Morning all. It’s a wet day here in south #Wales, and I have some spare hours, so let’s see if I can do some #Train geeking. There’s an “Explore the Capital day-to-go ticket” only available from staff. Let’s see if I can find one. #Caerdydd#Cardiff#rail 1/n
@womump I’m a big fan of the Daily Explorer ticket on Ceredigion buses. Cheaper than a day return to Aberystwyth, with options to pub crawl, walk bits of the coast path, etc.
@nic my original vision for this trip was to visit a pub at the end of each leg. Not today tho.
Ceredigion! Bendegedig. Where railways fear to go? That sounds like a good option. I’ve explored the Pembrokeshire bits of the coast, but that’s certainly on my list
Oh yes! Struck gold! The conductor was being trained, and the supervisor had never sold one of these before, but I have an Explore the Capital, sorry, EXPLORE THE CAPITAL day ticket. #WinningAtTrains 4/n
@womump Ah right, I got an Explore the Cambrian Coast one over the Easter break, Machynlleth to Cricieth, then on to Pwllheli and back. Was a bit lame at the time, so didn’t do a lot of exploring, but it’s a fantastic line
I need a wee (no toilets on a Class 153, so I hop off at Cardiff Central. I could have hopped straight back on again, but where’s the fun in that? Next train is to Barry Island (my tickets valid as far as Eastbrook), but I do that route often, so…5/n
Transport for Wales have a fleet of new trains, but I haven’t been on one yet - they’re not running out to #LlantwitMajor yet. Let’s see if my luck is in. My constant companion today is, of course, #RealTimeTrains which usually lists the rolling stock. Not this time tho. 6/n
It has that new train smell! First impressions - smart, light, info screens, step that slides out to close the platform gap. I didn’t take a photo of the screens, but the #Cymraeg version is missing a space between the “…next station is…” and the name. Also, not using the treigladau (mutations) “…i Penarth”. Anyway, there’s a clue where I’m off to next. #Penarth 8/n
Here’s a quick #ActiveTravel digression. This image shows a missing link between Cardiff and its hinterland in the Vale of Glamorgan. The Penarth headland is a very steep haul up from Cardiff, or a ~200m jaunt along the beach. There’s no formal route, although a headland link is been proposed and scrapped.11/n
Geek fact. On these 231’s, the power sockets are awkward to reach between the seats. Intriguingly, the usb sockets are portrait on one side, landscape on the other. Keeps you guessing! (Geoff Marshall could never compete with this kind of high quality train- fact content.) 14/n
Fairly immediately back again on 231011 (for the second time today) to Heath High Level, then a walk across the Heath Low Level. I may come back here later, but for now, I’m on a mission 17/n
Here’s the end of the line at #Coryton.
There’s a little reminder in the sign (see photo) of the times before all this, when our European ⭐️ was still shining. One day it’ll shine again.
Anyway, it’s still raining, and you know me, let’s keep exploring. 19/n
If you look at a map, you’ll see that the line from Cortyon once continued. I’ve been here before, several times, and know the connection down to Llandaf. Let’s see if there’s any industrial heritage on the way… 20/n
#IndustrialHeritage alert! It’s the Melingriffith water pump, which once supplied water to the now redundant Merthyr-Cardiff canal 21/n
[Melingriffith Water Pump This pump was installed in about 1800 for the Glamorganshire Canal and Melinoriffith Tinplate Works. For over 130 years the pump ensured there was a reliable water supply for the Canal that ran from Merthyr to Cardiff Docks. This used to pass behind you where the road is now. In the 1940s this part of the Canal shut, making the pump redundant. This unique pumo is now protected as a reminder of the area's industrial heritage. How did the pump work? This pump was specially designed to lift water from the low ievel Melingriffith Feeder to the Canal abov Water powered the wheel from below, turning it 2 The moving wheel was linked to the two long beams above, making them rock 3 These beams moved two large iron pistons up and down 4 The pistons lifted water into a timber trough and on toward the Canal The pump lifting water c. 1900 Llandaff Dean and Chapter Collection Pwmp Dwr Melingruffydd Cafodd y pwmp hwn ei osod tua 1800 ar gyfer Camlas Morgannwq a Gwaith Haenellu Tun Melingruffydd. Am 130 o flynyddoedd bu'r pwmp yn sicrhau bod yna gyflenwad dibynadwy o ddwr ar gyfer y Gamlas a redai o Ferthyr i Ddociau Caerdydd. Arferai hwn basio heibio y tu ôl i chi, ble mae'r - ffordd i w gweld nawr. Yn ystod y 1940au cafodd y rhan hon o' Gamlas ei chau, gan wneud y pwmp yn segur. Mae'r pwmp unigryw hwn yn cael ei warchod nawr i atgoffa pobl am dreftadaeth ddiwydiannol yr ardal. Sur bedd yowmp yn aweithio? Catodd y pwmo di gynilunion carbennig] codi dwr o ffas Gyflen](https://files.mastodon.green/media_attachments/files/110/757/807/650/740/206/original/394107d51833976e.jpeg)
I’m old enough to remember when “Llandaf” was Llandaff North. Anyway, here I am, and it’s my first 150 of the day - this is my everyday train if I’m not on my bike 22/n
Suitable chastened by my poor photography skills earlier, I’m back to have another go at papping the #Canton depot. I think that you’ll all agree, a much improved set of shots. There’s a class 67 and a load of Stadler sets - at least one brand new. #TrainPhoto 25/n
Here I am at Cardiff Queen Street. When I lived in the valleys, this was the starting out point for every trip into the big city. The train the Cardiff Bay always feels odd. It goes from platform 1, which is remote from the rest of the station. This time it’s another 153. 26/n
#Gandhi welcomes me to Cardiff Bay. TBH, it’s not my favourite part of town. It feels contrived, which it is, I suppose. I appreciate the Millennium Centre - I’ve had a few cultural experiences there. Y Senedd Cymru is alright, but is a bit austere for hanging around. Roald Dahl Plas is full of funfair tat, surrounded by craft stalls with zero punters. In the distance, you can see the cliffs at Penarth Head, the other side of which is Penarth Pier (see my earlier toots) 27/n
Having used the facilities in the Millennium Centre, I’m not hanging around. Back to the station past some scruffy bits. The station is too far away from the commercial bits of the Bay, cut off by motor traffic. There’s work next to the current station to construct a ?new? station as part of the South Wales Metro. Did I read somewhere that plans to extend the line further toward the bay have been scrapped? Anyway, the trains are reasonably frequent, and here’s mine. 28/n
Back at queen Street and I hop on 150256. There’s a party of ladies who were riding from Abergavenny to Port Talbot but became washed out. This TfW is odd, isn’t it? 29/n
Waiting at Central for my next (and final) train. There’s always a fair bit to see. Steel trains passing on the central lines was the highlight today. Still raining 30/n
Back past Canton (no photos) and I hop off at #Fairwater. As I depart, I come across a #RoaldDahl#BluePlaque - there’s rich Roald heritage in this part of the world.
Enough trains for now. What’s that? 11? Good value anyway. I had my ticket checked twice. Off to dry out. Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. It’s been great to virtually meet so many of you. Until next time, keep on keeping on. /ends
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