Exploring the Welsh Valleys - 18th December 2018

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The Explore Cardiff and Valleys ticket is one which I have used previously as it offers unlimited travel on the Cardiff Valley Lines route between Barry Island, Penarth, Bridgend, Ebbw Vale, Merthyr Tidfill, Aberdare and Rhymney. With Arriva Trains Wales now ceasing to operate the service and the franchise re-branded as 'Transport for Wales' huge change is about to arrive in Wales. Not least will be the replacement of the Pacers and Sprinters which operate the Valley Lines routes. Having caught an early morning service to Bristol Temple Meads and then changed for a Cardiff service. We spent a small amount of time at Cardiff Central before exploring the various valley routes operated by the Class 142, 143 and 150 Units. The weather was typically Welsh but for late December it was probably about as good as we could of asked for.
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GWR Class 802 No.802101 stands at Bristol Temple Meads on the 17th December 2018 waiting to depart to London Paddington. At the time of this image 802101 was the only member of its sub fleet to be in service with GWR
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GWR Class 166 No.166210 stands at Cardiff Central on the 17th December 2018 ready to depart with the 2C71 10:00 Cardiff Central - Taunton stopping service.
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GWR Class 150 No.150248 arrives into Cardiff Central station empty stock ready to form the 1F11 10:30 Cardiff Central - Portsmouth Harbour service on Monday 17th December 2018.
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Transport For Wales Class 175 No.175108 arrives into Cardiff working 1W11 07:07 Milford Haven - Cardiff Central on Monday 17th December 2018.
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EWS lieried Class 66 No.66051 powers through Cardiff Central on Monday 17th December 2018 hauling the 6H35 09:22 Margam - Llanwern loaded steel coils from the rolling mill at Port Talbot.
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DB Cargo Class 66 No.66175 powers through Llanbradach station on Monday 17th December 2018 in the Welsh Valleys hauling 4V01 00:22 Earles Sidings - Cwmbargoed HTAs for loading.
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Former Arriva Trains Wales but now operating under the Tansport for Wales Franchise, No.143608 leads No.142072 north through Llanbradach station on Monday 17th December 2018 operating 2R08 11:02 Penath - Rhymeny service.
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Transport for Wales Class 143 No.143622 departs from Pontypridd station on Monday 17th December 2018 operating 2M32 12:56 Barry Island to Mertyr Tridfil.
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Former Arriva Trains Wales Class 150/2 No.150213 arrives into Pontypridd Station on Monday 17th December 2018 operating a Transport for Wales service as the 2E36 13:38 Merthyr Tridil - Bridgend.
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Transport for Wales Class 150 No.150251 departs from Pontypridd working 2T28 13:35 Cardiff centtral - Treherbert service on Monday 17th December 2018.
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Transport for Wales Class 142 No.142080 bounces out of Pontypridd Station on the 17th December 2018 operating 2A32 12:42 Bargoed - Aberdare.
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Transport for Wales Class 143 No.143607 and No.142002 arrive into Pontypridd operating 2F48 13:43 Treherbert - Cardiff Central on the 17th December 2018.
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Transport for Wales Claas 150/2 No.150278 arrives into Pontypridd working 2Y55 13:52 Aberdare - Barry Island on the 17th December 2018.
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Transport for Wales Class 142 No.142074 arrives into Pontypridd Station on Monday 17th December 2018 operating 2Y57 14:08 Merthyr Tidfil - Barry Island.
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Now operated by Transport for Wales, DB Cargo Class 67 No.67014 stands at Newport while operating the 1W96 17:16 Cardiff Central - Holyhead service, known as 'The Gerald', on Monday 17th December 2018.