I only got to South Wales a couple of times during the hydraulic era, and only a few more since. I’ve been up and back along the line to Swansea a couple of times taken B&B at Pembroke Dock and Bridgend once each, being permitted to quickly run around Ebbw Junction Depot (Newport); watching from the footbridge at Canton (Cardiff); seeing the rusting hulks of steam and diesel at Barry from a tantilising distance; and finding a pale shadow of what I’d expected at Radyr. There was also one location – now forgotten – where there were lines of Class 37s laid up during a coal strike. I’ve also filled in selectively along the Central Wales line through Abergavenny and Carmarthen, and there is still a lot to be introduced to in the area.
Tantilising-close, but on my visits to South Wales I was never able to get to Margam depot, shown here on 5th June 1977. Maintaining and refueling the locos servicing the minerals traffic, on shed at this time were three 47s, two 37s and a Peak. Despite the downturn in traffic, this shed remained active, and even grew in importance as others closed around it. 770605A01-MGM-DEPOT-VI__S
The thoughtful styling of the Hymeks is evidenced by D7010 in clean two-tone green livery, being boarded by smartly-attired enthusiasts on Cardiff’s Canton Depot in 1962. The tracks around are surprisingly free from other locomotives and rolling stock. 62###AE01-CCN-D7010-PARKD
Heading a train of empty hoppers, Hymek D7097 in two-tone green livery growls out from under a bridge near to Cardiff Canton shed, with the factory of “Powell Duffryn Engines” behind. There are steps with handrails down from the road, and tall lighting towers overlook the scene. 6####AX01-UNK-D7097-HOP_E
Cardiff Canton depot in the early 1970s looking south east from the pedestrian overbridge giving access. Three Class 25s, two 47s, a ‘Peak’ and a ‘Western’ are parked together between duties. The lines behind run from Cardiff Station (left) to the DMU depot (right). 72###AA01-CCN-LOCOS-PARKD+
1015 “WESTERN CHAMPION” is an unusual and welcome visitor to Cardiff Canton Depot amid the more normal 37s and 47s. Also present is 45045 “COLDSTREAM GUARDSMAN”, and a couple of 08 shunters and a washing plant are in the background. 7604#AB01-CCN-D1015-PARKD
A Class 47 passes Canton depot in August 1976 with an air-conditioned passenger service from Swansea. The sidings behind of what seem to have once been steam age coal staithes are clean and empty, and the lines slew around under Leckwith Road bridge, in the distance. 7608#AA01-CCN-47###-PAS_U
In rather dismal surroundings beside a propped-up wagon in a siding, D1023 “WESTERN FUSILIER” is parked beside the hotel at the east end of Cardiff General Station. A water column and rather old lattice framed electric signals are still in situ. 631114A01-CDF-D1023-PARKD
Newport still displays British Railways “hamburger” totems on its lamp posts as D821 “GREYHOUND” with double-emblems passes westwards through it, light engine. D821 was one of two D8XX ‘Warships’ fortunate enough to survive through to preservation. 8####AG01-NWP—D821-LIGHT
Taken at Woodham’s scrapyard in Barry, South Wales, the side tank of a loco still bears the original (“cycling lion”) British Railways emblem, a little bleached out, after years in the sea air, but protected from oblivion through close shelter from other locos. 7####EP01-BYI-TENDR-ENBLM
Shown at Woodham’s yard in Barry, 1969, the first diesel hydraulic, D600, awaits her fate, buffered against a D61XX. The following year I saw it from a distance – its once rail blue livery bleached to an even paler shade than depicted here. 69###AQ01-BRY—D600-SCRAP
The two main lines from Severn Tunnel towards Cardiff are at the left of this scene of the Junction depot – the other arm of the junction being behind and to the right of the photographer. I never saw quite this many locos in the few times I passed by on a window hang from a passing train. Wagons, sheds, water tower and oil tanks complete the picture. 78####999-STJ-DEPOT-VI__W
This was the sort of sight I hoped to see on my first ever visit to Radyr – Class 37s in front of an old Steam Shed – but it was not to be. There was not much left of the yard beside the station other than sidings, stored stock and a Class 08 shunter when I arrived. Here D6902 and a class mate wait before the corrugated iron faced shed building in 1965. 65###AK01-RDR-D6902-PARKD
A line-up of two rows of parked Class 37s like those seen by my brother and myself when we followed a track through through a hedge on our first visit to South Wales, during a coal strike. The locos are work-worn but in good external condition, and the nearest has a glass infil panel suggesting the picture was taken sometime in the mid-70s. 7####GN01-UNK-D_LCO-PARKD
A pair of Southern Region 33s are surrounded by WR locos on Canton depot at Cardiff. Men race into the shed at left, presumably to clock in promptly after lunch, as one of the engines opposite starts up. Two Class 46s – one with marker lights, accompany 47523 and a class mate, and the ballast between tracks is packed hard,with litter spread around the tracks. 7####GN02-UNK-D_LCO-PARKD
As shown by their non-standard cab-front numbers, 37234 (left) and 37272 (right) head lines of Class 37s at adjacent sidings in South Wales amid scrub bushes and buddleias. A loco in much cleaner condition tails the line behind 234, and the front engines show interesting nose differences in the position of lamp irons and headboard clips, and even buffer shape. 7####GN03-UNK-D_LCO-PARKD
The Eric Curnow Collection 