It was getting towards the end of the school holidays and the younger members of the household were getting stir crazy and before one of them killed another one it was time to get out of the house. They had spent most of the week playing in electronic devices. An unplanned excursion to Cardiff was arranged. We would go on the train because the cost of parking in Cardiff was more than the rail fare.
After an hour in Cardiff they were bored again and wanted to go home and spend further time attached to electronic devises. A second plan was quickly hatched, this involved a couple of moves and those who wanted to could play on their portable electronic devices on the train. Number one son and I could get out train fix, as it had been nearly a month since our last excursion, it was time go for a ride on the train and the other two could play on their Game Boy and Game Girl thus keeping everyone happy.
As it was mid afternoon it was possible to cover the Virgin 57s on the First Great Western train to Bristol and return on the DBS 67s on the other First Great Western diagram, then home in time for tea. We had a bit of time before the 14:00 departure and there was sufficient time to make the third attempt to seek our the Arriva Trains Wales Class 121, after the two previous failures.  |
| 121032 at Cardiff Bay |
Shortly after our arrival at Queen St “Bubbles” comes trundling in. Number one daughter is impressed that she can sit at the front and see where she is going albeit for only a 3 minute journey. Note to self: need to arrange a trip to Aylesbury the find the other one that remains in service with Chiltern.
It was then back to Central in time to catch the 14:00 to Taunton and a ride on the 57s to Bristol. On departure I had an idea. Would it be possible to get to Bristol Parkway and see if any new Class 70s were in residence than catch up the 67s. On checking the timetable this was very difficult however it was possible to leap at Filton Abbey Wood (3 minute wait) then to Bristol Parkway (11 minute wait) then back to Cardiff in time for the Arriva Trains Wales Class 57 on the South to North Wales Express. This seemed like a good plan.
Number two son had now spent an hour on the train and had got bored with train travel and had started asking if it was time to go home. Normal service had been resumed. This was so that he could sit in front of a different electronic device rather than the one in my bag. His request was declined we were going to continue with the plan.
The connection was made at Filton in order to get back to Parkway. We arrived to find 2 Class  |
| 70003 Bristol Parkway |
70s 70002 and 70003 which was lucky as these were 2 of the 3 we had not seen yet. Only number one to find now, well until the next batch arrive.
We arrive back in Cardiff in time for the 16:15 departure to Holyhead. We set off back towards Newport and number two son surprisingly announces this is a cool train and can we not stay on longer, do we have to get off in 10 minutes. This after the last hour of “is it time to go home yet?” Unbelievable! Much to his dismay we leave the train at Newport and head across the platform and the train home is arriving. Once again number two son wants something that everyone else doesn’t and is once again sadly disappointed.
Not a bad day out to say it was not arranged in advance and for haulage a Class 121 and 2 class 57s and all within an hour of home. Not too bad for 2010. We could also have had the 67s but rejected these.
The final unplanned plan:
| Friday 19/02/2010 | | |
| | |
| Neath | 11:40 | FGW |
| Cardiff Central | 12:25 | |
| 13:16 | ATW |
| Cardiff Q St | 13:19 | |
| 13:24 | ATW |
| Cardiff Bay | 13:28 | |
| 13:30 | ATW |
| Cardiff Q St | 13:34 | |
| 13:36 | ATW |
| Cardiff Central | 13:39 | |
| 14:00 | FGW |
| Filton Abbey Wood | 14:42 | |
| 14:48 | FGW |
| Bristol Parkway | 14:51 | |
| 15:07 | FGW |
| Cardiff Central | 15:48 | |
| 16:15 | ATW |
| Newport | 16:29 | |
| 16:31 | FGW |
| Neath | 17:30 | |
Traction Log:
| Neath - Cardiff Central | 43128 + 43xxx |
| Cardiff Central - Cardiff Q St | 150283 |
| Cardiff Q St - Cardiff Bay - Cardiff Q St | 121032 |
| Cardiff Q St - Cardiff Central | 150259 |
| Cardiff Central - Filton Abbey Wood | 57309+57305 |
| Filton Abbey Wood - Bristol Parkway | 153369 |
| Bristol Parkway - Cardiff Central | 43xxx + 43xxx |
| Cardiff Central - Newport | 57315 |
| Newport - Neath | 43122 + 43xxx |