Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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Class 153 'Super Sprinter', single-coach railcar.

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So we get into Cardiff proper and we take Cleo to all her favourite shops.

We ended up in 'The Gatekeeper', part of the Wetherspoons chain, and had a few drinks.

Typical Neo had his usual two jugs of cocktails :bar:, I had a couple of pints and Cleo, two large glasses of Chardonnay. :blink:

As the Cardiff Bay trains had been cancelled, we caught a Taxi to take us to Cardiff Bay.

I can't guarantee how good the next series of photographs are.

As I had quite a lot to drink you see. :drinkingsong:

Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay

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Interesting bronze statue group!

Group of three bronze sculptures: standing man wearing boots and overalls, holding a newspaper in right hand, leaning against railings looking at a woman who is seated on railings with her left arm outstretched looking out over the water, holding a shoe in her lap. In front of both a seated dog.

It's called.......

People Like Us - Pobl fel Ni (1993)​

By

John Clinch (1934–2001)​

'People Like Us' represents the people who lived and worked in the area, then known as 'Tiger Bay', in the days when it was a thriving commercial port.

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16th May 2023

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NetworkRail:

Rail passengers urged to check before travelling between Cardiff and Newport following severe lineside fire​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Western | Wales & Borders

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Fire damage to signalling cabinet, Marshfield​

Minor disruption continues as Network Rail engineers work around the clock to repair extensive damage to signalling equipment and overhead wires.

Passengers travelling in south Wales are being urged to check before they travel until the end of May following a fire which caused damage to signalling equipment and overhead electric wires.

Work by Network Rail's engineers overnight means disruption is now minimal - a few minutes per journey - and the restoration of the overhead cables means electric trains can also run again, which will be a big help before and after the Beyoncé concert at the Principality Stadium, in Cardiff, on Wednesday 17 May.

However, passengers are being advised to check before they travel until the end of the month, as the signalling equipment will take longer to fix and minor disruption is likely to continue.

The blaze was reported in the early hours of Monday 15 May, at Marshfield, between Newport and Cardiff, and the railway was shut immediately before two lines were able to reopen, later that morning.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
 
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Fire damage to signalling cabinet, Marshfield​

Nick Millington, route director at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said: “We're very sorry for the disruption passengers are facing between Cardiff and Newport following a fire which caused severe damage to signalling equipment and overhead cables.

“The success of our engineering teams overnight means disruption is now minimal - a few minutes per journey - and the restoration of the overhead cables means electric trains can also run again, which will be a big help before and after the Beyoncé concert in Cardiff, tomorrow night.

“As work continues to repair the signalling equipment over the coming weeks, we are urging passengers to please check before travelling with their train operator.”
 
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NR engineers at Marshfield​

Richard Rowland, GWR Customer Service & Operations Director, said: “We’re asking customers to check before they travel and allow more time for their journeys both before and after the concert.

“Safety of our customers is of the uppermost importance. Trains do get very busy and there will be a need to queue outside the station following the gig. Customers travelling from further afield are reminded to check the time of the last trains home.”

CrossCountry’s Regional Director, Huw Margetts, said: “We’re grateful to Network Rail colleagues for quickly getting the lines open again, which will be a big help to those going to Cardiff by train for the concert on Wednesday. However journeys may take a little longer, and with a limited service in the evening we’re asking everybody to check their journey home carefully.”

Elliott Swallow, Head of Current Operations at TfW, said: “We’re advising our customers to plan their journeys carefully for services in both directions between Cardiff - Newport as disruption and delays are expected as a result of the displacement of train crew and trains.

“This could result in reduced capacity on some services and while we’re working hard to minimise disruption as much as we possibly can, we’re expecting an impact on services until 24 May at the earliest.”
 
16th May 2023

Southeastern release update on Class 375 train fleet upgrades​

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The halfway milestone in the £10 million upgrade of Southeastern's 112-strong Class 375 mainline train fleet was reached when the 56th train rolled out of Ashford Maintenance Depot.

All 112 of Southeastern's Class 375 ‘Electrostar' trains that .operates on routes serving Kent, East Sussex, and mainline London stations are being upgraded.

The improvements include the provision of at-seat power sockets and USB points, new LED lighting, and energy metering, which means that the railway only pays for the power it uses.

LED lights use 75-80% less energy to produce the same amount of light as incandescent or fluorescent lights, the reduction in demand for electricity will help to lower greenhouse gas emissions associated with lighting.
 
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Southeastern Class 375 train​

The Class 375 fleet is owned by Eversholt Rail Limited, and was introduced by Connex South Eastern between 2001 and 2005.

In August 2021 a contract was let to the company to modify the fleet which comprises 112 units in four sub-classes:
  • Class 375/3 – three-car trains;
  • Class 375/6 – four-car trains with dual voltage capability allowing to work on the third rail electrification across Southeastern's network or underneath overhead electrification.;
  • Class 375/7 – four-car trains;
  • Class 375/9 – four-car trains.
A team of ten based at Southeastern's Ashford Train Maintenance Centre working days and nights on a five shift turnaround are upgrading two trains per week.

The work is quite extensive as much of the train's interior needs to be removed to gain access to fit the new electrical connections. Full testing takes place before each train is refitted to ensure that the new connections work correctly.

Mark Johnson, Southeastern's Engineering Director, said: “The steady progress being made by our engineering team on the improvements to our ‘Electrostar' trains means that customers are now more likely than not to be travelling on an upgraded train. This will enhance the journey experience on our mainline routes connecting London with Kent and East Sussex.

“There are cost benefits too as the new LED lighting has a longer lifespan and the electricity meters we are fitting contribute to our energy efficiency.”

Paul Sutherland, Client Services Director, Eversholt Rail, said: “We are delighted to continue to support Southeastern Trains by investing in improving our Class 375 fleet. The Class 375 programme is one of several being carried out across Southeastern's fleets that will improve the passenger experience and drive down costs for the railway”.
 
17th May 2023

West Somerset Railway reveals loco line-up for summer Diesel Festival​

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Class 55 Deltic​

West Somerset Railway (WSR), based in Minehead, will stage a Summer Diesel Festival from Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 June.

The event will celebrate historic diesel locomotives and will feature sixty-two-year-old Deltic locomotive No 55009.

The Deltic class of locomotives replaced the A4 streamlined Pacific steam locomotives, and were designed for high-speed operation with express passenger trains.

They ran mainly on the East Coast main line between London King's Cross, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

The diesel electric Deltic locomotives earned a reputation for running reliably at high speeds and became known for its characteristic ‘Deltic roar'.

55009 was built by English Electric in 1961, and was based at Finsbury Park depot in North London.

It is named Alycidon, following East Coast tradition of naming locos after racehorses.
 
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55009 Alycidon
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The locomotive will work two round trips each day during the festival, offering the first opportunity this year to travel behind 55009.

Normally based at Barrow Hill near Sheffield, 55009 can be seen on rail tours on the mainline from time to time.

Last September, it returned to rail tours for the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
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50008 Thunderer

Another mainline visitor will be Class 50 locomotive no. 50008 Thunderer.

Built in 1968 by English Electric.

50008 originally headed express passenger trains on the West Coast Main line between Crewe and Glasgow.

After the line was electrified, 50008 and most Class 50 locomotives moved to the Great Western main line and from there to the line from London Waterloo to Exeter.

The loco was withdrawn from regular mainline service in 1992, but is still active on the main line occasionally today and can be seen on a variety of rail tours and other work.
 
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Class 25 No. D7659 at Weybourne on the North Norfolk Railway

Class 25 diesel locomotive No D7659 will visit the festival from Peak Rail in Derbyshire.

D7659 returned to service during the latter part of 2021 for the first time in more than twenty-three years, following a comprehensive restoration that amounted to rebuilding the 1966 loco.

It was the final locomotive built by Beyer Peacock at Gorton Works in Manchester, and saw just over twenty years' work with British Railways mostly in the Midlands and Northwest but also in Wales and Scotland.
 
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D9551​

Class 14 No. D9551 will make a welcome return to the West Somerset Railway in memory of Diesel and Electric Preservation Group (DEPG) member and volunteer Simon Purvis, who sadly died recently after a short illness.

D9551 entered service in September 1965 following the design of BR(W) and was based at Cardiff Canton.

It moved to Hull Dairycoates in 1967, and was withdrawn from service in 1968 after just two years and seven months in service.

In 1981 the locomotive was bought for preservation by the ‘Railway Power Services', a group formed from a consortium of West Somerset Railway and DEPG members.

It arrived on the WSR from the British Steel Corporation's Corby site and entered service on 7 June 1981.

While D9551 was based at the WSR it was used on works trains and passenger services, particularly the ‘Quantock Belle' dining trains.

Today, the locomotive is owned by SVR Class 14 Company Limited and can be seen running on the Severn Valley Railway.

During the event, the Class 14s will carry a wreath and special headboard in memory of Simon, who was very well respected both within the DEPG and throughout the heritage railway sector for his vast and detailed knowledge of the Class 14s.

Class 33 No 33002 will also appear at the festival. It is the oldest surviving Class 33 ‘Crompton' in preservation and resides at the South Devon Railway running between Buckfastleigh and Totnes.

The locomotive was built in 1959 at Smethwick to be used for passenger and freight working in British Railways' Southern region.

It was restored to working order in 2008 by the South Devon Diesel Traction group, and will join the two West Somerset Railway resident Class 33 locomotives, D6566 and D6575.

The visiting locomotives will work alongside the various resident locos, which are maintained by the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group based at Williton.

The DEPG works and depot at Williton will be open for festival visitors, and there will also be a variety of display and shop stands maintained by preservation groups.
 
18th May 2023

65 extra trains every week to South Wales in new timetable​

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From next Monday, Great Western Railway is set to run an extra 65 trains every week in South Wales as part of its May Timetable Change.

The extra sixty-five trains will be direct services between Carmarthen and London Paddington, extending previous trains beyond Swansea.

They will call at Llanelli, Pembrey, and Burry Port, and provide services every two hours.
 
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Swansea Station​

Additional weekday departures:
  • Carmarthen to London: 09.27; 11.27; 14.24; 16.19; 18.18; 20.30 (to Bristol Parkway)
  • London to Carmarthen: 06.48; 09.48; 11.48; 13.48; 15.48
Additional Saturday departures:
  • Carmarthen to London: 09.32; 13.25; 15:28; 17.20; 19.19 (to Swansea)
  • London to Carmarthen: 06.48, 08.48, 10.48, 12.48, 14.48
Summer services to Pembroke Dock will resume for the first time since Covid, with four services a day between May and September.

Elsewhere, 44 additional train services every day will serve the wider Bristol area and there will be changes to London and Thames Valley services.

As part of the MetroWest scheme, services between Gloucester and Bristol will be doubled, and there will be an extra train an hour between Westbury and Bristol.
 
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