1. The Welsh Marches Express-14.03.81

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1981 > 1. The Welsh Marches Express-14.03.81

A day trip out on a chilly March day to chase The Welsh Marches Express with David Brush, Graham Vincent and Mike Watts. I have not got it written in my notes but I think that we travelled in Mike's Ford Fiesta. We started off at Church Stretton in the pouring rain with 6000 'King George V' but as we chased the train south the weather improved with it seen in full sun hauled by 4930 'Hagley Hall' by the afternoon. On the way back we stopped off at Severn Tunnel Junction in the days when you could just wander around a depot and finally at Bristol Temple Meads.

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Images 1-22 of 22 displayed.

6000, outward leg of The Welsh Marches Express, 10.15 Crewe-Newport, Little Stretton SO463951
Making a fine display of exhaust 6000 'King George V' leads the southbound Welsh Marches Express on the approach to Church Stretton. The charter, one of a number on this line throughout 1981 and 1982, started from Crewe being diesel hauled with the King taking over at Shrewsbury. At this stage in the day, the weather was pretty awful with rain and heavy cloud making film photography a little tricky witnessed by the slight motion blur in this image.
Keywords: 6000 The Welsh Marches Express 10.15 Crewe-Newport Little Stretton SO463951 King George V

6000, outward leg of The Welsh Marches Express, 10.15 Crewe-Newport, Wooffereton, SO518688
On such a dull day the Kodachrome 64 slide film was really struggling when a fast shutter speed was required as here just north of Woofferton between Leominster and Ludlow. This photograph was practically a mass of darkness with a burnt-out sky but I have managed to resurrect it to some degree in Photoshop. It shows 4-6-0 King Class 6000 'King George V' leading the southbound Welsh Marches Express from Crewe to Newport that it led from Shrewsbury to Hereford. Ironically, the going-away photograph was marginally better being framed by the road bridge under which I was standing.
Keywords: 6000 The Welsh Marches Express 10.15 Crewe-Newport Wooffereton, SO518688 King George V

6000, outward leg of The Welsh Marches Express, 10.15 Crewe-Newport, Wooffereton, SO518688
I am not a particular fan of going-away photographs but when it is actually better than the approaching version it firmly makes the cut! 6000 'King George V' thunders past Woofferton leading the outward leg of The Welsh Marches Express that it had led from Shrewsbury. On arrival at Herford, some nineteen miles south of this spot, the King would come off in favour of former GWR 4-6-0 'Hagley Hall'. As well as the train, this image is full of interest. In the very background Woofferton's superb London and North Western & Great Western Joint type 1 1875 signal box. Also, note the enthusiasts on the track, as I was, and an abandoned hi-viz jacket next to a microphone on an adapted tripod no doubt picking up the sounds and committing it to cassette tape.
Keywords: 6000 The Welsh Marches Express 10.15 Crewe-Newport Wooffereton SO518688 King George V

4930, outward leg of The Welsh Marches Express, 10.15 Crewe-Newport, Llanvihangel Summit SO314199
With an engine change taking place at Hereford we had plenty of time to get well south to record The Welsh Marches Express for a third time on its journey from Crewe to Newport. In this scene at Llanvihangel Summit 4930 'Hagley Hall' is about to crest and then take the long descent through Abergavenny and to Newport. Notice the brick abutment to the left that was once the pedestrian access to Llanvihangel stations up platform. To the right was a short siding with the down platform on the other side of the bridge on which I am standing. Looking on Google Earth today reveals that the scene, both north and south, is exactly the same with the pathway now permitting access for Network Rail staff and their contractors.
Keywords: 4930 The Welsh Marches Express 10.15 Crewe-Newport Llanvihangel Summit SO314199 Hagley Hall

4930, outward leg of The Welsh Marches Express, 10.15 Crewe-Newport, Llanvihangel Summit SO314199
My second going-away photograph of the day this time at Llanviangel just north of Abergavenny. With some troublesome motion blur, 4930 'Hagley Hall' leads the outward leg of The Welsh Marches Express. It has just surmounted the summit and will be picking up speed and momentum as it heads south. Notice the microphone out of the first ventilator window looking as though it is wrapped in a white handkerchief acting as a windsheild!
Keywords: 4930 The Welsh Marches Express 10.15 Crewe-Newport Llanvihangel Summit SO314199 Hagley Hall

4930, outward leg of The Welsh Marches Express, 10.15 Crewe-Newport, Little Mill Junction SO315023
The outward Welsh Marches Express had an extended stop at Abergavenny for a mere fifteen minutes. This gave us very little time to get from Llanfiangel to this spot at Little Mill Junction just north of Pontypool. However, with some spirited driving from Mike in his Fiesta Mk. I along the A465 and A4042 we made it with just a minute or two to spare. I took this photograph with the telephoto lens showing 4930 'Hagely Hall' at speed approaching leading the outward leg of the charter that was steam hauled from Shrewsbury. Also featuring a Ford Cortina, a Morris Marina and an Austin Princess that letter which I suspect was the signalman's.
Keywords: 4930 The Welsh Marches Express 10.15 Crewe-Newport Little Mill Junction SO315023

4930, outward leg of The Welsh Marches Express, 10.15 Crewe-Newport, Little Mill Junction SO315023
The second picture of 4930 'Hagely Hall' at Little Mill Junction this time using my Pentax fitted with its prime lens and using FP4 film. It is passing the signal box to the left leading the 10.15 Crewe to Newport Welsh Marches Express charter that was steam-hauled (by 6000 'King George V') from Shrewsbury with the Hall taking over at Hereford. The line leading off to the right in this view once lead to Usk and Monmouth. The remaining track came to an end at the MoD facility at Glascoed that was still in use at this time back in 1981.
Keywords: 4930 The Welsh Marches Express 10.15 Crewe-Newport Little Mill Junction SO315023

Little Mill Junction signal box (GWR, 1883)
Little Mill Junction signal box is a lovely GWR structure dating from 1883. In this view, it looks largely in its as-built state with timber window frames, a cast plate, a slate roof and a pair of finials. The only visual change is the bricking up of the locking room windows that was probably undertaken during wartime. It sits at the point where the line to Usk, Monmouth and ultimately Ross-on-Wye diverged from the Marches route. There was also a station at this point until closure on 30.05.55. I revisited this spot during a trip in 2016, see...... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/25752990204/little-mill-junction-signal-box but the location is hardly recognisable!
Keywords: Little Mill Junction signal box (GWR, 1883)

Dave Brush, negotiating the climb, Caerleon ST330923
With his tripod in one hand and holding his trusty Practika SLR in the other, my former teacher and railway enthusiast protégé climbs a steep, grassy and muddy bank at Caerleon to a spot to capture the returning Welsh Marches Express charter. It was him along with Graham Vincent who encouraged a young schoolboy to get out on the lineside and take photographs and document all that was seen and I owe them a lot for that!
Keywords: Dave Brush negotiating the climb Caerleon ST330923

25042, 15.10 Cardiff Central-Crewe (1M75), Caerleon ST330923
In the days before Class 33s worked the Marches route Class 25s were the mainstay of operations. Making its way past Caerleon 25042 leads the 1M75 15.10 Cardiff to Crewe service composed of a rake of six Mk. 1 coaches providing plenty of comfortable seats for the passengers. Notice the enthusiasts gathering on the B4236 overbridge in anticipation of the returning steam-hauled Welsh Marches Express charter. Remarkedly, an almost identical photograph is reproduced on page 14 of L. A. Nixon's book British Rail in Colour published in 1982 ISBN 0 7106 0224 3 meaning that the great man must have been standing right next to me! By pure coincidence, I have a signed copy of this book in my collection.
Keywords: 25042 15.10 Cardiff Central-Crewe 1M75 Caerleon ST330923 Mk. 1 stock Rat

47106, 12.25 Crewe-Cardiff Central (1V05), Careleon ST330923
Class 47s were not uncommon working services between Crewe and Cardiff during the early 1980s prior to the introduction of the Class 33s on the route. The 1V05 12.25 Crewe to Cardiff Central service approaches Caerleon where the train is about to make a one hundred and eighty-degree turn to join the South Wales mainline at Maindee Junction prior to entering Newport. The train is being led by steam heat 47106 that had seven years in service prior to its withdrawal after sustaining accident damage after a collision with classmate 47140 in February 1988. Both locomotives ended up at Vic Berry's in Leicester for disposal.
Keywords: 47106 12.25 Crewe-Cardiff Central 1V05 Caerleon ST330923 Duff

4930, return leg of The Welsh Marches Express, 15.35 Newport-Shrewsbury, Caerleon ST330923
In quite a contrast to photographs taken earlier in the day 4930 'Hagley Hall' makes a fine sight in the early spring sunshine as it heads north with the returning Welsh Marches Express charter. The train had left Newport a little earlier at 15.35 and was heading back to Crewe with the steam coming off at Hereford in favour of a diesel for the remaining eighty four miles. It is seen passing the small village of Ponthir near Caerleon. The milepost will be indicating thirty-eight miles to Hereford.
Keywords: 4930 The Welsh Marches Express, 15.35 Newport-Shrewsbury Caerleon ST330923 Hagley hall

4930, return leg of The Welsh Marches Express, 15.35 Newport-Shrewsbury, Caerleon ST330923
A second photograph of 4930 'Hagley Hall' as it heads back towards Hereford and thence onwards to Crewe leading The Welsh Marches Express charter. I was using two cameras on this day with my Pentax ME Super loaded with Ilford FP4 film and fitted with its standard prime lens taking this image. The chimney in the background still exists being in the middle of the Star Trading estate at Ponthir near to Caerleon. This superb and elevated vantage point is still possible today but the view is somewhat compromised by tree growth and the construction of a faceless housing development on the land to the left of the train. Of course, Hagley Hall is still with us too. At the time of writing (December 2021) it is coming to the end of a protracted rebuild that has taken some eight years. Here's to it steaming on the Welsh Marches again sometime in the, not too distant future!
Keywords: 4930 The Welsh Marches Express, 15.35 Newport-Shrewsbury, Caerleon ST330923 Hagley Hall

40129, unidentified Severn Tunnel Junction freight, Caerleon ST330923
A 'panic' photograph at Ponthir near to Caerleon was taken with no checking of the camera settings and it is one that has actually worked! As we were packing up our kit after the passage of the steam-hauled Welsh Marches Express the unmistakable sound of a Class 40 heralded the passing of what appeared to be a fuel train that ended up at Severn Tunnel Junction as we saw the locomotive again a little later in the afternoon stabled there. The panning technique kept 40129 in relative sharpness with the background exhibiting strong motion blur but it was more down to luck than planning! This split headcode member of the class remained in service until 01.05.84 with it officially withdrawn six weeks later. Cutting up at Doncaster was rapid with it being non-existant by the end of August.
Keywords: 40129 Severn Tunnel Junction freight Caerleon ST330923

45076 & Class 47, stabled, Severn Tunnel Junction
On arrival at Severn Tunnel Junction, we found the depot full of locomotives but devoid of staff! In those days one could just wander into the depot and walk about trackside with no palisade fencing and CCTV cameras to prevent or monitor you! In this view, steam heated and formally numbered D134 is seen basking in the afternoon sunshine now carrying its TOPS number 45076. I saw this same locomotive just over nine months previously in Devon looking a lot smarter than it does in this view, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29441749604/x45076-12-25-manchester-piccadilly At the rear of the Peak is an unidentified Class 47.
Keywords: 45076 Class 47 stabled Severn Tunnel Junction Peak

45076, braking shackle, Severn Tunnel Junction
As I was undertaking an A-Level in photography at this time I was always on the lookout for a 'different' type of photograph, looking back now at the slides and negatives a lot were a little over-tried to the point of being pretentious! However, I do like the dark black oilyness of this particular image. It shows the brake shackle on the bogie of 45076 whilst it is stabled at Severn Tunnel Junction.
Keywords: 45076 braking shackle Severn Tunnel Junction Peak

25274, 40129, Class 37 & 47, stabled, Severn Tunnel Junction
We saw 40129 a little earlier approaching Caerleon, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30022609720/x40129-severn-tunnel-junction-freight Having deposited its oil tankers it now sits with its engines off at Severn Tunnel Junction awaiting its return to the north-west, once away from their home depots and regions it was never long until they returned again. 25274 sits just in front of the Class 40 with a Class 47 and 37 in the background. Of all the locomotives seen here it is the Class 37s that were always synonymous with South Wales throughout the first-generation diesel years.
Keywords: 25274 40129 Class 37 47 stabled Severn Tunnel Junction Rat

25259, stabled, Severn Tunnel Junction
A late afternoon glint shot of 25259 stabled at Severn Tunnel Junction. Notice the crudely applied plate to the upper half of this side of the bodyside that was added after a few years after construction to counteract the induction of debris through a large vent that clogged the air filters too quickly. This panel was only applied to Derby built locomotives that were sub-classed as 25/2s under TOPS. This particular example of the class survived in service until June 1995 and was broken up by MC Metals at Springburn.
Keywords: 25259 stabled Severn Tunnel Junction Rat

25259, 25274 & 40129, stabled, Severn Tunnel Junction
Under a dramatic late afternoon sky at Severn Tunnel Junction a trio of BR's finest await their next work, as it's a Saturday I suspect none will move until Monday morning. This lineup is led by 25259 (02.04.66-03.09.86), 25274 (30.07.65-02.05.82) and 40129 (18.01.61-24.05.84). In the adjacent siding towards the rear is a couple of unidentified Class 47s that I did not even write down in my notebook such as their importance or significance at the time!
Keywords: 25259 25274 40129 stabled Severn Tunnel Junction

25259, 25274 & 46048, stabled, Severn Tunnel Junction
The final photograph of our highly unofficial tour around the depot at Severn Tunnel Junction finds a Peak stabled on one of the roads behind a line of other locomotives. 46048 had just sixth months left in service when this picture was taken ending its life a short distance up the line at Swindon. In the centre of the photograph are 25259 and 25274 that had five years and one year left in operation respectively. Having been wandering around the depot for some time now we decided to take our leave before attracting too much attention!
Keywords: 25259 25274 46048 stabled Severn Tunnel Junction Rat Peak

47101, 14.35 Paignton-Leeds (1E70), overbridge, junction 19 of M4
A highly unusual photograph taken from the front seat of Mike's Mk. 1 Ford Fiesta as we made our way home along the M4 north of Bristol at the point where the M32 diverges at Junction 19. This bridge that carries the GWML is just east of Bristol Parkway and is exactly the same today even down to its characteristic shade of blue paint the only difference being that it now has electrification masts erected on it. In this view 47101 has just left Parkway station, then a rather faceless and windswept station, leading the 1E70 14.35 Paignton to Leeds train that will soon head north away from the Great Western territory on the Midland route at Westerleigh Junction. Notice the trespasser who has risked life and limb to spray paint his support for Bristol Rovers on the bridge parapet. Having made all that effort I thought that he might have tried to make the letters a little larger!
Keywords: 47101 14.35 Paignton-Leeds 1E70 overbridge junction 19 of M4

47090, Bristol Temple Meads-York returning ADEX (1Z40), Bristol Temple Meads station
A very poorly lit photograph of 47090 'Vulcan' at Bristol Temple Meads under the huge Royal Mail conveyor bridge that thankfully has now been removed to reveal once again the full grandeur of the 1870 train shed. After considerable research, it appears that 47090, incidentally still with us today as Riviera Trains' 47843, was leading a returning ADEX to York running as 1Z40 unless somebody else can correct me? Bearing in mind this date was still some two weeks before the clocks changed to BST the setting sun must have been very low in the sky by this stage of the day hence the poor lighting. The slide was one resurrected from the 'rejects' box that needed a fair amount of work in Photshop.
Keywords: 47090 Bristol Temple Meads-York returning ADEX 1Z40 Bristol Temple Meads station Vulcan

Images 1-22 of 22 displayed.