Visit to Cardiff
This fixture to Cardiff, programmed several months previously, unfortunately coincided with the closure of the Severn Tunnel, so we knew in advance that there would as a result be less freight and fewer “Knotweeds” (class 800 Hitachi units) than would usually be the case in Cardiff.
Despite this, a merry band of nine aficionados (seven members and two guests) turned up at Cardiff Central station from various directions on a mild and almost dry day, the west wind not being quite as cutting as it sometimes can be at that end of the station!
As you will see from the attachment below, as well as the occasional freight loco, we were treated to a diet of four main classes of units, class 150s, 197s, 231s and 756s. It must be said that the 150s looked oddly antiquated in the environment of all the other very new classes but it probably won’t be long before they become quite rare and much sought-after. Telling the 231s and 756s apart from a distance proved an interesting challenge. The last time we were here a year previously we managed to see all of the then brand new 231s except one, 231004, which was not running that day. Guess which one was not running this year – yes, 004 was nowhere to be seen and not mentioned on RTT! Never mind, try again next year!
Despite such minor setbacks, an excellent day was enjoyed by all in the best RCTS tradition!
Click the link for a list of observations....