Slowly drawing through the disposal point at Cwmbargoed are 37701 & 37899 they had arrived with the 10.16 train from Barry.
The picture is taken from the top of a coal stockpile, not only were we not trespassing we were taken up there by the site manager in a Land-Rover.
We always got a warm welcome in the Welsh Valleys, a fact I will always remember.
37701 was built at English Electric as D6730, it entered service at Hull (Dairycoates) 16/10/1961. Under TOPS it became 37030 in February 1974. It was rebuilt and re-entered service 11/12/1986 as 37701. The loco was withdrawn 01/12/1999 and scrapped by EMR at Kingsbury 01/01/2008.
37899 was built by RS&H Ltd, as D6861, it went new to Landore 19/07/1963, under TOPS it became 37161. The loco was rebuilt and in 1985 became 37899. It was one of the locos modified and sent to Spain, it was withdrawn there 01/04/2002 and cut 01/07/2003 by Vias Y Constucciones in Madrid.
Copyright Geoff Dowling 20/04/1996: All rights reserved
Tags: 37701/37899 Cwmbargoed d.p.South Wales
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Emitting a pungent blue haze of exhaust 56064 is crawling out of Barry Docks with the 15.15 Barry to Burn Naze service.
The docks are the merest shadow of the once busy coal port which shipped good Welsh steam coal out to destinations all over the world.
56064 was built at Doncaster Works, it entered service 17/09/1979. The locomotive was withdrawn in September 2008 and cut at C.F. Booth (Rotherham) in March 2009
Copyright Geoff Dowling 20/04/96: All rights reserved
Tags: Barry Dock 56064 Barry Burn Naze
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Light work for a type 4, 47734 ambles into Tir-Phil station with the 09.02 Cardiff to Rhymney service
47734 was built at Brush Falco Works as D1767, it entered traffic 29/10/1962, under TOPS it was re-numbered 47172, it became 47583 in November 1980 and finally in March 1996 47734. The loco was named County of Hertfordshire (26/07/1979 - June 1993) and then the name seen here Crewe Diesel Depot (Quality Approved) in March 1996. It was withdrawn in March 2007 and cut at EMR Metals in May 2008.
Copyright Geoff Dowling 04/05/1996; All rights reserved
Tags: Tir-phil 09.02 Cardiff Rhymney 47734
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Passing the abandoned coal loading points at Barry Dock is 56115. The loco is at the head of the 15.15 Barry to Burn Naze service.
The green areas are where railway tracks once served the constantly busy port in the export of Welsh coal.
56115 was built at Doncaster works, it entered service 30/01/1983. The loco has carried the names Bassettlaw and later in its career Barry Needham, the livery last carried is for Floyd ZRT.
Copyright Geoff Dowling 04/05/1996: All rights reserved
Tags: Barry Docks 56115 Burn Naze
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Arriving at Pantyfynnon station with a load of steel coil is 27229 and 37146, their train was the 10.12 Margam to Ebbw Vale. The steel trains were diverted over the Central Wales line to Shrewsbury and back into Wales again along the Welsh Marches line via Hereford.
37229 was built at English Electric and entered service as D6929 to Landore 28/02/1964. It was named Cardiff Rod Mill 25/05/1984, late in its career it was named Jonty Jarvis at DRS in Carlisle 02/10/2005. It was placed in store 07/12/12 and cut at C.F. Booth 24/09/2013.
37146 was also an English Electric product, it was built as D6846 and went new to Cardiff Canton 10/06/1963. The loco was preserved but was last listed as being with Europhoenix Locos UK.
Copyright Geoff Dowling 05/05/1996; All rights reserved
Tags: Pantyfynnon 37229 37146 steel coil Margam Ebbw Vale
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