Leaping at Gowerton off 2C88 in 1977/78

Leaping at Gowerton, 1977-1978

Swansea – Gowerton is a mere 5.64 miles but a good bit is climbing up the 1 in 52 Cockett bank to the West of Swansea. 2C88 1810 Swansea – Carmarthen was normally 4 Mk I’s with a few vans and was always , when i covered it, a “South Wales steamer”. As per the list below a fair few Canton/Landore xb 37’s were raked in on this classic train. On leaping at little Gowerton in Summer you walked down the old Midland track bed to Dunvant and Killay to get home. In Winter, especially when it was raining, a SWT Leyland National got you home.

It was a long wak from Uni to Swansea High Street, often in monsoon rains that Swansea is renown for. The loco for the 1810 was normally at the stops on a parcels before being released around 1745 to start steaming the stock in platform 4. If it was a dud one, you walked away and this happened umpteen times. However on the occasions listed a “newie” was on offer so you chung out 33p for a Swansea – Gowerton single ticket and you bagged a front compo for the thrash!

With the dim lights of a Mk 1 compo and a growling 37190 gently steaming your stock and thrashing her guts out it was great, albeit shortlived fun

There must have been a good few bus stop moves we regularly did, Edinburgh – Haymarket and Exeter SD-Central spring to mind

7/5/77 Sa

37247 2C88 1810 Swansea-Carmarthen SW-GO

10/5/77 Tu

37187 2C88 1810 Swansea – Carmarthen SW-GO

24/5/77 Tu

37184 2C88 1810 Swansea – Carmarthen SW-GO

28/5/77 Sa

37185 2C88 1810 Swansea-Carmarthen SW-GO

2/6/77 Th

47504 1530 Fishguard-Swansea GO-SW

not impressed at all after walking the 4 miles to Gowerton, but being the loco and stock off the down boat train it was no suprise. Didnt do this move again!

4/6/77 Sa

37191 2C88 1810 Swansea-Carmarthen SW-GO

6/6/77 Mo

37175 2C88 1810 Swansea-Carmarthen SW-GO

20/1/78 Fr

37177 2C88 1810 Swansea-Carmarthen SW-GO

26/1/78 Th

37183 2C88 1810 Swansea-Carmarthen SW-GO

2/3/78 Th

37179 2C88 1810 Swansea-Carmarthen SW-GO

13/11/78 Mo

37181 2C88 1810 Swansea-Carmarthen SW-GO

23/11/78 We

37182 2C88 1810 Swansea-Carmarthen SW-GO

25/11/78 Fr

37190 2C88 1810 Swansea-Carmarthen SW-GO

and that was that, the other steamers except 37178 were all raked in on the 2125 Swansea – Bristol overnight or the 1705 Newport – Swansea, 37178 was raked in years later on a tour in the late 80’s…

The “South Wales steamers” fleet (20)

37175, 37176, 37177, 37178, 37179, 37180, 37181, 37182, 37183, 37184, 37185, 37186, 37187, 37188, 37189, 37190, 37191, 37192, 37247, 37268

caned in on the 1810 (12)

37175, 37177, 37179, 37181, 37182, 37183, 37184, 37185, 37187, 37190, 37191, 37247

Phot spot