"WAG Express", Newport, 26th January 2018

Arriva Trains Wales runs the "WAG Express" daily M-F from Holyhead - Cardiff and back, using the Welsh Marches line, which runs through England. It runs to Cardiff in the morning, lays over, then returns in the evening.

"WAG" = Welsh Assembly Government, and the train is more formally the "One Wales Express" / "Y Gerallt Gymro" ('Gerald of Wales').

It features the only first class coach on the Arriva Trains Wales network, and this further features at seat dining service - all very questionable given the subsidy and the standards of service which are provided for the rest of us on other train services.

• "Taxpayers pay out £22m on Welsh express train that comes complete with its own travelling chef"
• "Wales' North-South express train service 'costly' and 'unnecessary'"
• "Business Class"
• "Wales on rails: fine food and great views on the Holyhead to Cardiff"

The morning train is seen arriving at Newport.

82306 is one of three Mk 3B DVTs assigned to the service, modified for AAR control operation with Class 67 locomotives. Originally 82144 built by BREL Derby to Lot 31042 in 1988.

10249 is a Mk 3A Kitchen Buffet First, originally RUB (Restaurant Buffet with Kitchen) 10012 built to Lot 30890 at Derby in 1979. The unclassified first class style seats were later changed to being for first class, becoming RFB then RFM (Restaurant First Modular), converted in the 1984-87 period with renumbering.

12178 is Mk3B TSO converted from previously Cargo-D operated FO 11071 (Lot 30982, Derby, 1985)

12181 is of similar background, previously 11086.

12179 again similar background, originally 11083.

Traction on the rear of the train was 67016.

Colas Rail Freight at Newport, 25th January 2018

Four Class 70/8's working as I would consider that they were intended to.

A full rake of empty PCA wagons for 70808 on 6C36 08:16 Moorswater - Aberthaw.

BCC (Blue Circle Cement) 10686 was the rear PCA, built by Powell Duffryn in 1984-85.

70809 heads loaded coal hoppers as 6B:22 14:29 Avonmouth - Aberthaw Power Station.

70813 works 0xxx 12:30 Avonmouth - Cardiff Canton, having earlier worked coal hopper empties to Avonmouth

70807 leads the logs, 6M51 17:20 Baglan Bay - Chirk Kronospan.

60039 workings through Newport, 25th - 26th January 2018

60039 Dove Holes, previously Glastonbury Tor, was new to traffic on 9th May 1991. Refurbished as a 'Super 60' and returned to traffic on 7th February 2013, then named again on 30th April 2015.

The first two pictures are of the locomotive on the rear of 6H36 1444 Birdport - Margam steel empties, on 25th, being led by 66181.

On 26th, leading 6H25 09:22 Margam - Llanwern with loaded steel.

The two final shots are of the return 13:04 Llanwern - Margam, steel still being loaded on this return to Margam.

NMT at Newport, 26th January 2018

1Q20 07:50 Crewe - Newport (half an hour in platform 4) - Derby

43062 John Armitt, having led the consist into Newport. Note the pitot tube at the front. New from BREL Crewe in September 1977.

977984 is a Staff Coach, with generator capabilities. Originally Trailer Kitchen First 40501 of  Lot 30884 completed at Derby in 1976-77. Leased to Network Rail by Porterbrook.

975814 is a Conference Coach, originally a prototype HST TF coach 11000, later 41000, built to Lot 30848 at Derby in 1972.

977993 is an Overhead Line Equipment Test Coach, originally TGS 44053 built to Lot 30949 at Derby in 1982. Leased to Network Rail by Porterbrook.

977994 is a Track Recording Coach, earlier TGS 44087 from same lot and ownership as 977993.

975984 is a Lecture Coach, formerly  Laboratory 15 "Argus" and later "Test Car 4". Built as Trailer Buffet Second 10000, later 41000, for the prototype HST to Lot 30849 at Derby in 1972-73.

43013 was the other power car, new from BREL Crewe in May 1976.

IETs at Newport, 25th - 26th January 2018

800006 at Newport on 25th.

800005 departs for Cardiff on the 25th, While these look impressive, away from the wires they sound and behave rather like a Voyager.

800008 arrives on 26th.

800023 + 800005 arriving at platform 2, on 26th.

800024 on the rear of a departure on 25th. Earlier that day this was the first IET that I had seen , at Bristol Temple Meads.

MSO 813008 of 800008 on 26th.

On the 25th the following were reported in traffic:

800005+800012 

800006+800016

800008+800024 

800011

800013+800015

800018

800021+800023

800025

The plan showed no single units heading to South Wales, but in practice some were seen.

800026 and 800028 were on commissioning runs.

I saw those in blue over the two days.

"Development of Class 800/801 High-speed Rolling Stock forUK Intercity Express Programme"

"Tesco Liner" at Newport, 25th January 2018

66431 4V44 10:47 Daventry - Wentloog at Newport

Seen here as repainted at Eastleigh in March 2016. Works number 20078946-001, originally for Victa Westlink, delivered to the UK and leased to DRS in November 2008.

Returning with 4M36 18:58 Wentloog - Daventry. Some of the flats were noted to be the same as those on the earlier run, turned around in the afternoon at Wentloog.

60001 and the "Murco" tanks, Newport, 25th - 26th January 2018

Two views of 60001 on "Murco" workings between Robeston and Westerleigh.

We know these as "Murco" workings, but the refinery facility at Milford Haven was sold to Puma Energy, along with terminals at Bedworth, Theale and Westerleigh, and changed to a storage and distribution status in 2015.

Class leader 60001 was new to traffic in August 1991 and has at times been named Steadfast and The Railway Observer. Refurbished  in its current condition as a "Super 60", returning to traffic on 26th October 2013.

On Friday 26th 60063 was also on Robeston oil workings, working to and from Theale.

 6B47 18:14 Westerleigh - Robeston empty tanks on 25th January.

A closer view - not so easy, some luck required taking pictures of moving trains after dark.

On Friday 26th, leading 6B13 05:00 Robeston - Westerleigh loaded tanks.

EWS 870328 a TEA tanker on the rear of the train. Built in Poland by Wagony Swidnica in 2006.

Class 166 and the Ride Height Modification

Several Class 166's noted operating in the Bristol and Newport area last week, all sporting the "Ride Height Modification" (RHM). This is a key item to allow these trains to operate on the Portsmouth - Cardiff services, replacing the 158/9's. The trains seen here are working Taunton - Cardiff services, the Weymouth duties may be added this week.

There is also an ASDO modification under way, but it's not clear which units have this so far.

As of 16th January, 166202/3/4/5/6/8/10/12/14/16 & 19 have the RHM and are working from Bristol.

I did not look inside, but it seems that seating is still 3 + 2 meantime, with interior refurbishment yet to start.

Class 166 were new from ABB York as "Networker Turbo" units in 1992-93, similar to the preceding Class 165 but with air conditioning and additional toilets.

166202 seen arriving at Newport, 26th January.

RHM triangle for "Ride Height Modification"

The modification is a spacer which sits on top of the air bags in the suspension. This has some similarity in look and colour to an over-sized "Polo Mint", and thus raises the body by about "an inch".

GWR colours on 166216, at Newport on 25th.

166219 departing Newport on 25th.

WNXX forum discussion: 

GWR DMU developments & deployment - Part 10

GWR DMU developments & deployment - Part 11

GWR DMU developments & deployment - Part 12