BLS Valley Lines Tracker IV - 8th December 2023

Hover over a thumbnail image for the caption; click on the image to display a larger version.

A nice, smart, Class 231 DEMU at Penarth; the end of line is off right.<br>[&copy; Dan Hitchens 2023]	Our group's train departs from Barry Docks towards Barry with the former Barry Docks Office building left (open daily, free admission).<br>[&copy; Dan Hitchens 2023]	Barry Island P1, the end of line - 50 years ago the branch continued through a tunnel to Barry Pier.<br>[&copy; John Cameron 2023]	Some nice original GWR spear-top fencing at Barry Island (end of line is off left); note the very steeply graded narrow gauge line ahead.<br>[&copy; John Cameron 2023]	Aberdare P1, which will become the Departures Platform - bidirectionalists beware - looking towards Cardiff.<br>[&copy; John Cameron 2023]	Aberdare, a redoubled section, the blue fencing is on the new P2 (arrivals) the future 'ECS gap' is the right hand track. The OHLE is wireless!<br>[&copy; Dan Hitchens 2023]	Aberdare P1 towards the former Tower Colliery/Opencast Disposal Point. The stop blocks (22m 27ch) are the Cardiff side of the trap points (22m 38ch) - trapping from the Tower direction. Right is the former Aberdare High Level (Vale of Neath Line) station building, latterly the Area Manager's Offices.<br>[&copy; Dan Hitchens 2023]
The same view from a bit further back along the platform - that signal isn't going to display anything other than red nowadays!<br>[&copy; Dan Hitchens 2023]	Advanced Quailing - Geoff Treby is left and right are Tom Gilby (nearer) and John Cameron.<br>[&copy; Dan Hitchens 2023]	at Abercynon P2; the approaching train, to Merthyr, has come from Bridgend via Barry.<br>[&copy; Dan Hitchens 2023]	Part of a display at Abercynon.<br>[© John Cameron 2023]	The text that goes with the display at Abercynon (also available in Welsh).<br>[&copy; John Cameron 2023]	Merthyr, towards Cardiff, Tom Gilby is far left with Geoff Treby next to him; an advantage of taking photos is that you don't appear in them.<br>[&copy; John Cameron 2023]	At Radyr P3, a train to Coryton via Cardiff Central then Queen Street, looking towards Pontypridd.<br>[&copy; Dan Hitchens 2023]
Danescourt, looking towards Radyr, with phoney electrification (earthed) and platform extensions, sadly they couldn't afford matching block paving; just how long are those Tram-Trains anyway? (13 Dec 2023)<br>[© John Cameron 2023]	Fairwater looking towards Cardiff Central with more platform extensions and phoney electrification (13 Dec 2023).<br>[© John Cameron 2023]	Our participants saw off lease 175101 & 109 at Cardiff Central, going for tyre turning. They may be uncommon here in future.<br>[&copy; Dan Hitchens 2023]