The 2025 Steam excursion: The Mayflower

This years family train excursion was to be the longest yet. Vintage trains had organised the Mayflower trip from Birmingham New Street to Plymouth. The Birmingham to Bristol leg was to be diesel hauled and the Bristol to Plymouth leg was to be doubleheaded by Clun Castle and Bahamas both of which were nearing the end of their boiler certificates

Fortunately the trip was to make a stop at Worcestershire Parkway so the four of us arrived for the 0650 departure. The surprise was that it would be double headed diesel!

Two diesels for the price of one!

The two steam trains had travelled from Tyseley to Bristol Friday afternoon via Oxford (5Z41) so we had to make a detour to Bristol East depot to change locomotives before going to Bristol Temple meads to collect the final passengers

Now with Steam

The scenery along the coast was stunning especially as it was low tide The added excitement was that we followed immediately behind 5029 Nunney Castle hauling the Saphos trains English Riveria express from High Wycombe to Kingswear and we were followed by our diesels (0Z45) just in case our locos had trouble. It must have been a long time since there were consecutive steam trains through Dawlish warren!

Our train arrived in Plymouth at 1310 some 31 minutes early (Saphos arrived 59 minutes late!) ! 

After discharging the passengers at Plymouth, the steam trains had to go for a rest:-

 We went for a walk to  Plymouth Hoo and around the city 

The Harbour

returning for the 1638 return departure (1Z58) which actuually started at  1645, 

The steam trains waiting to attach at Plymouth

The diesels wait to follow us to Bristol

Dawlish warren got exciting as it was high tide and the wind was sending waves across the sea wall. Nunney Castle in front of us got wet!

Passing waves at Dawlish

We arrived back in Bristol at 2016, some 26 minutes late, mainly due to having to accede to Nunney castle returning on the same route.

We changed to our two diesels,  the drivers of which obviously wanted to make up lost time, peaking 85mph passing the Gloucester Junction bypass, between Cheltenham to Ashchurch and Ashchurch to the Parkway, We arrived only 11 minutes late at 2157. The diesels took off in a hurry and arrived back in New Street on time!

The diesels got home at 2310. The two steam locos returned via the same route as us and got home at 0115

The whole Monmouth and Brecon Canal walk

Brecon to Newport 45.4 miles

 

Monmouth and Brecon Canal: Pontypool to Newport 27 June 2025

The final leg had to be done to complete the canal from Brecon to Newport!

I caught the train to Pontypool via Hereford and set off southwards, this time without encountering the dual carriageway on the parkway side. This was to be the least scenic section of the route passing by the bottom of a lot of townhouse gardens, then it got worse!

The waterway itself was scenic and well kept UNTIL five locks at Pontnewydd, At this point the canal dissapears into a culvert inder the road and from this point south is derelict with what little water is choked with weeds and dried out locks

The one good point was that the canal goes by the Cywmbran retail park which has a Costa Coffee shop!

After reaching Newport and examining the river the train was caught back to Malvern via Hereford. As usual the TFW train only had 2 (crammed) coaches. This one was going to Manchester. Luckily the Hereford to Malvern train was the GWR 7 coach Paddington train

Culvert at five locks, the end of navigation!

Typical lock status

Crossing under the M4

The end!

Total 9.17miles

Ledbury to Malvern 14 Jun 25

I discovered that there is a bus from Malvern to Ledbury, early in the morning (route 675 departs 0805 from opposite WH Smiths) that goes direct (ie doesnt go via North Malvern and Colwall) so I decided to try it. The route goes via Wyche cutting and Wellington, which may be useful in the future.

Starting at the market in the centre of Ledbury, I walked the normal route to the woodshed at Eastnor Castle (who were having a crisis as their POS wasnt working and they had little change!) After coffee I decided I had done the route past the Obolisk many times before so wanted to do something different and decided to investigate the southern end of the Malverns. I got as far South as Chase end hill then started North. When i got to Hollybush I realised I had never been to the top of Midsummer hill so went up there

The journey continued for ice cream at British camp, but after I passed Wyche cutting I decided i had had enough excercise so at the Gold mine stone marker deviated left and came down the slope to home

In total 15.62 miles 

IOS Day 5 St Martin 3 Jun 25

 

IOS day 4 St Agnes 2 June 25

 

3.7 miles

IOS Day 2 Tresco 31 May 25

 

IOS Day 1 St Marys 30 May 25

 

Monmouth and Brecon Canal: Pontypool to Abergavenny 28 March 2025

 The 0802 train from Malvern to Hereford to Pontypool was taken as usual

The biggest challenge of the day ws to find the PEDESTRIAN exit from Pontypool Station. Arriving on the Western platform i followed the exit sign and ended up in the park and ride car park! This is for cars only, the only exit is onto the dual carriageway! I returned to the station and crossed over the bridge to the easterly platform where i eventually found the tunnel entrance to Pedestrian exit on the other side.

Although it was sunny when I left Malvern it was raining at the start of the route

Approaching llanfoist the sun finally appeared for the walk down the old tramway into Abergavenny. After coffee in town the train was taken back to Malvern

The canal walk was just 12 miles, but i totalled 22 miles during the day!

 

Wyre Valley Rail trail Part 1 Worcester Foregate St to Droitwich 22/2/25

 There was only one section left to complete the Wyre valley Rail trail  so today was to be the final day. Caught the train to Foregate St then set off northbound. Initially the trail follows the Worcester and Birmingham canal. When the railway line is encountered at Blackpole the  canal is left and the route takes you through the ravenmeadow golf course and Tappenhall until one reaches the other canal, The Droitwich canal at Porters Mill. The canal is then followed past Salwarpe to Droitwich

The route took 3 hours and covered 9.57 miles

The whole route-

Total 30.1 miles