6th June 1999

Cardiff Railway Company
Barry Transport Festival Specials

Route (morning excursion) :
1Z01 : Rhymney to Barry Town
1Z02 : Barry Town to Cwm Bargoed
1Z03 : Cwm Bargoed - Barry Town

Route (afternoon excursion) :
1Z04 : Barry Town to Cwm Bargoed
1Z05 : Cwm Bargoed - Barry Town
1Z06 : Barry Town to Rhymney

Notes :
(1) 50031 + D444 on rear.
(2) 37796 + 37802 on rear.

Source : Gary Thornton.
(travelled on morning excursion throughout)

Tour Review
(by Gary Thornton)

As a shareholder in the "The Fifty Fund" I was very pleased when, some 18 months ago, one of our three locomotives (50031 "Hood") gained certification for operating on the mainline. Now, all this time later and it is the turn of another of the fleet, D444, to begin its second mainline career. Unlike many "first passenger runs", 44's was a quiet affair on Friday 4th June when it double-headed with 50031 on a Cardiff to Rhymney commuter train. Two days later however and D444 shared the honours in hauling a special train operated by The Cardiff Railway Company. The train, originating at Rhymney, ran to Barry (where there was the annual bus-fest, sorry - Barry Island Festival of Transport) then up the steeply graded freight line to Cwm Bargoed. On returning to Barry another run to Cwm Bargoed was scheduled before returning to Rhymney (via Barry again). The train was rostered for 50031 & D444 at one end and a Class 37 at the other...

To make Rymney for the 09.20 departure entailed me getting up at 05.15 for the drive to a friends where I dumped my car and became a passenger in his (good job too as I was quite tired!). We made Rhymney in plenty of time and were pleased to find the Welsh valleys bathed in brilliant early morning sunshine. Just as we arrived so did the 37....no, wait, pair of 37's. 37796 and 37802 appeared and coupled onto the south end of the seven coach rake. By the time a "nodding donkey" (class 143) had cleared the section and our train was shunted across to the platform (dense clouds of white exhaust smoke from the 50's, though mostly it looked to be from 31) we managed to leave about 10 minutes down with the tractors leading. The run to Cardiff was quite swift and though we had a booked eight minute stop here we still left eight late. Passing Canton depot several 37's (including 710 and 242) and four 66's (009, 071 & 078 plus one other) were noted.

Barry was reached at 10.35 and just a few minutes to view 66062/091 & 105 before we departed back towards Cardiff, now with the hoovers in charge. Another smoke screen was put up as we headed away from Barry, more in keeping with a Deltic departure than one from a Class 50! No change at Canton depot and with more passengers collected at Cardiff Central we headed off towards Cwm Bargoed. Our route as far as Ystrad Mynach South Junction was the reverse of our first run from Rhymney but from the junction we curved off onto the freight line. I last did this 10 mile branch in 1995 with a pair of Class 33's at the head - and it was simply superb with the 33's having to work very hard on the rising grade all the way to Cwm Bargoed itself. This ascent was just as memorable with both 50's working together noisily to get us up the hill. The vegetation however seemed to have taken over a bit and there was much scraping of branches against the coaches at various times. We stopped at Cwm Bargoed crossing then once the gates were opened we passed it to reach the same point as my previous visit in 1995. On that occasion a rake of wagons prevented us going further. This time an un-clipped facing point was preventing us progressing right to the buffers but, once clipped, we rolled on until D444 was just about touching the buffers.

Departure was a minute before time and the run back to Ystrad Mynach was made with the 37's on the brakes most of the way. Our path was retraced to Cardiff Central but then we ran along the suburban line route to Ninian Park, just to the east of Canton depot. At Ninian Park we reversed and took the freight curve (Penarth Curve North to South Junction) to get to Barry. This was a booked move to put the 37's at the front of the train for visit two to Cwm Bargoed. Arrival at Barry was about on time. A look at the coach sides showed the very prominent scrape marks from the vegetation along the freight branch. I can only imagine the comments of the owner of the coaches about this!

My colleague and myself had elected to leave the train at Barry and get back to Rhymney by service train (use of Valley Line services on our £11 special train ticket was also permitted). We got back by way of 150278 to Barry Island for a brief look at the "Vale of Glamorgan" steam railway, 143603 to Cardiff Central for a visit to Burger King and finally 143606 to Rymney. As we approached Ystrad Mynach on the nodding donkey we were passed by D444/50031 (working hard!) + 37802/786 on their way back to Barry.

Verdict : Yet another worthwhile day out. Requiring both 37's for haulage was an additional reason to enjoy the day.

Route, Distances and Timing's (Booked and Actual)

1Z01 : 37802 + 37796 leading

1Z02 : D444 & 50031 leading

1Z03 : 37802 + 37796 leading to Ninian Park,
D444 & 50031 from Ninian Park

1Z04 : 37802 & 37796 leading

1Z05 : D444 & 50031 leading

1Z06 : 37802 & 37796 leading

Key;
a : arrival time
c : crew change
d : departure time
r : reversal of direction
t : stop to collect/return token
/ : passing time

All distances, in miles and chains (M & C), are taken from the timing sheet given out on the train. No attempt has been made to verify the mileages given.

Gary Thornton.

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