SOUTHEAST WALES

Mainly Cardiff, Newport and Severn Tunnel Junction from the second half of the 20th century – because these were the locations I frequented the most. At times, I could not afford to go further afield, much as I would have liked to.

However, I have bought negatives from the Cwmbran and Pontypool areas; and I will post some of these when they have been scanned.

The images will be in random order, with most recent additions being placed at the top of the page.

60029 brings empty iron ore wagons away from Llanwern steelworks and heads back to Port Talbot in May 1993. Sadly, this flow ended in 2001 when the steel making part of Llanwern was closed down.

This photo was taken near Magor, and shows an unusual train hauled by 37218. During 1993 the military installation at Caerwent was being scaled down and this required the movement of large quantities of armaments from the site. The material was carried in containers, well spaced apart and with barrier wagons.

Class 40s were not common in South Wales, although more likely at Severn Tunnel Junction. Their chance of working further west depended on the drivers having route knowledge of that area. However, a few made it, and this is 40119 heading east through Cardiff with a coal train in the late 1970s.

08822 and 08189 are shunting the sidings at Radyr on October 15th 1977.

Loaded coal trains pass in opposite directions at Radyr Junction during the early 1980s. 37286 is moving away from the camera, while 37248 is coming the other way.

0-6-0 diesel shunter 3595 is seen at Radyr on October 10th 1971. Once BR steam had been eliminated, the D prefix was dropped from diesels. Class 37 6981 is in the background.

143616 is with another unit of the same class at Newport station on February 25th 2001.

During 1957/8 Swindon built 6-car Inter City units for upgrading the service between South Wales and Birmingham, and Glasgow to Edinburgh. The original WR sets were soon moved to Scotland. Here we see one of the units at Cardiff General, with W79093 leading. The units could be split into 3-car versions because they had half cab driving areas next to the corridor connectors. They had a buffet car with first class compartments in one coach, and were the fore-runners of the later class 126 units.

60035 brings a train of iron ore from the Port Talbot terminal, towards East Usk Junction and heading for Llanwern steelworks in July 1993.

Unidentified Western at Newport station in the early 1970s.

A busy scene on February 25th 1985 at Severn Tunnel Junction. 45070 runs light engine through the station past 47381, while in the distance 37218 has charge of an oil train.

In 1966, what appears to be an ex-GWR 61xx 2-6-2T locomotive is seen at Cohens scrapyard Newport, awaiting the arrival of the men with acetylene torches.

Many midland based locomotives could be seen at Severn Tunnel Junction over the years. Here 25158 and 25253 from Crewe are seen from the bridge over the tracks on February 1st 1983. Little did I know that 25158 (formerly D7508) would be withdrawn 3 months later. 25253 (ex D7603) lasted 4 months longer, but in September 1983 was also withdrawn.

This is not my photo, and I have no idea of the copyright. Apologies to whoever the photographer was. I include it because in 1964 it shows D1733 passing Severn Tunnel Junction with a train for West Wales. For many years after the demonstrator for the new XP64 train of the future, the railway media insisted that the double arrow stickers had been removed immediately after the press launch. This was blatantly untrue, as I have seen other photos of the locomotive with the stickers in place, and at various locations.

47230 passes Severn Tunnel Junction down yard with a Speedlink service on February 1st 1983. The yards were still relatively busy at this point.

Cardiff Canton shed yard on a rather gloomy autumn day. October 23rd 1980, and 31259 takes Mk1 coaching stock (probably from a Portsmouth service) through the carriage washer, while 47237, 31224 and 46032 are between duties.

1st October 1987 and Severn Tunnel Junction yards are being run down prior to full closure. The most popular location was from the long bridge where this photo was taken. A narrow farm road led to Caldicot Moor. The road and bridge are still there, but the sidings are gone, and the M4 junction with the M48 lies on the site of the most distant up sidings. 33065 approaches the station with a Portsmouth train.

Cardiff Central (ex General) station in the summer of 1972, and 08932 is the duty shunter at this time. In the background can be seen the old Empire Pool which was demolished prior to the construction of the Millennium stadium. The relatively modern office block behind the 08 was also pulled down a few years later.

On a thoroughly miserable overcast and damp winter’s day in 1985, 31238 leaves with a train for Bristol, and probably Portsmouth (after a reversal). The hotels in the background were a feature back in those days. The Central hotel is on the right and I believe the one behind the locomotive was The Brownhills.

From the 1960s, 37s (or EE Type 3s if you prefer) became synonymous with the South Wales area, and in the summer of 1976 we see 37212 heading west with a train of scrap metal in 16ton mineral wagons. The depot buildings at Canton can be seen in the distance.