The Heart of Wales Explorer

Railtours North-West/A1A Charters
Saturday 2nd September 2000

A review from Richard Hughes.

After a couple of faultless Class 31 tours, there had to come at some stage one where things went ever-so-slightly awry. Not that I expected problems on this, an excursion from the North West to Cardiff via the Central Wales line, basically an out-and-back run with a pair of Fragonset goyles. Another joint venture from Railtours North-West and A1A Charters, the former filling most of the train with day-trippers, and the latter filling the front coach with discerning cranks.

Gen on the tour was in short supply (to me at least) in the days before its running, and it wasn't until Thursday night that I heard a quote for traction, 31452 + 31602. Two friends were driving from Leyland to the starting point of Lancaster, but I decided to join at Preston, thereby saving myself two hours for a cost of only 21 miles of haulage. Waiting at Poulton station for my train to Preston, Chris, at Lancaster, phoned me with some unwelcome news: 31602 had flat batteries and would not be playing today. 31452 was setting out alone, but with a load of 11 coaches, would not be allowed to go all the way solo. Somewhat dejected, I made my way to Preston to await the train's arrival. Whilst waiting, I noted the VXC service to Blackpool which then forms the Portsmouth service, was 158750 instead of hauled stock, a reminder that things are never quite as bad as they might be. Shortly afterwards, 47733 on a lengthy intermodal sped north through the station.

The train arrived on time, and I located my companions, Chris and Nick, settled in their seats in Coach A, which would be the leading vehicle throughout the day. I soon learnt that it was the intention to remove 31452 at Chester in favour of 47289. The duff was a required engine, and under different circumstances, I would have been pleased. But a 47 is no substitute for a pair of 31s, so updated gen a little while later that the 47 plan was abandoned, and that 37055 was going to assist the 31, was particularly welcome. The 37 was at Bescot, and would run light to Shrewsbury to meet the tour. 37055 was another required machine for me, so I would still get an unexpected scratch.

This better news enabled me to enjoy the sounds of 31452 struggling with its heavy train as we headed south, taking in the Newton-le-Willows loop, before a lengthy stop at Warrington provided opportunity for a couple of photographs. After viewing the engines in Warrington Yard, we took the Chester line at Acton Grange Jn, and stopped to pick up at Frodsham, a first in my experience on a railtour. Chester next, and then onto the Wrexham line at Saltney Jn, and the assault on the 4 miles of 1 in 82 of Gresford Bank. Speed on this was understandably low, but the thrash level was excellent. After Wrexham, an easier run followed into Shrewsbury, where our assisting engine was waiting. 37055 was quickly attached on top of 31452, and we waited for the right away. And waited....

Before long, someone said our guard didn't have route knowledge of the Central Wales line. If true, this could be considered rather a disadvantage to his usefulness on the tour. Next came an announcement over the PA to the effect that a guard would be arriving by service train, in a little while. 65 minutes after arrival at Shreswsbury, we finally got away, and headed towards Craven Arms. An unscheduled stop at Church Stretton caused some unease, because a fire bell could be heard ringing on 31452, but fortunately it soon ceased, presumably after some tinkering by the driver, and we restarted with only 3 minutes delay. Another PA announcement around this time informed us that the 90 minute break at Llandrindod Wells would be reduced by about 90 minutes. Let's see... 90 minus 90 leaves... erm... well, I didn't really want to visit Llandrindod anyway. The service train we should have passed at Llandrindod was crossed at Knighton instead, where a few minutes wait for the arrival of the pair of 153's provided another photo opportunity.

We continued along this scenic line, the engines performing well along its switchback route. A mostly sunny day, some pleasant scenery and two fine locos made for a very enjoyable run. I've only been along the line twice before (both times northbound), so I welcomed the chance to gawp at the scenery just like a proper tourist. The train did in fact stop at Llandrindod, but only for a few minutes, and apart from a few brief stops for token purposes or to operate level crossing barriers, the only notable stop was at Llandeilo. Here the DMU we were booked to cross arrived promptly, but we stood for 17 minutes, for unexplained reasons.

Diverging at Hendy Jn, we traversed the Swansea District line, and joined the South Wales main line at Briton Ferry Up Fast Line Jn, and then had an opportunity for some fast running as we headed east towards Cardiff. Bridgend was passed on time, but signal checks, culminating in a 7 minute stop outside the station, resulted in a 4 minute late arrival. Just a couple of minutes later, 47780 ran into the adjacent platform with a VSOE Poshex, and disgorged its load of overdressed punters onto the platform, to mingle with the flotsam and jetsam from the railtour. You couldn't tell us apart, honest.

My friends and I split up at Cardiff, and I went off into town to buy a new mouse to replace the one I had killed a few days earlier in a fit of violence when its recalcitrance had enraged me beyond the limits of human tolerance. That's a PS/2 serial mouse, not a fluffy white mammalian one, before anyone calls out the RSPCA SWAT squad. On my return to the station, I reached the platform just in time to see a RES 47 roll into the station, with some maroon coloured stock in tow. Oh dear. Oh ******* dear. Surely some mistake? They wouldn't replace two rateable engines with this, would they? Yes, they ******* would. 47721 was to be the chosen motive power for the return run. Every cloud has a silver lining, so they say, but the fact that I'd only had this loco (as 47557) for a miserable 17 miles didn't seem all that silvery to me. It transpired that 37055 had never been allocated to work the tour back north (in fact it stayed to work on the Rhymney commuters the following week), and 31452 was experiencing ringing fire bells again, enough excuse to fail it.

Some bashers made their excuses and left at this point, and there was a subdued atmosphere among those who remained. The return was via Newport and the Marches line to Shrewsbury, and then the reverse of the outward route back to Lancaster. Several signal checks between Newport and Hereford lost 10 minutes, but this was followed by a decent run to Shrewsbury. Some time was lost onwards to Wrexham, but recovered thanks to a 20 minute booked stand, and we waited time at Chester. Despite another check at Acton Grange, Warrington was reached on time, and from here on, some excellent driving resulted in early running. A booked 10 minute stop at Wigan to allow a following VWC service to overtake was ignored, and we arrived at Preston 18 minutes up on the schedule. I departed at this point, leaving my two friends to continue to Lancaster.

In truth, the trip was a good one. The hour's delay at Shrewsbury excepted, timekeeping was pretty good, and I got over 240 miles of haulage from 31452, and 150-odd out of a required 37/0. And, if I had to choose which ETH 47 to use on the return run, I could have done a lot worse than 47721, a particularly low mileage example for me, and which performed well despite the curses aimed at it from some of its unwilling passengers. All in all, well worth 34 quid of anyone's money.

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

Railtour Operator : Railtours North-West/A1A Charters

31452 : Lancaster - Shrewsbury
37055 + 37452 : Shrewsbury - Cardiff Central
47721 : Cardiff Central - Lancaster

Reporting Codes:
1Z36 Lancaster to Cardiff Central
1Z37 Cardiff Central to Lancaster

Stock: 4951 / 99680 / 99121 / 99125 / 99127 / 99371 / 99319 / 99311 / 99318 / 5032 / 4994

Route, Distances, and Timings.

(distances are those shown in the tour booklet, and have been verified Preston - Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury - Cardiff, and Cardiff - Preston only. The mileages are decimal instead of the more usual miles and chains).

timings continue in first table.

Key;
a : arrival time
d : departure time
t : token exchange
/ : passing time

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