A lazy start to my last day of holiday. Up and out for the 11:34 to Bristol TM after needing to write a disagreeable email which took me right back to work mode a weekend early.
Mooched around Temple Meads for a bit, getting some pictures of the Class 31's on the Brighton service. Finally away on time - a promising start arriving early at the first couple of stops prior to Bath Spa.
After Bath, things started to sound a little odd from the front of the first coach. We struggled into Salisbury a minute or so early, and a fitter took a look at 31452 which was leading. With some help from an EWS driver who signs 31's and was travelling with us, they noted that fuel was not getting to the engine - a switch had been set which prevented a flow from the main tank on each engine leaving us with the emergency header tank. The engine speed governor had then shut down the engine. We appeared to have 450 gallons or so of fuel, so that was not likely to present a problem. Off we went, much more smoothly from Salisbury onwards.
Things got sticky again on the South Coast, and by Worthing we had real problems. 31454 had shut down after leaving Worthing, and on entering Southwick, 31452 failed. We were approximately 4.5 miles from Brighton, and were blocking the entire South Coast route. Within 20 minutes of desperate efforts to get started we had nine services behind us, and no local hope of a rescue. Since nothing was getting into Brighton, nothing much was getting out in the opposite direction. Well and truly stuck.
I fell in with a Wessex guard I recognised and some EWS staff who'd come some distance for 31 mileage, and we shared a taxi to Worthing in the hope of getting something back towards the West Country (at least trains stop at Worthing - which appears not to be the case at Southwick!). Long wait for a Bognor Regis train as far as Barham, and then a Southampton service. This ended up terminating at Fareham (South Central not wanting to stray too far away from their home area in the chaos of which we'd caused). Hopped off at Cosham for refreshments (courtesy of the now legendary Dong's takeaway) then onto the 20:39 to Bristol - which arrived on time but lost minutes as we continued. I finally arrived back at Temple Meads at 23:02 - with only 20 minutes to spare before the last Weston train. A bit of an epic day - quite sociable in many ways, despite being disappointing in terms of traction.
The eventual cause of the failure was pretty frustrating - we ran out of fuel in both locomotives. They'd been taken to Merehead for refuelling the previous day, and the driver who did so had not checked they were filled before returning to Westbury. A faulty gauge (reporting 450 gallons back at Salisbury!) had not helped at all. Someone has a lot of very expensive explaining to do!
The first day of my slightly extended week off. Totally unplanned for, and possibly occuring at the worst time financially possible, being in the middle of a month where payday fell earlier than usual.
Kicked off with a long promised trip up the next Welsh Valley. Astute readers will recall that when things got rather tricky back in November I responded by returning to my track-bashing ways. The first such journey being some new track up to Rhymney. I'm not sure why I've neglected the valley lines for so long, considering they are practically on my doorstep. Perhaps that's just why! In any case, I decided to go to Merthyr Tydfil.
As I realised I'd be passing Aberfan, I called my dad to ask him how long ago it was I last passed down the Taff Vale on a family trip to Porthcawl. He pointed out the site of the disaster to us, and the ranks of memorials on the valley side. Despite being rather young, I have always remembered it vividly. Dad estimated that trip must have taken place in 1980 at the latest. Felt exceedingly old.
Reasonable run to Bristol, where I spotted the Class 31 hauled 12:52 to Brighton. I'm booked on this next week, so I sincerely hope to see it then! Over to Cardiff on a slightly sluggish 150/153 combination, and then onto a Valley Lines 143 for the trip up the Taff Vale.
The first part of the line is essentially a suburban service - Cathays and stations to Radyr appearing to be busy and well kept. After that it's out into the valley, with impressive scenery and somewhat less depressing (and apparently more affluent) small towns and villages than the Rhymney branch.
Passed Aberfan on the other side of the valley (just like on the last trip!). Almost identical in appearance to my last visit which remains so clear in my memory, despite the new A470 zooming by behind the cemetary. Saw only a little of Merthyr before heading back to Cardiff, and then a busy commuter service to Weston.
Rather dangerously discovered that I can now order Pizza online... A strange day, but productive at least, which is half the trouble with these darn holidays...
Set out with every intention of finally travelling along the Heart of Wales line, with the help of the new Circular Day Ranger ticket which would cover my journey from Newport to Craven Arms, down to Swansea and back to Newport for a reasonable £20.
First challenge was getting Weston-super-Mare station staff to sell me the ticket. I was gently persistent, and finally they turned up the goods. They were actually very patient with me, and I can't fault them.
First inkling that things might be wrong came at Bristol Temple Meads, with a prior service from Platform 5 terminating at Leominster! Pressed on, catching 11:20 to Newport. Here I realised that there were in fact major engineering works on the Marches Line, which were going to hamper my progress. Set off on the 11:59 to Leominster, and changed for a bus to Craven Arms.
Arriving at Ludlow at 13:30 I realised that I just wasn't going to make the 13:39 to Swansea. I gave up, found a toilet at Tesco and turned for home.
Since its been a while since I've used the Marches Line it was not an entirely wasted journey. Strangely, on reflection I found the whole thing incredibly frustrating. Feeling weirdly deflated now.
Decided to take advantage of some Great Western diversions to get some unusual track today. Chose the first day of service after the holidays, and also one on which there was network-wide engineering work happening. Hence, I had a lot of company all day!
Set out for Westbury to pick up a Paddington to Penzance service which travelled via Yeovil to Exeter, using the curve between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction. Two long cold waits and an entire leg of the journey standing in a vestibule later I turned around and did the same again. At least I got a seat on the return journey.
Extended wait at Westbury for a Bristol bound service heading back. I have to say that Westbury is probably one of my least favourite stations to get stranded at. Oddly, I've found myself there three times in the last couple of months!
Overall, I spent nine hours making a journey which I could complete in around two by the more direct route. It's fair to say that common sense was not a factor in the decision to do this. You'd need to be a track basher to understand I suppose.
Lost::MikeGTN
I've had a home on the web for more years than I care to remember, and a few kind souls persuade me it's worth persisting with keeping it updated. This current incarnation of the site is centred around the blog posts which began back in 1999 as 'the daylog' and continued through my travels and tribulations during the following years.
I don't get out and about nearly as much these days, but I do try to record significant events and trips for posterity. You may also have arrived here by following the trail to my former music blog Songs Heard On Fast Trains. That content is preserved here too.
