10th July – Another trip to South Wales

10^th July – Another trip to South Wales

This week I had plans for another trip to South Wales, to focus on the stations I need on the Maesteg line as well as a couple other stations, finishing off with hopefully a walk along the River Taff from Radyr to Cardiff.  The trip began like it did a couple weeks ago with an early morning drive to Salisbury station, picking up breakfast from Sainsburys & my ranger from the ticket office before the 07:30 Cardiff Central service arrived.  Like a couple weeks ago it was quite busy in the leading coach, before it ran into another 165 at Westbury to form 5 coaches for the remaining trip, I was sensible to jump from the warm 166 to the cold (and quiet) 165.

 

Unlike a couple weeks ago, the service didn’t go via Bristol Temple Meads due to the start of the multi-week Bristol blockade (when they are replacing & remodelling the tracks) so the train turned right over the lesser used “Rhubarb/Dr Days Curve” to head towards Bristol Parkway where it reversed following a Swansea bound IET set through the tunnel and into Wales, arriving into Cardiff on time giving me around 15 minutes to wait before the next train towards Bridgend.

 

165 during the reversal at Bristol Parkway

 

A single 150 rolled in from Manchester, and it looked rather wedged out.  Thankfully Cardiff is a station where a good percentage of travellers change so I managed to get a decent seat for the short run to Bridgend, where it was starting to fill up again.  I also noticed another 150 on the next Manchester train departing Bridgend again looking rather full, the new Welsh stock can’t come soon enough, putting an end to 2 coach units on busy services.  Anyhow I was at Bridgend to await the next train towards Cardiff via Barry, which was a nice pair of 150s which I took to Llantwit Major Station, where I had 30 minutes to have a little walk around this little town before the next Bridgend train.

 

I returned to the station and caught the next Bridgend service, another pair of 150s, arriving on time where I noticed the next Maesteg service was showing as delayed by around 20 minutes, sadly not quite enough time to grab a bonus station but I took the next Gloucester train (a 2 coach 170) to Pencoed, solely as a time wasting move before a pair of 153s rolled in from Cardiff which took me to the end of the line at Maesteg, where I had a gentle walk to Tesco for lunch before heading towards the other station in Maesteg at Ewenny Road, which isn’t actually accessed off the road of the same name!

 

153s at Maesteg

 

A pretty area I will return to, solely to have a decent walk towards the hills as there seems to be some interesting looking paths showing on the map, anyhow I took the following Maesteg train from Ewenny Road to Maesteg itself returning on the same unit (a 3 coach 170 this time) to the dump (sorry anybody who lives in that area) of Wildmill.  Thankfully I didn’t have long to wait before another 2 coach 170 arrived which took me to Garth, a much nicer station near a river, allowing me time to get away from the mask, even if was for only 10 minutes before the 170 returned from Maesteg to take me to Pontyclun where I had another short break and another little walk around the area.

 

Back at Pontyclun station, it was onto another 170 this time taking me back one stop to Llanharan, for a short wait before a 3 coach 170 arrived (quite busy) which took me to Cardiff Central, where I had a short walk over to platform 6 to take a required 769 up the hill to Cardiff Queen Street, swapping over to my last Welsh 150 needed for mileage working a Cardiff Bay – Pontypridd service, which I took to Taffs Well for a short wait before heading back towards Llandaf as a time wasting move before the next Merthyr Tydfil service arrived.

 

For some reason, today the Merthyr Tydfil services were calling additionally at Trefforest Estate which normally would only be served by the hourly Cardiff Central – Pontypridd services, in the current timetable (yes I know before covid arrived, both Merthyr Tydfil services called at Trefforest Estate giving it an half hourly service).  When I saw it on RTT earlier in the week I was expecting they were calling there with the Pontypridd short services axed due to staff/unit shortages.  Anyhow I wasn’t going to miss this chance to get a slightly awkward station (normally a +2 from the north), so I alighted at Trefforest Estate (along with a couple others who got confused as the train was announcing it as Trefforest).

 

A 150 departing Trefforest Estate under the very tall signs

 

I didn’t have long to wait at Trefforest Estate (with the super tall signs!) before the Cardiff Central train arrived from Pontypridd, which took me back to Radyr, where on exiting the train, removed my mask and went for my walk towards the Taff Trail, walking along the river, although I did get lost at one point and didn’t fancy going down a steep bank for some stepping stones over a fast flowing stream near the railway bridge between Radyr & Llandaf.  I backtracked to find the right path, but not before walking onto the river bank underneath the railway bridge in an attempt for a photo of a passing train, but it wasn’t the best :(

 

A 150 crosses the railway viaduct over the River Taff north of Llandaff

 

I crossed over the river on the footbridge attached to the railway bridge and went along the path before crossing back over making use of an old railway viaduct built for the “Llandaff Loop Line” which has been converted to be used by walkers/bikes.  I followed the river some more, with Hailey Park to one side, the river views were very hit & miss due to hedges/trees on one side, but there was some nice views when it opened up or areas opened up to go down onto the stones by the river bank.  Continuing along the river heading towards Cardiff City centre, crossing over once more at the “Black Weir” bridge to continue towards the city centre, the path getting busier as time went on, but for parts it split into a tarmacked section and a walked section closer to the river.

 

Blackweir Bridge over River Taff, near Maindy Cardiff

 

Sometime later I reached the millennium stadium before reaching the railway line, going via Tesco for dinner items (and a cold drink!), before heading to the station, where I decided to keep it simple and waited on platform 1 to eat my dinner and relax waiting for the 166 to arrive, to take me back to Salisbury.  A random 20 minute delay at Westbury meant I was late getting into Salisbury but the train was quiet enough (I suspect not going via Bristol Temple Meads might have helped with loadings).

 

It was a nice relaxing drive home, before I had a nice cool shower.  The Sunday was a day-off due to the local services on my line being replaced by buses due to staff shortages due to the kickball final, also for a day to carry on sorting out stuff at home.