Summary of Trip.

The main target was to cover some of the Welsh Valley lines and railways west of Swansea. This year the full team of nine were able to attend.

Timetable

Monday 1st June

Worthing to Victoria and circle line to Paddington, Paddington to Cardiff Central via Gloucester as Severn Tunnel closed for maintenance.
Train to Ebbw Vale and back. – Stayed two nights in Cardiff

Tuesday

Train to Merthyr Tydfil then bus to Brecon Mountain Railway. Return to Cardiff Central

Wednesday

Cardiff Central to Carmarthen
Taxi to Gwili Railway

Return to Carmarthen – Stayed two nights

Thursday

Carmarthen to Milford Haven
Milford Haven to Whitland
Whitland to Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock to Tenby
Tenby to Carmarthen

Friday

Carmarthen to Reading via Gloucester
Reading to Gatwick Airport via Guildford, Dorking West and Redhill

Gatwick Airport to Worthing.

Overall everything went to plan and we missed most of the wet and windy weather that was passing through,
We managed to get very cheap tickets for the journey there and back. This was a trip where a member of the group forgot or nearly forgot things a number of times when
leaving the train we were on!!!

We managed a valley trip to Ebbw Vale spoilt a little by low cloud. We then travelled to Merthyr Tydfil with the weather allowing a better picture of this valley before a bus to the Brecon Mountain Railway. The visit to Brecon Mountain Railway took up all of Tuesday as the early train we
wanted to catch was fully booked with coach parties. Fortunately the last train had space for us.

The Carmarthen hotel was very good and the size of the meals far bigger than expected. A rack of barbecue ribs looked more like half a pig. In fact all the meals we had were large portions.

The Gwili train we took had difficulty in getting up the gradient on the way out with constant slipping on the greasy rails but it did eventually make it to the top. It did
mean we had longer on the train than planned. We managed to get two first class compartments cheaper than the standard fare.

We visited Milford Haven which had an attractive view if you like oil tankers and the unloading facilities in one direction. The harbour with it cafes and various shops were better looking the opposite way.

Pembroke Dock had seen better days but Tenby seafront was very good, don’t know what the rest of the town looked like. Also in Tenby MS purchased a cake and immediately leaving the shop a seagull
swooped from behind to try and take it. Fortunately his reactions were quicker to pick it up, before the seagull could!!

As usual memories of the past were relived. Looking forward to next year and probably the West Midlands.