to open up to become heavy.

Once at the station before Treherbert we decided to switch sets, to be in 624, confusing the guard, heading back to Cardiff, myself and 2 others decided to make the running connection at Radyr for the City Line train, 143602, the guard keeping the door open for us and another passenger, both services arrived into Cardiff at the same time pretty much. Heading into Cardiff station itself, it was the end of the challenge, meeting back up with the others to tot up the score, 35 stations was my team of 3's result, beaten by the solo travellers managing 40-odd.

Headed into the city centre for a post challenge meal at a Italian restaurant, afterwards we made back towards the station where everybody disappeared, as I had time to kill I jumped onto 143623/143614 which was heading into Penarth, nice little line, heading back I suffered my first delay of the day, red lights all the way, all traffic stopped due to someone on the tracks. Made it back to Cardiff Central, 20 minutes late, 35 minutes to my return train so I called it a day, going to platform 2, saw something new for me, 153369/153305 pulling into the station heading towards Honiton. 158956 pulled in and 20 minutes later the doors opened and I took my seat, heading backwards, quite a few reservations.

When typing this report coming home, I saw an ATW set made up of a 158 front and a 142 or 143 back has just passed at 7:31, heading towards Cardiff Central. Getting dark now so time to play cards and rest.

--

Trip back after finishing writing was uneventful, quite a few people got off at Bristol, nice quiet run though the heart of Wiltshire, shame I couldn't see anything though, barriers open at Salisbury so all tickets kept

Next weekend might be a trip to Worcester via Reading and Alton, or maybe another London bash (southeastern lines), not quite sure yet

I've got some unfinished business with the Valley Lines, so I'm thinking the late May bank holiday weekend to attack the remaining lines when on a Freedom of Severn & Solent Rover

 

[Crossover]

Having traveled most of the way towards Cardiff the night before (as far as Newport), there was a good opportunity to get out and make some use of the days ticket. Having stayed at the Ibis in Newport, near the M4, there was something of a walk to be done before the day could properly start. A good half hour walk and a visit to to the ticket office to obtain tickets, and along with ainsworth74, we were off on the 09:01 to Cardiff Central on 158763.

On arrival, and after a quick visit to Upper Crust for breakfast, it was off on the 09:46 service to Penarth to clear off the branch, with a quick turnaround and back to Grangetown, all in the hands of 150253. Grangetown seems a little odd in being a relatively small station, but still with a standard issue big metal shelter (with no wind breaks on it whatsoever!) and a TVM that was even covered! Of course, all the station brickwork was painted Arriva turquoise! Next up was another 150, 150241, which we took along to Barry Island, and passed a large number of freight branches as we ventured along the Docks. We arrived early so the opportunity was taken for a wander along the platform before the return working, on which we got chatting to one of the many friendly locals. Through to Queen St (meeting starmill along the way) this time before making our way back to Central on 150242, though not before we watched a 66 pass through with a hefty freight.

A bit of time until the start, but with nowhere else to go within the time, we headed to the start point to meet the others. The start time soon approached and the most of the group headed for the train to Merthyr Tydfil via Cardiff Queen Street, on 150231, with chaos ensuing as the Coryton train seemed to get held in the platform, ours come behind, and neither going anywhere for some time (in which time the Coryton train lost the route too!) This must have been one of the larger groups travelling together on a challenge before!

I can't say I recall that much of the journey, but we decided as we approached Merthyr that we would attempt the bus connection to Aberdare. Off the train and we were pondering where we should go (great planning eh!) - one of the local overheard us and advised us to head through the arcade, turn right and it couldn't be missed...spot on the instructions were too! That said, we weren't quite prepared for the somewhat unique 'S' shaped bus station that greeted us and typically, we were at the wrong end!

Traveline suggested taking the number 6 route, but on arrival at the stand, a few jumped on the number 9, and before we could know what was happening, it had left! It transpired it was the slower route, so no worries, and after about 10 minutes, 47236 turned up - sadly this wasn't a loco, but an Optare Solo M850 - still a nice journey past one of the smaller football grounds I have ever seen, and into a wet Aberdare. With GPS assistance, across to the station we went, via a thankfully short route, given we arrived with not long to spare - this time at 142075, the first Pacer of the day (had to happen sometime!)

Along to the unusually laid out station at Pontypridd where we were onto 143624 and 143625 back to Treherbert, just in time as the rain started coming down rather heavily. As we passed along the lines, the driver was out a couple of times to use the block instruments to get the single line - in the case of the last one before Treherbert, it was in a rotting portakabin! Most of the group changed units at the penultimate stop Ynyswen, whereas I didn't risk it and instead swapped at Treherbert itself after a little walk around the platform. The last service was the same unit all the way back to Cardiff Central - for 3 of us, this was via the same route as before via Queen Street, but the other group bailed at Radyr and we were watched on as we wondered whether the train would leave without them...it didn't. That meant we were back at Central with a good 10 minutes to spare, and with 30 stations by my count - not too bad to say we only did 4 separate services!!!

Off into a, thankfully, now much drier Cardiff and to a rather nice Italian restaurant a stones throw from the station - there had been mentions by a few of us about Wetherspoons, but it was lucky we didn't pick this given it was rammed with football supporters! It was still light so we headed back to the station to head for the Ebbw Vale Parkway service - plenty time to wait so some headed off to do Cardiff Bay in the interim whilst others stayed at the station, rewarded by a passing Black 5 on a railtour from Manchester Victoria via the HoW line, but with the disadvantage of being surrounded by the aforementioned, rather rowdy, supporters waiting to head back to London. More chaos as two units were put together for our service and I think we left late. Not a bad journey and with enough time to have a quick wander at Ebbw Vale Parkway itself. This and the journey back were in the hands of 150283 and 150254, traveling in the former both ways (although I hadn't realised the table on the journey there was covered in Lager and I put my bag in it ) - the latter being in a rather bad state and smelling rather funky by the time we were at Ebbw Vale, so we kept to the same unit once more!

The day thus ended with 175109 on the 20:55 ATW service to Chester along with yorkie, ainsworth74 and starmill - 3 of us heading to Newport and starmill further North. This was a unit myself and a couple of others were well acquainted with after spending 3.5 hours on it the evening before traveling from Manchester to Newport!

 

[Kite159]

How was the Ibis next to the M4?

Wasn't that a rugby ground we passed on the bus?

 

[Crossover]

It may have been a rugby ground - can't say I noticed more than the grass and a small "stand"

The Ibis was alright - functional I guess. Despite being next to the M4, it wasn't that loud.
However, it is a trek from the station and on arrival (via a dingy underpass), if after 9, you have to walk round the whole building plus more to get to the car park entrance!

This Ibis was a recommendation as being quiet and cheap...I won't lie, I was a tad miffed to find a Travelodge right next to the station as we walked to it on Saturday morning!

 

[Kite159]

It was a very small stand.

Probably has some strong soundproofing for being quiet.

 

[gnolife]

I'm planning on doing a trip report at some point, but for the time being, I've got one comment to make.

Why didn't anyone go for my suggestion of a trip to Newport during the challenge? I thought it was a pretty good one.

 

[Crossover]

We know your game gnolife, we know your game

 

[yorkie]

That bus race was most unexpected and rather amusing. We would have boarded the train before the others if only we'd managed to work out how to get from the bus station to the railway station more quickly!

....- can't say I noticed more than the grass and a small "stand"

I think it was the Welfare Ground. Tiny stand indeed

This Ibis was a recommendation as being quiet and cheap...I won't lie, I was a tad miffed to find a Travelodge right next to the station as we walked to it on Saturday morning!

If I remember rightly, when I looked at the prices, the Travelodge was extortionately priced for one of the nights (the Saturday night I think).

 

[Kite159]

All this modern technology and it couldn't locate a GPS signal.

 

[bb21]

This Ibis was a recommendation as being quiet and cheap...I won't lie, I was a tad miffed to find a Travelodge right next to the station as we walked to it on Saturday morning!

Well, it was my recommendation at the last challenge, but my excuse is that it was very cheap at that time. I think it was £18 a night or something like that. The Travelodge was at least a tenner more, so even if throwing in a shared taxi fare it is still cheaper.