The Snowdonian Pullman & NSR August Running - August 2024

Lots of Class 37 action in Somerset and Wales this week, along with some steam on the North Somerset Railway. On August 8th, Maunsell Schools No. 30917 'Ardingly' from Railway Timelines Limited arrived at the North Somerset Railway to replace Ex-GWR Castle No. 7007 'Great Western' on the loco roster, the latter being absent on RTL duty. The Schools is seen on the 11th running alongside Ivatt 2MT Tank No. 1303. Then on the 20th, the second of two RTL tours using the MetCam Pullman coaches out of Cardiff ran, 'The Snowdonian Pullman' to Blaenau Ffestiniog, appropriately hauled by Class 37s No. 37422 'Robert F. Fairlie' and 37508. And finally, the NSR's Bank Holiday weekend on August 23rd-26th saw BR Standard 9F No. 92232, another 37 No. D6920, and Class 117 DMU No. B433 in action.

Our first views are of the Schools and Ivatt at work on the NSR, the former shown struggling up the 1:48 through Flowers Farm after a slow start from Hapsford Junction, followed by a better start from Radstock in the other direction, and the Ivatt scampering through Flowers Farm.

On the railtour, the 37s are seen on the Welsh Marches line at Cwmbran, an on-train shot of the train approaching Llanvihangel Summit, passing a Transport for Wales Premier Service near Pandy, and departing the passenger pickup at Church Stretton. While they pause for a pickup at Shrewsbury, another TfW Premier Service arrives behind Class 67 No. 67010. After a reversal at Chester, 37508 now leads the train, seen at Holywell Junction, Abergele & Pensarn, and passing a Euston-bound Class 805 at Colwyn Bay. 37422 leads once more for the final leg over the Conwy Valley Line, seen at a foot crossing near Dolgarrog after recovering from a 30mph speed restriction, another on-train shot of the train crossing the viaduct across the Afon Lledr up a 1:50 gradient, Ponty-Pant Station at the summit, and Roman Bridge Station.

Back on the NSR on the 23rd, 92232 breaks the silence with a long blast on the whistle as it coasts towards Mells Road bound for Radstock. The engine is seen leaving Radstock on the return working, making light work of the 1:77 gradient. After the usual 2-train service concluded, several extra runs went into the evening, with D6920 running throughout and B433 replacing the 9F. D6920 is seen making an impatient start from Mells Road, climbing through Flowers Farm Halt and climbing away from Radstock. The 117 is seen coasting away from Mells Road and departing Frome Market.

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:05 - 30917 Flowers Farm Halt
1:00 - 30917 Radstock
1:57 - 1303 Flowers Farm Halt
2:43 - 37422 TnT 37508 Cwmbran
3:12 - 37422 Llanvihangel Summit
3:46 - 37422 TnT 37508 East of Pandy
4:41 - 37422 TnT 37508 Church Stretton
5:48 - 67010 Coton Hill
6:49 - 37508 TnT 37422 Holywell Junction
7:15 - 37508 TnT 37422 Abergele & Pensarn
7:57 - 37508 TnT 37422 Colwyn Bay
8:32 - 37422 TnT 37508 Dolgarrog
9:23 - 37422 Afon Lledr
9:55 - 37422 TnT 37508 Pont-y-Pant
10:34 - 37422 TnT 37508 Roman Bridge
11:21 - 92232 Collier Way
11:59 - 92232 Radstock
13:22 - D6920 Mells Road
14:39 - D6920 Flowers Farm Halt
15:10 - D6920 Radstock
16:18 - B433 Collier Way
16:51 - B433 Frome Market

Thumbnail - 37422 shuts off passing through Pontypool & New Inn Station with the 1Z37 Cardiff Central - Blaenau Ffestiniog 'The Snowdonian Pullman' railtour.

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This was recorded in Train Simulator using a mix of OBS and the Xbox Game Bar and edited using Microsoft Clipchamp in August 2024. Throughout the recording of this I was in a battle to try and find the source of frame rate problems when recording with OBS, and found I get less or no lag using the Xbox method, which I'll probably be switching back to going forward.