Members will be familiar with our Service Train Tracker concept, intensively covering an area using a Ranger or Rover ticket. However, since Covid, industrial relations problems and cancellations have limited the possibilities, so I was delighted to see this Tracker announced in BLN. Despite current upgrading works for the South Wales Metro, this would fit in around electrification works thanks to inside knowledge of our tour manager, the Hon Member for Tonypandy, David Clark.

Four of us met at Cardiff Central but, due to a cancellation, the planned itinerary had to be abandoned. However, swift work by Daniel Hitchens meant that we could do all the planned routes clockwise. First was the 10.16 to Penarth, 231011, our first Class 231 Unit. Eleven of these Stadler 4-car DEMUs from the FLIRT (Fast Light Intercity & Regional Train) family have been built for TfW, with 170 seats. Now on the Rhymney to Penarth route, they are due to run on the Maesteg to Cheltenham Spa and Cardiff to Ebbw Vale lines as well. They are a world away from the other units I have used to travel to Penarth over the years, including first generation Class 116 DMUs and the once ubiquitous Pacers.

We returned to Grangetown for 150245 to Barry Docks and 150230 to Barry Island, with my first new track of the day - a few yards along Barry P3 onto the branch! Barry TfW Depot and yard were full of newly delivered Class 756 FLIRT Trimodes (OHLE/battery/diesel - DBEMUs?) as was around Canton Depot. The next target was Aberdare. After a break in Grangetown for 231008, it was on to Cardiff Central for the next leg, 'daring' to catch 150240. We passed Taffs Well Depot, under construction; TRACKmaps 3 p27A 2023 has the complex layout - a one day tour in itself! It was full of new Class 398 Tram-Trains for the South Wales Metro. The depot is built on the site of the former Garth Engineering Works, where remnants of its former internal railway and link to British Rail remained as late as 2020.









The Aberdare branch now has double track at Mountain Ash and a loop at Abercwmboi, little used since coal trains finished. There is also a new dynamic loop from Cwmbach to Aberdare. Eventually, a 15 minute frequency means the new Aberdare P2 will be the terminating/set down platform with the existing P1 for departures; the up line of the redoubled section between them will then be ECS only.












We returned down the valley to Abercynon for 150281 to take us to Merthyr; the new Quakers Yard loop was in use although delays in obtaining planning permission work meant the station was served by bus from Abercynon. It reopened Mon 18 Dec. At Merthyr Vale and north of Pentre Bach, sections have been redoubled. Returning south, changing at Radyr to P3 rejoining our tour manager.



























Then we could call ourselves the 'Dave Clarke Five' - we were certainly glad all over as we like it like that. 153913 took us over a few interesting bits and pieces on the way to Coryton, then it was back to Cardiff Central in the dark, concluding a very interesting and enjoyable day.