77. Trip to Swansea-08.11.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 77. Trip to Swansea-08.11.19
A trip on the train to Swansea with my boss to collect two cars. We left Northampton on a cold, grey and wet morning but by the time we reached Swansea, it was a lovely sunny day. We travelled, using our usual split ticketing from Northampton to Birmingham New Street, then to Cardiff and on to Swansea. Whilst my boss drove home a nice Mini, I made do with a mediocre Pugeaot 207!
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350232, LN 07.13 London Euston-Crewe (9K14, 6L), Northampton station It is the first week of November but the morning is more like mid-January with it being cold, cloudy and raining! Just before departure from Northampton, 350232 stands at platform two with the 07.13 Euston to Crewe. We took this train as the first leg of our journey to Swansea to Birmingham New Street. In a querk of the split ticketing process, the cheapest way to make this journey was first class! Keywords: 350232 07.13 London Euston-Crewe 9K14 Northampton station
DR98919, 08.49 King`s Norton Dept-King`s Norton Dept, Birmingham New Steet station Whilst waiting at Birmingham New Street station the 08.49 King's Norton return railhead treatment train arrived and paused at the station, for quite some time as it turned out. At the rear, one of the Windhoff MPVs DR98819 is seen. I saw the same train on the same circuit the previous week when I was out with Andy, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/28045587804/dr98919-08-49-king-s-norton-depot Notice the unusual juxtaposition of the passenger looking as though he is sitting on a bench on the MPV but who is being seen through an appropriately positioned gap in the superstructure of the unit! Keywords: DR98919 08.49 King`s Norton Dept-King`s Norton Dept Birmingham New Steet station RHT train
170630, LN 09.50 Birmingham New Street-Hereford (1V24, 1L), Birmingham New Street station Looking smart in its West Midlands Trains livery, 170630 will leave Birmingham New Street's platform 10b with the 09.50 to Hereford. I have had to resort to a fair bit of Photoshop tinkering to present an acceptable photograph. Whilst the camera had got the exposure of the platforms about right, the rear of the unit, the roof and the trackbed was virtually completely black. Whilst these areas still remain dark, lightening up any more would result in the image looking too false; it's all about subtle adjustments! Keywords: 170630 09.50 Birmingham New Street-Hereford 1V24 Birmingham New Street station
170397, XC 08.09 Nottingham-Cardiff Central (1V05, 1L), Cardiff Central station Having travelled down from Birmingham New Street in 170397, the train rests at Cardiff Central station. The train had started out from Nottingham as the 1V05 at 08.09. It was a pleasant and relaxed journey and I have to compliment CrossCountry on their WiFi, it worked well and never dropped out meaning that my boss and I could catch up with some much-needed work. Note the remarkable change in the weather from when we left Northampton three hours earlier, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/28135159004/x350232-07-13-london-euston-crewe Keywords: 170397 08.09 Nottingham-Cardiff Central 1V05 Cardiff Central station
800315, GW 11.30 Cardiff Central-Cardiff Central ecs (5L54), Cardiff Central station When I last visited Cardiff Central station just over a month ago, the wiring had yet to be hung, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/27787343204/x43161-10-24-cardiff-central-cardiff So, it is obvious that much work has taken place, indeed at the time of writing this on 10.11.19, a posting has just been placed on the internet stating that the first electric test train has run into South Wales from Patchway to East Usk Junction as 3Z33 over the previous night. In this view, 800315 has just left Central station as the 5L54 ecs return working that will soon work back to Paddington. Keywords: 800315 11.30 Cardiff Central-Cardiff Central 5L54 Cardiff Central station
175115, AW 08.31 Manchester Piccadilly-Milford Haven (1V37, 4L), Swansea station We travelled from Cardiff on 175115, still wearing its former ATW livery devoid of branding, as far as Swansea. Here, it stands at platform one ready to retrace its steps as far as Swansea East Loop Junction where it will continue its journey west with the 08.31 Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven. Internally, this unit was a little 'tired' and not as comfortable as the class 170 that we had travelled on previously. I hope that the new operator, Transport For Wales, will be doing some work to it when they get around to painting it into their rather bright red livery! Notice the red poppy applied to the font flank, this was taken the week before Remembrance Sunday. Keywords: 175115 08.31 Manchester Piccadilly-Milford Haven 1V37 Swansea station
Tickets, Northampton-Swansea Using split ticketing, the journey from Northampton to Swansea was divided into four legs. This kept the cost down considerably and saved an amazing £113 on the direct one ticket journey; what an absolute rip off! Keywords: Tickets Northampton-Swansea

Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.