Friday 11th March 1977
After the excesses! of a hard Friday afternoon at Swansea Uni it was the long walk, probably in the rain along Kings Edwards Road to the station. As usual a “South Wales Weekend Explorer” ticket was purchased which gave me validity to Bristol and half the world in between. The usual HST or “zing”, “Flying Banana” or whatever these much disliked trains (from an enthusiast point of view) was joined for the run to Cardiff.
At Cardiff it was an hour of watching the nonstop procession of freight, parcels, DMUs and hauled passenger traffic before joining 46043 on the 2005 Cardiff – Crewe. Just the 11.75 miles behind the 46 (a regular class on this train) for a Newport bail.
At Newport you could watch the procession of passing traffic from the warmth of the buffet and enjoy banter with the local spotters and bashers. A disappointing 47247 (this was often a steaming 37) produced on the 2125 Swansea – Bristol. Very limited kip then the bustling Temple Meads at night, a unique atmosphere and mixture of rail and postal staff, steam heat, the odd enthusiast, lost looking passengers and drunks, plus BTP who were soche enough once they’d checked your ticket.
HST 1805 Swansea -Padd SW-CA
46043 2005 Cardiff-Crewe CA-NP
47247 2125 Swansea-Bristol TM NP-TM
Sunday 12th March 1977
At Temple Meads I bought a bargain “West Country Tripper” ticket which was a day return valid to any station in Devon or Cornwall. Then it was whiling away the 2 hours or so drinking tea, snoozing in the bustling buffet or checking on loco moves to and from the depot plus the always steady (despite the early hour) passing traffic.
The “down Midnight” from Paddington to Penzance had a timetabled 15 minute stop at Temple Meads where passengers were encouraged to visit the buffet! 50037 was joined on arrival and an empty bay of 4 in the lead coach (there were several GUVs on the very front) and i was soon dossed. I stirred at Exeter where a 25 was steaming away on Mk I’s but then a heavy shunt at Plymouth had me and most of the front coach awake at 0640 where 50006 replaced 50037 and the lead GUVs.
I’d like to claim that the scenic wanders of the Saltash Bridge and rolling Cornish hills at dawn had me entranced but i was soon dossed again only waking properly by platform bustle at Truro. Penzance on a warm March morning was very welcoming but 10 minutes was enough for me! and i joined what i think was a 120 DMU on the 0915 Penzance – Plymouth and more fitful doss in the always warm, comfy interiors of these decent units to Par where i bailed.
A long way West, 24054 at Penzance Ponsedane CS being used as a carriage heating unit on March 12th 1977. This loco survives in active preservation
A short walk to St Blazey shed where 08113 and 47028 were photographed. Then 47137 steaming on the 1020 Penzance – Bradford to Bodmin Road ( a superb shack) for a pair in 50025 and 50006 on the up Cornish Riveria to Plymouth.
47028 and 08113 on St Blazey shed, March 12th 1977
50006 and 50025 arrive at Bodmin Parkway with the up Cornish Riveria, March 12th 1977
A sea of 50’s at Plymouth with 50013, 50006n50025 and 50012 on passenger, March 12th 1977
Plymouth was a sea of 50’s, their take over complete after the Westerns had finally been stood down 2 weeks earlier. On passing Laira 1009 and 1053 were still dumped on the scrap road, memories of me and a mate passing this same spot in Aug 73 where we couldn’t believe seeing 1004,1017,1060,1003,1020,1042 and 1032 all dumped, never to work again….
46016 on Westbound China Clay empties at Dawlish on March 12th 1977
50011 at Dawlish with a down passenger on March 12th 1977
33021 at Exeter SD with the 1805 to Waterloo on March 12th 1977
08259, 25223 and 25052 stabled at Exeter “shed” on March 12th 1977
A Dawlish bail, a sea front walk, a few phots then back to Newton Abbot on 50004. My ticket had plenty grips in it now so it was time to return back East. At Exeter SD i opted for my first ever Crompton up the bank with 33021 raked in for under a mile to Exeter Central for 33012 back. A long fester at an always busy Exeter SD with a visit to the “shed”, actually just a wall with locos parked next to, it helped pass the time.
50037 0055 Padd-Penzance TM-PL
50006 0055 Padd-Penzance PL-PZ
DMU 0915 Penzance-Padd PZ-PA
47137 1020 Penzance-Bradford PA-BR
50025} 1055 Penzance-Padd “Cornish Riveria” BR-PL
50006}
50013 1320 Plymouth-Padd PL-DA
50004 1230 Padd-Paignton DA-NA
50021 1510 Plymouth-Manchester NA-EX S
33021 1755 Exeter-Waterloo EX S-EX C
33012 1500 Waterloo-Exeter EX C-EX S
45056 1800 Penzance-Bristol TM EX S-TM
Sunday March 13th 1977
45056 was raked in back to Temple Meads, the guard waking me from my compo slumbers here around midnight. There was just an hour at a quiet Temple Mead s before joining the 0110 Bristol – Cardiff with steamer 37176 up front. The good news is that due engineering work we were diverted via Gloucester which more doss for me and Newport basher “Baby Brazell!” to arrive in Cardiff at the still vile hour of 0310 in the morning.
Our next move was desperate, the class 116 DMU plus van on the 0510 to Rhymney which from memory we joined an hour or so before departure time. Rhymney at 7am on a grey,foggy Sunday morning, the only life was a few sheep and the van picking up the papers from the DMU’s parcels van.
More DMU leaps followed on what few services used to run on Sunday mornings in the Cardiff area back then the afternoon saw various 47’s and 45019 raked in on the prolific Cardiff – Newport corridor then 47498 back to Swansea to end an interesting weekend “Out West”..Happy days…
37176 0110 Bristol TM-Cardiff (via Glos) TM-CA
DMU 0510 Cardiff – Rhymney CA-RH
DMU 0830 Rhymney – Cardiff RH-CA
more DMU leaps
HST 1220 Swansea – Padd CA-NP
47532 1300 Padd-Swansea NP-CA
45019 1555 Cardiff-Newcastle CA-NP
47123 1345 Crewe-Cardiff NP-CA
47510 1655 Swansea-Padd CA-NP
47498 1615 Padd-Swansea NP-SW
end
Leighton Lists 