Barry to Llandrindod Wells SO via Mid Wales line

[Tanat Valley]

The 11.00 am ex Barry ran via Talyllyn loop and then to Builth Road GWR. It then traversed the Builth Road loop to Builth Road LMS and onwards to Llandrindod Wells arriving 3.14 pm. The train was worked throughout by a G W engine. It returned from Llandrindod Wells at 4.15 pm. There was no turntable at Llandrindod so the engine would have to return tender first, did it do so all the way to Barry? Does anyone know if this train was ever photographed on route especially at Llandrindod Wells?

Times are from Summer 1939 STT.

Thanks
Alan Rhodes

[Penrhos1920]

In 1934 Barry did not have any tender engines allocated to it. Did it have a tender engine in 1939?

[Tanat Valley]

Thank you for the 2 replies. I assume there would be an engine change at Merthyr. Due to the route availability of the line the most likely locomotives were either a Dean Goods or Cam Rys 0-6-0. The STT is very specific about this train's timings at Builth Road. Builth Road GW Junction arr. 2.50pm, dep. 2.55pm. Builth Road LMS No. 2 Box arr. 3.0pm, dep. 3.2pm. The return is down as Builth Road LMS No. 2 Box arr. 4.25pm, dep 4.27pm. Builth Road GW Junction arr. 4.30pm, dep. 4.35pm. So it would seem there was insufficient time to turn a locomotive at Builth Road LMS.

[Tanat Valley]

Builth Wells had a 45ft. turntable, see 1921 & 1943 sectional appendices of Cam Rys and GW.

The time at Builth Road GW Junction is a mystery. This up train arrived at BW LL station at 2.44pm and departed at 2.46pm after crossing with a down train.

There was a shunting turn at Builth Wells from 11.00am to 5.00pm on a Saturday which is described as 'Shunting and pilot trips to and from Llanelwydd siding'.

Does anyone know what the coaching stock was on this train? I assume it would be listed in a Working of Coaches for the Cardiff area.

[Tanat Valley]

Sometimes when asking a question the answer is literally under one's nose! I was recently re-reading parts of Kidner's Mid-Wales Railway and found this on page 143 "the engine had to work tender-first back to Builth Road. Here the return train met a local from Builth Wells, which was hauled by a Cardiff engine also running tender-first, and the two trains exchanged engines to put things right.". I have not checked the STT yet and was the Cardiff engine changed in the outward journey at Builth Wells.

[Cwmtudu]

I think Roger Kidner may have found this information within the pages of the 'Railway Magazine' for March 1939, when in a short article entitled 70 m.p.h. on the Cambrian was the following :-
"A fourth trip described was on the Saturday through train from Barry to Llandrindod Wells, which is of interest as being the only remaining regular service to use the spur from the G.W.R. to the L.M.S.R. at Builth Road; furthermore the location of the spur makes it necessary to back the train along it in each direction. Owing to the lack of a turntable at Llandrindod Wells, the Builth engine, on the return journey, worked the train tender first to Builth Road, where, after backing round on to the G.W. line, there was a considerable wait. Presently the 4.25 local from Builth Wells appeared, drawn by the Cardiff engine, also tender first, and the two trains exchanged their locomotives. With a standard two-coach bogie non-corridor set and one "extra," the "23XX" 0-6-0 made some lively running, picking up nearly 6 min. to Talgarth alone, with a start-to-stop speed of almost exactly 40 m.p.h., and a maximum of all but 60 m.p.h. between Phillip's Siding and Boughrood, over a route which a few years ago was restricted to a maximum of 40 m.p.h. Later, when the train was again six and-a-half min. behind time on leaving Talybont, five and-a-half min.were wiped off up the steep gradient to Ponsticill, notwithstanding a stop on the bank at Pentir Rhiw, halfway up from Torpantau, to pass a descending freight train. But here again, of course, the timing of the train concerned is easy, even taking into account the heavy gradients and constant slacks, with so light a load as this."