Great Western Coffee Shop

Journey by Journey => Cross Country services => Topic started by: grahame on March 08, 2020, 18:18:53



Title: Gloucester to Newport - Cross Country and Transport for Wales
Post by: grahame on March 08, 2020, 18:18:53
Another line that I'm not familiar with - though no GWR service.  Gloucester to Severn Tunnel Junction, courtesy of Cross Country on a diverted Birmingham to Plymouth service.  Just the briefest of views - being a Sunday, local trains are only every 2 hours, with service timed such that even doubling back won't allow two stations to be viewed with a 2 hour delay.

Starting from the longest platform in the UK - on a train that in my youth would have felt silly-short for a long distance service, the line crosses the river Severn before heading westwards (with a bit of South) on the north bank. Some lovely scenery, somewhat disappointingly much on the opposite side to I was seated. There seem to be a number of engineering slacks and falling one-side cutting walls, and I find myself wondering if there are Dawlish parallels.

Flashing through Lydney Station, I noted a short sparse platform - not much more than a minimal facility.  Looking across to the Forest of Dean Railway, the impression is of a desolate platform and lines of rolling stock in a sad state of decay;  I had wondered about taking a further ride on the railway to do an update to my blog of a number of years ago ( http://www.wellho.net/mouth/1757_Preserved-railways-struggling-to-the-future-.html ), but I'm one week ahead of their season.

And so to Chepstow - views over the Severn Estuary, and a town that looks (from the train) worth stopping at.  One day when there's an hour's chance, maybe ... then past Caldicot - so close to Severn Tunnel Junction that it's a wonder it's survived.  John Betjemin wrote a poem about Dilton Marsh ... but how was Caldicot saved?   Sorry no good picture - I was photobombed by a TfW train.

And so ... to and through Severn Tunnel Junction and on for a reversal.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/gcrnpt_20200308_01.jpg)
Platform 1 and 2 - a combined long platform - at Gloucester.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/gcrnpt_20200308_02.jpg)
Crossing the River Severn just outside at Gloucester.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/gcrnpt_20200308_03.jpg)
Fields flooded after all the recent rains

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/gcrnpt_20200308_04.jpg)
Glorious views over the Severn

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/gcrnpt_20200308_05.jpg)
Looks like major engineering to avoid the hillside sliding down onto the railway

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/gcrnpt_20200308_06.jpg)
Forest of Dean Railway - the view from the national network

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/gcrnpt_20200308_07.jpg)
Lydney Station, National Rail. In England but looked after by Transport for Wales?

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/gcrnpt_20200308_08.jpg)
Chepstow Castle

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/gcrnpt_20200308_09.jpg)
Chepstow Station

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/gcrnpt_20200308_10.jpg)
Should have been Caldicot Station

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/gcrnpt_20200308_11.jpg)
Platform end, Caldicot. Note overheads from Severn tunnel in cutting to rear

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/gcrnpt_20200308_12.jpg)
As we arrived at Severn Tunnel Junction, a GWR train arrived through the tunnel


Title: Re: Gloucester to Newport - Cross Country and Transport for Wales
Post by: stuving on March 08, 2020, 18:56:25
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/gcrnpt_20200308_05.jpg)
Looks like major engineering to avoid the hillside sliding down onto the railway


Ooh - Lego!  I know someone who'd like some of that!


Title: Re: Gloucester to Newport - Cross Country and Transport for Wales
Post by: Bmblbzzz on March 08, 2020, 20:38:05
Chepstow is well worth stopping at. The castle, several nice cafes, pubs, hills in, hills out, a meandering river, an old bridge, dramatic cliffs, gatehouse, high street market on <I can't remember which day but I encountered it by chance once>... and of course an international border!



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