The Welsh Whistler Railtour, Sat Feb 25th 2006
Pre Tour moves 240206
240206 Fr
86637 d liners
The highlight of the late afternoon was the S96 unit drag with 87006 photted here at Leighton
87006 S96-phot
321405} 1655 Euston-Coventry LB-NO
321437}
321405 1655 Euston-Coventry NO-CO
321405 1902 Coventry-Birmingham CO-NS
158851 1933 Birmingham-Chester NS-WO
Our overnight was in the Brittania Hotel Wolverhampton, a bit creaky but fine
250206 Sa
An early 158 off Wolves safely made the tour’s departure time of 0727 off New St. 40145 looked and sounded superb with a fresh coat of BR be whistling away nicely on departure in New St tunnel. At Stafford our 3rd party member Neil Evans joined and with the sun shining our 40 stormed North through the snowy Macclesfield hills.
Looking and sounding the part 40145 with the tour at New St
Once familiar 40 haunts of Stoke, Stockport and Piccadilly and the last pick up of Chester where there time for a quick photo stop to the background whistling of 40145. Once clear of Chester a hugely enoyable and noisy run through the Marches followed with plenty snow in the Black Mountains around Abergavenny. Newport centre road to much bellowing and finally Cardiff where we arrived in warm sun about 30 down at 1410.
40145 at Chester
Leaving Chester
Leaving Shrewsbury
Middle road at Newport
40145 looking superb in the sun at Cardiff
Desperate times saw the 3 of us do some 142 pacer bashing to Caerphilly for the chippie!
40145 brings the return tour into Cardiff
As the light faded 40145 returned with the ECS for an 1800 departure. Pathfinder officials removed some chap as he boarded, no messing, seemed over the top to me and a few others. Our return with us now nearer the thrash end and as i moved down the train to pick up my raffle prize we came to an abrupt halt at a green signal (DM60) nr Stoke Works Jn. The upbeat mood on the tour dropped understandably hugely as the wait for a rescue loco exceeded 2 hours. Eventually Cotswold’s 47714 buffered up and we were away some 170 late. We had a lift home courtesy of Neil Evans but there was understandable flapping amongst many on the train about simply getting home.
47805 and 40145 at Stafford in the early hours of Feb 26th 2022
At New St 47805 replaced 47714 which we suffered to Stafford for fond farewells to 40145 and afast car home. Despite the failure this had been an enoyable tour.
The Tour Moves
158824 0530 Shrewsbury-Birmingham WO-NS
40145 0600 Crewe-Cardiff 1Z47 Railtour NS-CF
(via Mac,MP,Warr,Shr,Her)
142072 1416 Penarth-Bargoed CF-CA
142010 1605 Bargoed-Penarth CA-QS
143607} 1615 Rhymney-Cardiff QS-CF
142002}
40145 1800 Cardiff-Crewe 1Z48 Railtour CF-SW
Fail Stoke Wks Jn (peg DM 60)
47714} 1800 Cardiff-Crewe 1Z48 Railtour (180 late) SW-NS
40145}
47805} 1800 Cardiff-Crewe 1Z48 Railtour NS-ST
40145(d)}
Organiser – Pathfinder
Ching -£56
Timekeeping 30-180 Late
Stock 10 x Mk I/II
end
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