31/03/2026
It's been a hot minute, eh?
Here's a couple from August 2024, a failed trip to "red pen" (rail enthusiast speak for basically riding on, in, or behind, a locomotive, train or certain track, as it was in this case), the Heart of Wales line...
For the rail enthusiasts amongst us, this was also the time period that marked the end, realistically, of the Class 175 Multiple Units for use at TfW, as they were having, what can only be described as, problems resulting in spontaneous combustion (leaves getting trapped in vents etc, getting dry, warm and then eventually setting fire).
This resulted in TfW using the Class 153s (which, amongst over routes in Wales, are the primary traction in use on the Heart of Wales line), to substitute for the 150s, which were substituting for the displaced 158s, that were further substituting the stricken Class 175s.
I believe TfW described a Full Line closure, as a "moderate delay..."
A London-centric thinking person, would probably describe that as "the end of the known world!"
Either way, it did lead to some interesting comparison shots of "The Old Guard" of Sprinter DMUs coming next to, and face to face with, their replacements.
There was also a candid moment spotted at Newport, which goes to show that railways are more than just "trains"
