The Final Ever Passenger Train To Cwmbargoed? DB Class 66s Hauling The 'Cwm & Glo' - 09/03/24

The 9th March 2024 saw Pathfinder Tours operating a railtour to Cwmbargoed; the Cwm and Glo. Starting at Burton-on-Trent the railtour would head into South Wales.Bbefore heading into Newport, the railtour would change ends and head onto the East Usk Branch. A line used by freight traffic, allowing some rare mileage for those on board. The second, and last freight line the tour would cover is the Taff Bargoed branch. The branch leads to the open cast mine, of which has recently closed down, resulting in the end of large coal mining in Wales. Which begs the question, could this be last train to work the Cwmbargoed branch?

[@mlp-hot-rod5824]

I certainly hope this isn't the end. Nobody wants to see a line closed, pulled up, and lost to time.

[@ChapelEndJunctionUK]

Great shots of this rail tour and the 66's on passenger working , if the last shot of the incline was on my model layout it would look too steep , Quite an amazing shot .

[@southwalestrainspotting5090]

Thanks for watching. Yes, it is quite the climb there.

[@fatwalletboy2]

Bit of an optical illusion and not as steep as it first appears... The mainline is falling away there so the branch looks like a bigger climb.

[@DinmoreManorProductions]

What a railtour this was - thoroughly enjoyed and some great shots too. Really captures the gradient out of ystrad mynach! Thank you!

[@southwalestrainspotting5090]

Thanks very much. Glad you enjoyed

[@vernongoodey5096]

Thanks for the effort in taking these shots as I was on the trip! I remember seeing a few people on the bridge as we went on the Uskmouth branch where we actually got a lot further than planned! Could have been because the DB driver was an Enthusiast

[@southwalestrainspotting5090]

Many thanks, a rare opportunity to catch a railtour on that branch.

[@andrewrice6596]

Wow, great capture. Thanks for sharing it.

[@tango6nf477]

I wonder if anyone has assessed the potential for reinstating passenger traffic on this line. There were Stations at Nelson and Llancaiach, Cwm Bargoed, Bedlinog and a Halt at Trelewis which were all closed in 1964 but times have changed since then and rail transport is being seen as the future not the past. I am not familiar with the area so I don't know if there would be enough demand but before tearing up the tracks I think someone should look into it.

[@JacobsTrainVideos]

Some amazing shots there!!

[@southwalestrainspotting5090]

Thank youJacob

[@MASSspec1990]

Pity it wasn’t a GB Rail in Blue and Grey... the old BR Blue and Grey is such a good looking scheme!

[@johno4521]

An impressive sight

[@elizabethmoreno2329]

0:03 starting the vid with the pasanger train class 66 :) 0:39 wow an extra train in the back 0:45 that kina reminds me of a sleeper train from ro-scale railway from roblox. Cool! :D

[@TheosTrainsWalesOfficial]

Damn, I missed this one, as I was in work.

[@richardhooper7297]

Thanks for the video I was runing late so only got to Ystrad for the return trip.

[@southwalestrainspotting5090]

Thanks for watching

[@gamingwithcelfyn]

I think I saw you

[@user-eb9yi3nf1f]

Excellent day out

[@RailroudHobby]

interesting combination 66 instead of an clasic diesel loco,s i love it cool video i subscribed u chanal 😀

[@southwalestrainspotting5090]

Thank you.

[@SimonTog]

Great video :)

[@southwalestrainspotting5090]

Thanks

[@tom_tractor_trailerscotrai2809]

Seat K12 thanks for video

[@southwalestrainspotting5090]

Cheers

[@_RabbitLeader]

True…and given the climb up the Welsh valley to Merthy Tydfil for the steam coal trains, I guess they needed a powerful loco…and apparently managed to get much further than expected.

[@abloogywoogywoo]

Unless they can do something with Dowlais that line will surely close.

[@adrianbew9641]

Surely we should looking to strengthen links not close them.

[@breeze1472]

lets hope its not the last.....

[@ghostengineer]

Who was yelling out weirdos at 2:30?

[@huwsalway4099]

It’s Somerton Bridge, no surprise there - Zooport is full of wannabe mouthy roadmen!

[@abloogywoogywoo]

Road ragers. They hurl abuse at everyone and everything. Especially clouds.

[@_RabbitLeader]

Urgh! Using a shed for this event. See them everywhere….could have used something far more interesting such as 2x class 20 or 37s.

[@levelcrossing150]

Two sheds at that, too. 😒

[@_RabbitLeader]

@@levelcrossing150 But not both at the front though….and not in that dreadful DB red livery!

[@Scottish_Transport_Explorer]

Yes but it's not every day you are able to ride behind one of them, since it is a freight locomotive.

[@_RabbitLeader]

And the red livery makes them look something from a Hornsby train set. Life imitating art!

[@_RabbitLeader]

@@Scottish_Transport_Explorer Two class 56’s would have had the power todo the job with the bonus of the sound and as they were coal merry go round, would have been appropriate to take the coal run up to Merthyr Tydfil.