Heart Of Wales Line - Episode 32, Day 54 - Swansea to Shrewsbury

It's the 29th June, and we make it to the ❤ Of Wales line! Which we've been looking forward to since the start of the trip, surely one of Britain's most scenic railways?
We stop at the least used station in Wales, go over a gorgeous viaduct, meet some local volunteers who tend to their local station and catch with an author who knows a thing or two about travelling on the rails themselves. Vicki's Welsh is slowly improving day by day too, Geoff's less so.
You can buy Ian's rather brilliant railway book on Amazon, here: www.amazon.co....
See our progress map at: www.allthestati...
Download the All The Stations theme tune from iTunes here: itunes.apple.c... (other stores are available....)
ROUTE: Swansea - Llanalli - Sugar Loaf - LLanwrtyd - Shrewsbury

[@andrewholloway231]

Vicki Explores ..... now there's an idea for a great series of videos.

[@kayos9958]

What About Abertawe

[@hephzibahcole8858]

This aged well 😅

[@psychoticfox1965]

my Dad once told me i had a mind like a Welsh railway, i said '' What do you mean''? , he said '' one track and dirty''

[@DavidShepheard]

All The Rimshots - all of them!

[@fooksie1]

psychoticfox1965 ¿

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

Perfect horn placement! ‘This railway is a bit parp-paarp!’

[@majesta24]

do you know it’s intentional?

[@cardley1744]

Spot on Ian. Railways for the people by the people.

[@JohnTalbot-k6xi]

Absolutely Enchanting - You guys are hitting them out of the Park. Showcasing the local people that really care about their railway heritage and stations; Giant… also noting the Railway Workers spirit and animated joy for their endeavors along the ways. Addition of “Vicki Explores” segments something to look forward to the next. Great use of sound track and theme music … Show is getting better all the time (!!) You are doing Great (!!)

[@ezequielpub]

I could not agree more. Such lovely people (hosts and "guests"), nicely filmed (considering that they seem to be using phone cameras), and so atmospheric. You feel you're there with them. It's relaxing, entertaining, and just gives me a "warm" feeling. I also like that there is just a genuine respect and appreciation for the places and people they meet. Thank you guys very much for posting this video. I can't wait to watch the others!

[@rayob9131]

Dropped in to Sugar Loaf 5th September 2021 - smell of fresh paint on the waiting shelter, gardens looking well tended, DMI working, TFW signs and platform in top notch condition with non-slip surface. Well done TFW.

[@MrGreatplum]

Loving that you got a seat in the rear cab!

[@maxccfc1927]

This line is pure gold,loads of the stations are tiny remote request stops

[@grahammckay-smith4187]

Ian Marchant, great writer and a thoroughly lovely bloke too. Excellent

[@thomasjones8648]

All the stations on the heart of Wales line are all really beautiful and scenic and they are all kept so nice by the brilliant volunteers at these stations, so we'll done. Also well done for getting the pronunciations of the Welsh stations right, spot on!

[@tomdunnett9654]

10:50... an amazing bit of editing, or a fantastic coincidence? Amazing

[@martijnkosters9024]

10:51 perfectly timed censorship there

[@jonathanbrett-warren2031]

Just want to say that I am rewatching your videos because it is such lovely escapism from the doom and gloom of the shit that is 2020

[@veryhappychappy12]

👍 You are not alone.

[@MargaretUK]

It's no better in 2024 😒

[@alistairstevens-brown9275]

I travelled on my favourite rail replacement journey so far between Knighton and Llanwrtyd, calling at all stations. Dare I say it, even prettier than the train journey!

[@ChrisHamblypopsidelad]

10:50 Perfect timing for the horn! 😂

[@venetiacaine9252]

Llanwrtyd Wells! I had a pony trekking holiday there in 1962 with my best friend from school!

[@AntonyShannon]

Oh, Geoff and Vicki, it would have been nice to hear that announcement at Swansea. I love the welsh station announcements

[@AllTheStations]

We hung around on the platform for ages, waiting to hear it .. but unfortunately it never came!

[@ianmcclavin]

And there's one train a day on the Heart of Wales line that extends to Crewe after Shrewsbury, so the announcement for that one must be even longer!!

[@mikecowen6507]

Will: Impeccable editing on this one. The meandering line out the rear cab with the piano theme = PERFECT! I think it's my favorite shot of the series so far. BTW: keep up the post-roll clips. Love it!

[@bradgraham9207]

I love Ian's book. thank you for the insights of railways and on travelling in Wales. and interviewing Ian.

[@Squimple]

Wonderful and diolch yn fawr i chi for attempting and improving with the pronunciations and for just making a film about this line. I grew up with the Central Wales line [as we call it]. I got told off by my primary school teacher for drawing a 125 HST arriving at Builth Road, she said that would never happen, which disappointingly has turned out to be true.It takes forever getting anywhere on the thing, but it's amazing that we still have it! Glad you enjoyed Mid Wales.

[@cainsy8124]

Ah, brilliant. I've done that line.

[@evanslater4551]

I go on holiday near Shrewsbury such a lovely place

[@marcusrose8971]

Missed a few stations but an excellent video. I travel up this line every year.

[@johntauren]

The Heart of Wales line is quite beautiful.

[@peel_acres]

Great to see Ian Marchant. Love that book. Interested to hear he has a new one out soon.

[@chrisdawson4896]

Even more exciting is when the trains are cancelled and a minibus runs to all 32 stations. The roads take you through farm yards and single track roads between Knighton & Dolau. Nice to see what it looks like on the train.

[@cambsy37]

Fortunately done this line on proper trains, a HST railtour and a rail tour with dining and hauled by a Western diesel and a 37, lovely line really scenic.

[@charliemoir5591]

I love the bit at 10:50!!

[@TheFrozenSaint]

Probably the prettiest episode yet!

[@ozdazz]

Great to see Ian Marchant; I thoroughly enjoyed Parallel Lines. Fantastic to see more of Wales and some of those small stations.

[@lewismelrose5289]

I really want to go on the heart of Wales line now

[@colinbaker3916]

Prettiest looking line I've seen so far, and you've still got Settle-Carlisle and the North of Scotland to come!

[@petekernow1]

In 1963 I was lucky enough to do Llandeilo-Craven Arms on a double headed steam train, I think for mail Swansea-York. Climbing up to Sugar Loaf was impressive!

[@IceDaemon]

The awesome journey keeps on going.

[@anneupton7776]

In the 1980's my husband and I did a trip on this line and we were able to sit behind the driver's cab and see the line ahead as you could see straight through. I'm sure someone can tell me what class of train that was as I'm not familiar enough with the different types of trains. We got to Swansea, got off the train, walked along the platform and then got back on for the return journey to Shrewsbury. It's a-day out well worth doing - but not in the rain!

[@muttley8818]

It was probably an older type DMU - Class 108 or 112 maybe. They had windows behind the drivers cab so you could see the way ahead as well as the driver. They used those DMU's on the HoWL in the 80's before they started replacing them with newer DMU's like the 150. Looks like they are on a 153 in this which is a 1 coach DMU that's used on the line these days.

[@Sim0nTrains]

This video is great! after seeing the photos on twitter and Instagram of this journey, It has inspired me to do this line next month and honestly I have to thank All the Stations for this inspiring trip which i'm going to take but i'm going to do this from Shrewsbury to Swansea. great video, cannot wait to see more and more

[@sadiqmohamed681]

What fun! Great video. I've always wanted to do that journey. My brother lives in Knighton, and I thought I might visit him by train this year. Originally I planned to go via Shrewsbury, but after watching this, I think I will go via Swansea. I completely agree with Ian about railways being a common good. They should not have to be run as a commercial enterprise. They should be part of national infrastructure.

[@DarkLight753]

Llangennech is my local station. One of the most scenic routes in the UK if you ask me.

[@woofe]

Happy 3 year anniversary to this video!

[@EdgyNumber1]

5:08 Driver looked cute!

[@ChrisJohnson-nc4il]

I may be a Canadian and not British, and I'm also a teenager but I love your videos

[@jamesrivis620]

Chris Johnson Fellow Canuck here Chris !!!

[@ucup33]

Heart shape for Geoff and Vicky

[@douglasprice4177]

Was waiting to see church stretton :(

[@matthewfield2958]

Ian Marchant really is a lovely guy. His books are awesome too. Buy them!

[@dyfansgwr8851]

llandeilo used to be a junction with a direct line to Carmarthen joining onto the Gwili line at abergwili junction

[@maelysmay1406]

Llandeilo is so beautiful - one of my favourite places!! AND there is a castle nearby! :)

[@brikfiend]

Just before Sugar Loaf , the Cynghordy viaduct, with eighteen arches built in sandstone and lined with brick, is 259 m (850 ft) long on a gentle curve, rising to a height of 31 m (102 ft) above the valley. It is a fine sight.

[@fweaklikeme1]

Ian's book sounds really interesting. Imagine if all roads were owned by private shareholders, opening and closing on the whims of the market.

[@phu010]

Don't give the Tories ideas . They'd do it if they could.

[@MA9494AM]

Working the tollbooth on the Marylebone flyover 04-23 tomorrow, have not maid up my mind if I'll charge £2 or £5 for yellow cars yet....

[@fweaklikeme1]

MA9494AM I'd certainly charge more for cars with eyelashes.

[@MA9494AM]

Modified vehicles will not be allowed on UK Highroads plc's roadsystem. Such vehicles will be charged a penalty of £ 120 and will be transferred to the local police provider (in this case BritLaw plc)

[@straightpipediesel]

London congestion charge. Charge what the market will bear.

[@PodgyAsthmatic]

I have Ian's book (on Geoffs recommendation) , not far into it at the moment, but it's made me laugh already.

[@matthewledbury6751]

I remember it was very good when I read it a few years back, and I must dig it out again now. Ian wrote another one about pubs called The Longest Crawl which I recommend too if you like Parallel Lines.

[@avoidingwork]

Loved the Chas and Dave cover at 14:45

[@elegantinfusions]

Love Vicky she seams really knowledgeable, if shes every in the Cynon valley would love a coffee with her

[@jamesrivis620]

PS:I bought Ian’s book !!!!!! ....in Vermont, USA, by Ebay.

[@BikeThrottleOfficial]

You guys are really into your trains 🚂

[@karlpremier7851]

Love this line, brings back memories, remember 28 years ago going on a nenta tour through here, it had 11 coaches and 2 class 47 diesels, locals all turned out with there cameras at crossings and stations to welcome us and take photos as they had never seen such a large train pass through, made us feel like royalty. Love this series, keep up the good work, and looking forward to more of your vids in the future. X

[@Nilguiri]

If you're not going to do Wales, you should at least do the Isle of Wight.

[@EuanTodd]

Nilguiri they've just done Wales...

[@Bob_Burton]

When was that ?

[@EuanTodd]

UKHeliBob from like day 52 onwards they have pretty much only been in Wales.

[@Bob_Burton]

Was that before or after the IoW ?

[@leqin]

I heard it was in place of.

[@GasCityGuy]

Thanks for posting! I haven't been through the Swansea station in 25+ years. Very interesting the see the changes in the ticketing area. All else seemed quite familiar.

[@benwilson9150]

Loving the Welsh lingo!!

[@evanslater4551]

Church Stretton would have been on that line which is where I go on holiday. ITs just near Shrewsbury.

[@andylinton2798]

I'm reading Ian's book at the moment!

[@radon1221]

Never thought i'd see my town on your vids haha

[@Yaaayishere]

I love Ainsley and Jenny.

[@vcokltfre]

"We are sorry to announce that the 0801 TFW service to has been cancelled"

[@bigpoch8324]

If arriva trains wales had 125's window hanging will be on another level.

[@RWL2012]

@Svart Röd never runs on this line though

[@markstramtrainbuscapades1729]

I rode the whole of the Heart Of Wales line some ten years ago. A lovely line but after four hours on a Class 153, I was rather glad to get off! I did the line with the aid of a Heart of Wales Round Robin ticket which allows a circular Shrewsbury-Swansea-Cardiff-Shrewsbury trip, which I did, adding in a trip to Cardiff Bay (for a modest extra charge) as well! These tickets are still available and are really good value for anyone whose up for it! Incidentally, I totally agree about Ian Marchant's "Parallel Lines" I've got one of the first editions which is very well thumbed!

[@RayEttler]

Mark Fitchew So glad to hear that it was even "one of the first editions". We have a true trailblazer here!

[@alfiestewart6312]

Love how the horn sounds just as you're about to curse. Either it's authentic or you've edited it in.

[@flumpaustin1994]

Well said, Ian!

[@rosiefay7283]

I love the way that Geoff and Ian pinpointed the exact moment the train entered England, showing that Knighton station is in England. Disappointed though, that you didn't mention that Knighton the town is in Wales. Am I right in thinking that it's Britain's only station in a different country from the town it serves?

[@russrh]

nice work getting Ian Marchant on!

[@peteryoung1902]

Another amazing video. I must travel the Heart of Wales line sometime in the future.

[@OlanKenny]

I have been on this journey, in school holidays. Most depressing journey I ever went on, AND I LIKE TRAINS. Didn't get to sit down for two hours.

[@danners4302]

if you're talking about the correct side to sit on for the views, make sure you sit on the left when going towards Fort William from Glasgow!

[@michaellee8410]

Hi, Another great video. Like all the nice people that you meet. Also the lovely stations, the viaduct, etc. Pleased to hear Vicky call them Railway Stations. Keep it up.

[@Extommy1]

Oh you English people! Hang on to your railways! They made my last visit there so convenient and comfortable.

[@RWL2012]

Dot matrix as the PA lol... At Carmarthen station (which has a real PA) the dot matrix signs on Platform 1 keep playing “Infotech micro public address” every few minutes, it’s like a default / test announcement that wasn’t turned off haha

[@TravelJackJourneys158]

I love your video I have only been on the Heart of Wales Line once it is a lovely line

[@Cptnjenks]

Interesting fact about Shrewsbury station... It was extended at one point, by adding a new floor BELOW the then existing station.

[@ianmcclavin]

The 2nd platform at Llandeilo is still open. Not all passing loops are used all the time. Great footage out of the back window!!

[@js6874]

But you didn’t see sugar loaf itself 😭😭😭😭 sugar loaf is a beautiful!!!!

[@nnmmnmmnmnnm]

Roads don't make a profit, so why should railways? Awesome point. Make sure you bring this up next time you are on the BBC.

[@R3VStudios]

Hey Geoff! Great video from across the pond!

[@dukenukem5768]

That was the second Sugar Loaf mountain you have passed in Wales. The first was near Abergavenny in Episode 28.

[@andrewphillips9391]

Glad you enjoyed it, always been one of my favourite train journeys. Did it lots of times when I was a kid. Think it needs better rolling stock though.

[@callumltfc]

Andrew Phillips don't think it would cope that line

[@maplady572]

Gorgeous viaduct shots! Lovely video.

[@lacey692]

Yes it goes through Llandrindod Wells and Builth Road as well

[@sjokomelk]

6:33 - Llanwrtyd! The station I "adopted" :-D Just because I'm fascinated by the Welsh language and the double L and lack of vowels :-)

[@joannaatkinson235]

But but 'w' is a vowel... 'oo' or 'uu'. Hence 'double-u'.

[@sjokomelk]

Ohh.. Never thought about it like that. :-D English is not my first language.

[@michaeljeffry3639]

Turn on captions

[@js6874]

sjokomelk it’s not English it’s Welsh 🤣

[@buksi6342]

This episode should be called See it, Say it, Sorted.

[@marcdebruin2425]

Bought the book instantly! Nice video by the way (as always...)

[@SamSitar]

welsh trains look great.

[@cjmillsnun]

We never did find out how many Vickishoes long the platform at Sugar Loaf is :(

[@HenrysAdventures]

There's a small castle at Llandovery! Worth a visit if you've got an hour to spare!

[@theBusManiac]

At last, proper track. Clickety clack!

[@HatterDave]

I think the Luton to Sutton line has 30 stops. They don't announce the stations when travelling between Luton and Luton Parkway as there's not enough time

[@HatterDave]

I believe there is a few that go from Bedford early in the morning which would make it 34 stops as well

[@andrewphillips9391]

you get the calling at first, then please note that the following are request halts (which is most of them on this line), first in Welsh, then English, takes several minutes!

[@KasabianFan44]

According to Wikipedia, the service with the largest number of stations is an early-morning service from London Waterloo to Weymouth, with 44 stops

[@andrewphillips9391]

there aren't 49 stops between Crewe amd Cardiff

[@KasabianFan44]

No, he's right, it does call at 49 stops! (it runs via the Heart of Wales line and runs beyond Swansea to Cardiff)

[@neilwilson5785]

What is it to be British, Welsh, from the UK? These videos. We are family.

[@DennosManCave]

Whilst I love rail travel, suggesting travel should be free "because roads are free" is rather flawed in its argument. Without getting into politics (Geoff started it!) roads make plenty of money. Ever heard of road tax and fuel excise? And to drive on those roads, does one not have to purchase a car, insure it, tax it and fill it with fuel? Just a thought! Anyhow, loving the videos... bringing back lots of memories of towns I lived or travelled or holiday'd in! Good work Vicki and Geoff. What a great trip!

[@djtwo2]

And you think road tax and fuel excise cover the cost of roads. A huge amount is subsidized out of council tax. And then there is scam that costs of policing the railways have been attributed as railway costs, while costs of policing the roads have been counted as a general cost.

[@-yeme-]

He didn't say rail travel should be free anyway. He said that the rail network shouldn't have to make a profit.

[@ashcoates25]

Just a technical point; there’s no such thing as road tax, and there hasn’t been since the 1920s. There is however an emissions tax based on how efficient your car is, which of course isn’t earmarked for roads. 😊

[@Traveling425]

I've read Ian's book and it's a great read but somehow I was expecting someone taller.

[@EREJones]

I'd like to do the Heart of Wales line again. Last time for me was coming home from my DofE Gold practice expedition, Llanwrda to Swansea. Beautiful, but followed an excruciating for days and I fell asleep before seeing anything of consequence.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

It's even better in winter when the trees are bare. Also the round trip is good value, coming back via Hereford, Newport and Cardiff

[@mw...]

that music is quite good

[@ryanawx9171]

yes shrewsbury my home town

[@Razaak666]

Although Knighton railway station's in England, most of the town is in Wales. Can't remember its Welsh name off the top of my head.

[@paulwilliamdixon3674]

Redthir Jerdisheim Probably Llansomethingydd.

[@anneupton7776]

Tref y Clawdd