South Wales - 8th March 2015 - Brian Garrett Photography

Bristol & South Wales - 8th March 2015

Sundays can be quite busy on the rails of South Wales, especially during the afternoon, as many freights begin to operate to be in place for Monday morning. On Sunday 8th March I took a visit to South Wales to capture some of the more interesting workings operating in the Avonmouth and South Wales area. Several passenger services were operating different diagrams due to engineering work between Bristol and Westbury, and Tamworth to Derby. This provided additional shuttle services which had been strengthened at times to cope with additional passenger loads.

EWS liveried Class 66 No.66122 is pictured stabled at Avonmouth Bulk Loading Terminal having arrived with an empty coal train for loading.

EWS Class 66's No.66086 No.66122 and No.66128 are seen at Avonmouth Bulk Loading Terminal.

A busy scene at Avonmouth as Class 66's No.66122 and No.66128 are pictured stabled amongst the industrial backdrop.

Colourful Gunwharf Key liveried Class 158 No.158798 passes Severn Tunnel Junction with the 1Z19 13:08 Cardiff - Bristol Temple Meads service.

Cross Country Class 170 No.170108 passes Severn Tunnel Junction with the a service from Tamworth to Cardiff Central.

A pair of Class 170's from Cross Country No.170111 and No.170117 pass through Severn Tunnel Junction with the 1M67 13:45 Cardiff Central - Tamworth service.

First Great Western Class 158 No.158957 departs from Severn Tunnel Junction minus part of its skirt after recent collision damage. The three car unit was operating stopping services between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff due to engineering works preventing the normal route to Portsmouth.

First Great Western HST passes through Severn Tunnel Junction with No.43021 leading No.43069 while operating the 1B35 12:37 London Paddington - Swansea service.

EWS liveried Class 66 No.66044 storms out of the Severn Tunnel while hauling the loaded 6B35 11:20 Southall LC to Morton on Lugg.

A rare pairing of First Great Western's only two car Class 158's is seen at Severn Tunnel Junction. Class 158 No.158763 and No.158766 are seen arriving with he 1Z23 14:10 Cardiff Central - Bristol Temple Meads service.

Cross Country Class 170 No.170108 speeds through Bishton operating the 14:45 Cardiff - Tamworth service.

First Great Western Class 158 No.158798 passes Bishton while working the 1Z00 14:48 Bristol Temple Meads - Cardiff Central stopping service.

Arriva Trains Wales Class 150 No.150264 passes Bishton while working the 2G55 14:18 Cheltenham - Cardiff sercvice, while Eddie Stobart Scania H2095 'Helen Dorothea' passes, heading to the local Tesco Distribution Centre to unload.

EWS liveried Class 66 No.66086 powers through Bishton hauling the loaded 6B72 14:53 Avonmouth - Aberthaw imported coal.

EWS liveried Class 66 No.66122 hauls a the empty 14:44 Aberthaw - Avonmouth coal through Bishton returning to Avonmouth of loading,

DRS Class 66/4 No.66429 rounds the curves of the slow line at Bishton while hauling the 4M56 16:52 Wentloog - Daventry 'Tesco Liner'.

DB Shenker Class 66 No.66034 rounds the curves of the slow line at Bishton hauling the 6E47 13:45 Margam - Middlesborough steel.

EWS liveried Class 66 No.66034 powers its way up the grade onto the Bishton Flyover hauling the 6E47 13:45 Margam - Middlesbrough steel.

Cross Country Class 170 No.170104 passes Bishton in the fading light while working the 1M75 16:45 Cardiff - Tamworth service. Passengers would then find alternative road transport waiting for onward travel to Derby and Nottingham.