The Heart of Wales Line! 4 hours on a TfW Diesel Railcar!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ต.ค. 2024
- Up this week, we take a 4 hour ride on a diesel railcar up the rather picturesque Heart of Wales Line!
Date of Travel: May 2021
Class of Travel: Standard Class (2nd Class)
Rolling Stock: Class 153 Super Sprinter
Cost of Ticket: £65.35 ($92.15, €75.85 including railcard discount of ⅓ for "Explore Wales 4 in 8" pass)
Origin: Swansea, United Kingdom (Wales)
Destination: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, United Kingdom (England)
Other info: For this I was travelling on an "Explore Wales 4 days in 8" pass, which, as the name suggests, allows you to travel anywhere in Wales and to select destinations in England on any 4 days in an 8 day period. This pass costs £99 ($136, €115.45) or £65.35 ($89.80, €76.20) with a railcard. More information regarding this can be found here: tfwrail.wales/...
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Credits
[1] www.openstreetmap.org under Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL) opendatacommon... opendatacommon... opendatacommon...
[2] Nigel Brown / Cynghordy viaduct / CC BY-SA 2.0
Link: commons.wikime...
License: Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0 creativecommon...
[3] Chris Eaton / Approaching Knucklas Viaduct / CC BY-SA 2.0
Link: commons.wikime...
License: Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license 2.0 creativecommon...
30 years or so I did this in a Met-Cam 101. I think it went Swansea to Crewe. The journey was notable for the engine overheating, being filled up with a station watering can and belting through a request stop at 75ish (trying to make up time) to the consternation of the passenger standing there. The full service brake and then reverse 1/4 mile back along the track were probably against all sorts of rules. On the plus side the drivers sang a lot (welsh...) and the cab blinds were open so we could share the drivers view. Happy times!
welsh is the worst language in the world people who stick up for welsh are those that can only say a couple of words in welsh ! i was born in cardiff i would rather learn any other language than welsh. all my friends also born in wales are white people but all like me dislike the racists welsh speakers and hopefully more immigrants from INDIA PAKISTAN AFRICA COME TO WALES ALSO OTHER COUNTRIES ALL ARE WELCOME WELSH SPEAKERS ? THANK YOU NO WAY WOULD I WANT TO ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH THESE PEOPLE.
Something satisfying abour being on. A train in the rain 😂
Once again Dylan your voiceovers are spot on and you mixture of facts and humour is brilliant. Considering the difficulty of Welsh place names, this was a brave one to voice! You coped very well and most of us Welsh people will laud you for trying. You've really added value with voiceovers.
Not being British had to playback a couple of times to understand all you were saying :D
.
@@roysuarez5588 LOL.😅😆💜🥁🐉🎤🎵🎶💞
Yeah, I was having second thoughts as to why I chose this one when I was making it 😅
@@DylansTravelReports At least you made an effort to speak a bit of Welsh
@@DylansTravelReports you should Get Heart of Wales line dvd
You prove that even a traintrip in the rain can be nice. I like the voiceover as there are no disturbing titles in the sceen. Keep on going!!
welsh is the worst language in the world people who stick up for welsh are those that can only say a couple of words in welsh ! i was born in cardiff i would rather learn any other language than welsh. all my friends also born in wales are white people but all like me dislike the racists welsh speakers and hopefully more immigrants from INDIA PAKISTAN AFRICA COME TO WALES ALSO OTHER COUNTRIES ALL ARE WELCOME WELSH SPEAKERS ? THANK YOU NO WAY WOULD I WANT TO ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH THESE PEOPLE.
I travelled this line in 1979 on an old DMU.I managed to get a seat at the front looking straight ahead through the driver's cab.I did it with my then 4 year old son, and he's still a rail nut at 46! The scenery was amazing and the weather was lovely.The view through the cab dead ahead really made the journey unforgettable especially over Cymgordy viaduct.Your video was really good.Pity they don't run the occasional old dmu's over some of these scenic routes.Blaenau Festiniog to Llandudno Junction downhill was phenomenal.
That would probably have been one of the old class 120 units. They were really nice to travel on.
I miss those old chuggy DMUs. As you say, the view dead ahead was a real treat. I found them comfortable to ride on, ample luggage space, room for quite a few bikes when there was a guard's compartment and I used to enjoy the slight rocking and rolling suspension. New is NOT the same as better in my opinion, although the Sprinters do have windows you can open, which is infinitely better than the "canned" air conditioned muck. Finally, have they forgotten how to upholster seats so you don't get saddle sores ? The old sprung seating was so superior
@@andrewwilliams2353 I’m not old enough to have experienced the old 1st gen dmu’s (except a few short rides on heritage lines) but I really loved travelling on the pacer trains. I loved the engine sound, the bumpy ride (on jointed track), the low backed seating gave excellent visibility. I have travelled on really old slam door carriages on heritage lines with the individual compartments which have really comfortable springy seats. Yeah I prefer opening windows to air con because if the air con fails the passengers roast but windows never fail.
Enjoyed this one very much!!! The Request stops here in the USA we tend to call them flag stops or whistle stops but no matter what you call them I find charm in a train service that still caters to small rural communities!
Well done.
I do as well. For some reason I noticed that the US doesn’t have any Dmu trains, they only have diesel locomotives, I’m not sure why this is.
Lane of the green meadows?
Nice memories. Lived in Swansea and used this service.
This is probably one of your fastest carriage walk-throughs😂😂👍👍
Wonderful voice over Dylan! And beautiful work as always. 😉
I love the pacing and style of the commentary.
I would love to see more videos like this in the future.
Nice voice over again and thanks for remining me of many happy holidays in Wales, whatever the weather is like........
Thanks for a rainy trip
I like the Brick and Stone Stations, they are just awesome...! The Landscape is fantastic too... a very useful and dynamic narration, thanks for the ride...!
I'd reccomend doing the RIVIERA Line in Devon! It is the most scenic route in my opinion in Britain!!
That sounds very good !! 👍👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎵🎶💞
Even the Avanti train on the WCML I was on the other day didn't have USB or plug sockets. Weird. I was surprised not to see Geoff Marshall at a request stop.
The *table* seats on the Pendolinos have mains sockets, but not the "airline" seats. This is disappointing but is what it is; presumably it wasn't considered as important when first introduced?
@@seprishere thankfully this will change when the set goes through its refurb.
There's just something about sitting inside a train whilst it pisses down outside that makes the heart sing.
LOLOLLOL 😅
I think it’s a pretty cool ride, cause of the views.
Excellent trip report. My boyfriend is Welsh and your pronnounciations made me chuckle. When I lived in Wales I couldn't pronnounce much either.
I really enjoyed that video
First of all, I'd like to appreciate your wonderful voice over, Dylan. You sound so natural and entertaining yet still manage the good articulation.
I love the way you described the trains as ‘poorly’. It was such a nice way of putting it!
Nicely done Dylan. Thank you. I love the UK but I've never been to Wales so this is a good plan for me. I appreciate the voiceover so I can focus on the scenery.
Lovely ride with lots of beautiful countryside views. Thanks for sharing 😊
The tiniest train with the largest toilet I've ever seen😄
I prefer the tables over the, sometimes flimsy, fold outs.
Thanks for the little facts and anecdotes and I hope you stick with the voice over comments!
Glad you enjoyed!
You have such a pleasant voice, Dylan. I much prefer listening than having to miss a little of the visuals while I read your commentary. 😊
If you could manage to find a sunny day, this would be a fantastic trip.
I enjoyed this video immensely, instead having stopped the video several times to read the subtitles which also inhibits the view, i had the pleasure of unobstructed scenery, plus I'd like a train ride on a rainy day
Thanks for another great video, Dylan. And yep, I'm caught up now lol
The voiceovers really make these videos, cheers my guy.
Just the right amount of interesting information without distracting from the pictures, and giving plenty of time for the listener to take it all in. You are getting rather good at this! In spite of the awful weather it made an excellent video.
Thanks 🙂
Thank you for your comments on Wales 🏴
Beautifully narrated Dylan and a good video
After first seeing this line on a certain video produced by a certain couple, your video is amazing. One on my bucket list
I find myself waiting for your videos to come out, that’s a sign of good quality entertainment
Pleased to hear!
Absolutely love the little class 153s love the grumbling roar as they pull away they also look fantastic with that refurbishment! Scotrail seem too have done a great job with this aswell !
Being born in Shrewsbury and travelled in and out of the station many times I did not know it was the largest mechanically operated signal box still in operation the world, thanks for that little bit of trivia.
Just retired, free time, HoW Line now added to my To-Do list - thank you for the idea!
Really liking the voiceovers and enjoy the facts along the journey. Great video!👍🏻
Another great video. I have travelled this route many times from when I used to live in mid wales. Very scenic route. Great attempts at the pronunciation at some of the town names. You did forget to mention you passed Sugar Loaf station, which is one of the most remote and unused stations in the UK. Wish you had said you was doing this run. I live in swansea so would have been glad to travel with you.
Great that we can see a vid from you without having to read the text. Fantastic video. Thanks.
I could imagine that this trip would be brilliant on a sunny day or a fall day to admire the changing leaves. I must say, Dylan, I have to give you a billion 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 on this format with the voice as it allows me to view the presentation without subtitle description as distractions whilst listening to your commentary. Well done!
Very enjoyable, very interesting, glad I subscribed. Thanks.
An excellent video (part rail trip, part travelogue) enjoyed the journey on this line which I must admit as someone who travelled from Manchester to Swansea regularly I was unaware of. Well done !
Fun ride. Thanks for all the historical info.
Glad you enjoyed 😁
I don’t watch every video, just pop by every now and then; but I gotta say I really enjoy your voice overs to previous silent ones.
Thanks 😁
What a lovely scenic route! Thanks, Dylan, I really enjoyed it!
Bravo! Great trip through Wales. Great barebones trip and the narration was fantastic and easy to listen to.
Fascinating trip report. I regret that I never got the chance to travel this line as the scenery is stunning. It was obvious from your footage of raging and overflowing rivers that the rainy weather had been going on for quite a while already!
Excellent job my good man.
Another great video, and I like the voiceover ones. Beautiful scenery and a cute train.
Great video! Chock full of informative information, and lovely views, even with the rain.☔
Thanks!
Loads of interesting info in this one - nice work 👍
Beautiful country. Have to admit, the lush green was a nice change from the heat wave we're having in Texas..
Should have sent you some of the rain from this trip 😅 Glad you enjoyed 😁
Hello Texas. Greetings from a Texan in Amsterdam 🙋♀️
Great video as always. I must do it myself one day.
Really good video. Very interesting facts aswell 👏
Nicely done, especially the part of adding the rain...makes it seem really British.
Have you considered doing a video comparing the various routes available between Glasgow and Edinburgh. There are at least four different routes between the two cities.
think it’s 5 between the 2
Interesting. Back in the day when I was touring everywhere on a pass there were only 2 direct routes -- the express route through Falkirk and Croy and the slowslowslow multi-stop train through Shotts. What are the others?
Thanks for the narrated vid!
Great video Dylan . As a Welshman fair play to you for trying the pronunciation of the villages . Da iawn ( very good ) 😄😄.
Thanks Steve 😁
Cheers Dylan! Fantastic journey this week as always.
i used to live in a house on that line, just before you reach Llangadog. during most winters when the rain was really coming in from the Atlantic, the rail line and my house were the only things in the valley above the water. many a day i left the car on the A40, donned the waders and walked thigh deep down my drive, over the rail and to the house. good times!
btw the pronunciation of Llanwrda was hilarious but spirited. :)
Hilarious but spirited seems to be how most of my attempts at Welsh pronunciation go too. Glad it’s more funny than offensive (usually). Though I have had the misfortune on being on the end of what sounded like some spirited invective whilst visiting, I unfortunately looked like a local from behind. I did get a pint out of it so not all bad.
I've always said..the hand dryer on the 153 sounds like a plane taking off
Wonderful commentary, Dylan !
Very informative.
A very scenic route, too
Outstanding content, really enjoyed it. Especially loved the overcast and rain.
The addition of a VM has really improved your videos especially as the commentary sounds very natural, mixing fact with humour. Great work. We use to go to Llandrindod Well each year for a Dog Show but always went by car as we always took our caravan with us.
Well done Dylan a good commentary. Love your reports mate. Keep them coming. Steve
Wow !! You did a real good job with your narration.!! 👍👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎵🎶💕💞
I was hoping you'd get one of the ex EMR 153's. Also, "cracking trains" haha I see what you did there.
May do at some point!
I love your videos I might start my own
Thanks! Yes, you definitely should 😁
Great video looks like a nice journey
Nice video, very nice scenery, the inside of the train seems to be fairly modern and very clean. Thanks for the ride.
Thankyou for the commentary and not the subtitles. You have an excellent speaking voice and hope this will continue in the future so that we can concentrate on the magnificent scenery that you shoot on your journeys.
Yes, sure will!
another awesome video - love it with commentary
Thanks!
Great trip on shortest train in this channel.
My home town Llanelli made it!
So crazy that I watch this channel week in week out and Llanelli is on here!
Kudos for doing your research on the rugby team, too.
Glad you enjoyed 😁
Great film!
Hiya Dylan. I had to endure one of these boxes back in 2017 between Crewe and Derby. It was great you had a toilet. We didn't - and 90 minutes travel time! A bit outrageous really. Great video. Keep posting please!
Never mind the welsh place names, great to hear you pronouncing Shrewsbury properly! Great video 👍
Ah, now that's an easier one 😅 Just wish I had a bit more time there before continuing on to Holyhead! Thanks Mark!
@@DylansTravelReportsbe sure to let me know if you’re stopping by next time. Always welcome 😊
@@LetsMakeaTrip Absolutely will 🍻
Nice vedio . Thanks
very nice. thank you
I really enjoyed this video. Although I was wondering that as the channel grows it also gets better and it means more work to do on scripting, filming, editing, and now narrating! Keep up the good work, @Dylan, I hope your latest goal will be achieved sooner than ever!
Thanks 😁
@@DylansTravelReports What was it like on a four hour journey
Hey i like the new style narration , keep it up .
In Italy we still have something like this, they're called "ALn 668", but they're so much older and cramped
You’re doing ok with the Welsh names, I wouldn’t worry too much 🙌 thanks for the train ride.
Thanks for this.
I love the voice-over! Well done Dylan 🙌🔥
Ah, this video takes me back. I used to get the Swansea - Llandrindod service when coming home from uni during the holidays. Seems TFW has updated the trains a bit since I got them with Arriva. I know when it comes to catering they used to have a little trolley with tea/coffee, snacks etc but that would only be on a couple of services a day and it used to swap trains in Llandrindod or Llanwrtyd, that was a few years ago now so I guess it's changed. Great video and nice try pronouncing the names! :D
Probably due to the pandemic
Great route. I would definitely recommend doing the Birmingham to Pwllheli line. It is scenic at Barmouth especially
As a Swansea boy, I've been waiting for this one. Hoping to hear all the Welsh place names
Yeah, no, they were butchered about as well as I thought they'd be. Always entertaining to see people try, though
Goodness. Rivers in torrent and many flooded fields. That's Welsh Rain for you - wetter than English Rain! LMAO!
So much nicer to hear your soft Yorkshire accent. x
I did part of that journey with my mountain bike probably some 15 year ago now (when it was DRY!).
It basically rained nonstop when I was in Wales 😅
Among the first. It’s a good thing that TFW have refurbished their 153s. It makes them good trains. Tiny diesel train through the wilderness I love that
Great video, also well done on the voiceover! It adds a lot more character to these videos :)
Thanks!
@@DylansTravelReports :)
Congrats on reaching over 90 k subscribers ! That number will grow, I’m sure.
Thanks!
Nice video. I do like the 153, mainly because of the novelty of it only being a single unit. I also like the loud engine and the seating. It’s definitely suited to a quiet route like this. Seeing as there weren’t many people on the train, I’m not surprised they put a 153 on the route. You travelled in typical welsh weather lol. It rains a lot in Wales.
The signal box in Shrewsbury and all those semaphore signals, brings back memories!
Oh YAY !! 8day Wales rail card the next !!! Yay !! That'll be what I'll be doing in Wales with mom for sure ! I'm currently planning our trip to Wales and for the near future !! Thanks for doing that !! I was wondering of this route ,too for on our way back from Aberystwyth...,thought about visiting Shrewsbury while back then ! I had changed that plan. I'll be looking forward for your very next video !!! 👍👍💜💜💜💜🥁🐉🎤🎵🎶💖💞 P.S. I am impressed by all the Welsh trains seats everytime !! They look very plushy & comfy !!! 👍👍
This is sooo cool!
Hello Dylan. Another great video, well done. Love the narration with the history, information and little humour thrown in to make it more entertaining. Keep up the great work! Thank you.
Thanks!
My grandmother was from North Wales near Caernarvon castle!
Nice scenery and route but these trains are long past the time they took their place in the great railway depot in the sky. If I recall, the windows are too high up the sides in this class of train. The trains were put together from Leyland National bus body components, which explains the window spacing. There was also an experimental mark 1 vehicle rebodied also with Leyland National bus body components. It ran on the Brighton-Manchester through service.
After that British Rail Technical Centre got its act together and the result was the class 158.