Back at Coedkernew for the start of a new day and 158967 is the first train of the day for me as it passes by with 1F04 0626 Salisbury to Cardiff Central.
In glorious morning sunlight 43012 approaches with 43180 on the rear of 1L34 0730 Swansea to Paddington.
Alphaline liveried three car 158961 comes by with 1F07 0830 Cardiff to Portsmouth Harbour.
Being west of Newport means that traffic to and from Cardiff and points west that use the Welsh Marches route are seen. This brings different units and workings. This is 158828 on 1V70 0555 Crewe to Carmarthen.
Central trains turbostar 170514 forms 1M58 0845 Cardiff to Nottingham.
A down HST charges west with 43030 leading 43182, the train is 1B05 0645 Paddington to Swansea.
158835 is branded with Arriva but carries a silver livery. It is rostered to a class 2 working, 2L47 0857 Gloucester to Maesteg.
Something different with another class 158 sprinter unit. 158848 wears the green colours of Central Trains but is branded Arriva and is on an Arriva diagram, 1W24 0605 Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly.
The light at this time of the morning favours the up train giving sunlight on the front of the train. An example is 43134 on 1L38 0800 Swansea to Paddington, 43162 is on the rear.
Another different unit in the shape of a class 175 Coradia in First Group colours 175004. This train, 1V51, left Holyhead at the unsocial hour of 0425 heading for Cardiff.
The first of the day's freight action and 66055 powers an overnight enterprise working from Immingham to Margam, 6V19 1802 off the east coast port.
Many of the units which ply their trade on the branch lines of Devon and Cornwall and the West Country have been given vinyls that promote their sphere of operation, 153380 is one such unit. It is diagrammed to 2C67 0900 Cardiff Central to Taunton.
4O50 0500 Southampton to Wentloog freightliner is usually booked for a class 57 and today 57009 is rostered to the train.
170507 purrs past Coedkernew on the Down Main line with the first departure from Nottingham for Cardiff, 1V01 0602 off the Midlands city. The driver takes a slug of his coffee.
The driver of 43005 gives me a wave as he passes by working 1B09 0715 Paddington to Cardiff Central. 43188 is on the back.
The daily 6B13 0533 Robeston to Westerleigh tanks approaches with 60004 hauling the 2500+ tonne train of petroleum products.
A pair of Pacer units, 143619 and 143618, pass heading west with an unknown working.
Service 1L40 is the 0730 departure from Carmarthen to London Paddington and passes Coedkernew with powercars 43024 and 43142.
A three car class 175/1 Coradia unit wears First Group colours but has been debranded. 175113 forms what I thought was 1V73 0638 Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven, but it can't be as I saw it heading back the way a short time later so it must have gone as far as Cardiff.
The variety of trains, albeit mainly units, has been superb. Class 180 Adelante 180101 speeds along the level track with 1L46 0955 Cardiff to Paddington.
175113 is caught again heading east with 1W49 0800 Carmarthen to Manchester Piccadilly, or so I thought but not long before this shot I recorded it on what I thought was a Milford Haven working, naaa! I don't know what this working is.
Cardiff Wentloog Freightliner terminal is just a few miles away. 57009 is now homeward bound with 4O51 1002 off Wentloog for Southampton. The train carries just three containers.
The going away shot is worth it as there is nothing behind the loco to obscure it.
66187 hauls 36 well loaded HAA coal hoppers along the Down Relief road forming 6F66 0700 Newport Docks to Aberthaw Power Station which is near Barry.
This is the first train of the day from Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff and 158965 forms 1F08, 0650 off.
The sun is climbing and moving round and will soon come off the front of eastbound trains. Before it does, the cab of 43132 is lit as it leads 1L48 0930 Swansea to Paddington, pushing at the back is 43136.
A down HST working now with 43003 at the head of 1B12 0815 0815 Paddington to Cardiff Central. on the back of the eight coach set is 43027.
66203 trundles by east bound running light about the time 6E09 0920 Margam to Lackenby empty steel flats should have passed. Could this loco run light all the way to the North East of England?
Like yesterday some early morning trains were running late for whatever reason. This is 1B15 0845 Paddington to Cardiff Central with 43091 and 43009 running about 30 minutes down.
175116 is caught working 1W50 0905 Carmarthen to Manchester Piccadilly....hopefully!
66208 has its work cut out with this heavy train of 25 BDA flats each loaded with three steel slabs heading for the plant at Llanwern. It has come from Margam steel works, 6H25 0953 off.
Due to the previous steel train running on the Up Relief, 66102 is routed along the Up Main with a rake of empty HAA coal hoppers. It could be 6C55 Aberthaw to Avonmouth empty MGR running as a class 6 rather than a class 4 due to the type of wagons.
Moving on to Pont Tal Y Bont to the west of Cardiff at the west end of Miskin loops. An unknown HST passes over the bridge over the Ely River with 1B25 1045 Paddington to Swansea.
Silver 158835 approaches with a Gloucester bound working, 2G60 1217 off Maesteg.
I'm not sure about the livery on 175110 which forms 1V77 0934 Manchester Piccadilly to Carmarthen turn operated by a First Group franchise.
No doubt about this HST in FGW's new livery as lead powercar is 43009, fitted with a new MTU 16V4000 power plant. The train is 1L62 1230 Swansea to Paddington.
Looking towards Cardiff and along Miskin loops. 153353 hurries by with 2B65 1314 Cardiff Central to Swansea local service. The bubblecar looks exworks.
This west bound freight is not looped and 66174 passes the exit signals with 6V05 0939 Round Oak to Margam steel empties.
An unknown HST passes by, the train is known however, 1B28 1145 Paddington to Swansea.
A final shot at Pont Tal Y Bont and 66090 hauls its train over the Ely River. The working is 6M41 1222 Margam to Round Oak loaded steel.
Studying the OS maps and driving about brought me to this delightful spot at Llangewydd. 43192 leads an up service from Swansea to Paddington, 1L66 1330 off, past a derelict Llangewydd Grange.
Looking in the opposite direction and 43170 fronts 1B35 1245 Paddington to Swansea.
The going away shot of the previous train with 43150 on the back.
Most of the freight in this area is either steel or coal, this empty steel train is 6V75 0930 Dee Marsh to Margam and is powered by 66170.
Arriva sprinter 158820 passes the derelict Grange and buildings on its journey from Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly, 1310 departure 1W85.
I knew this train was running but didn't know where or if I would see it. 50031 "Hood" still wears the number and name 50028 "Tiger" and Scotrail Highland stag after its trip to the Far North line in June this year https://www.jules-merlin27.com/Railways/English-Electrics-in-the/i-9bGGH9f/A. Here it works 1B97 1335 Fishguard to Cardiff Arriva Trains service. I wonder if the punters are aware of the classic traction that is providing the thrash? It would have sounded fantastic climbing Stormy Bank! There are no cranks at the windows on this side of the train. THE shot of the week!
Arriva sprinter 158853 in Central Trains green forges up the 1 in 163 gradient here at Llangewydd with a Carmarthen bound class 1 working, 1V80 1334 from Manchester Piccadilly.
Viewed from the interesting side of the bridge is 66028 dropping down the 1 in 168 grade with 13 empty KEA bogie boxes working 7B07 MThO 1451 Margam to Machen Quarry.
