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I had planned this one a while ago when the wife mentioned the castle. When we decided to do this trip, the friday before the Bank holiday. So off we went and caught the bus into Croydon.
9R04 East Croydon to Farringdon 700057 non winner [12m 11ch]
It was earlier than we had planned but at least this was we would be able to grab some breakfast at PAddington. Then the walk down to the Elizabeth line and as we walked on to the platform the doors to the train opened and we boarded.
9Y33 Farringdon to Paddington 345026 winner [3m 44ch]
On arrival at Paddington we grabbed the food and ate. As the Night Rivera was in I took a walk along to get a couple of photos of the locos (57603 and 57602 in case you wee wondering). I don't know what it is about Padding but the information and announcing of platforms is terrible. It always seems to be less than 5 minute before departure that they announce he trains platform.
1G05 Paddington to Cheltemham Spa 800035 winner [120m 37ch]
The original plan was to get off at Gloucester and have about 45 minute wait for our Chepstow train. A quick check revealed we ould go all the way to Cheltenham Spa an only have a 0 minute wait. Of ourse fate wasn't going to make it easy for us! As we pulled out og Gloucester I refreshed the page on Real Time Trains and due to trespassers the Chepstow train was cancelled from Cheltenham Spa but was running from Gloucester. Oh well. At least I'd get a new bit of track ticked off.
At Cheltenham Spa I heard a sound I had not heard in many years. A whistling engine noise. There on platform 1 was 1Z55 Crewe to Cardiff Central. On the rear was a 'peak' 45118 and on the front (after a bit of a rush) was D213 a gleaming class 40. I just had to get a video of the 'Whistler' powering out of the station. Our train pulled a little while later. It was the same stock we'd arrived on.
1L70 Cheltenham to Gloucester 800035 non winner [6m 41ch]
Just a 20 minute wait at Gloucester for our train to Chepstow.
2G53 Gloucester to Chepstow 150282 [27m 29ch]
Chepstow
The station is pretty basic but nice. The old bridge over the tracks is painted in cream and brown but has seen better days. It still sports a builder plate stating it was fabricated in Chepstow. The station is about a 10 to 15 minute walk in to the town cente. As we headed along Bridge street we arrived at the castle.
Initially it did not look as big as it is. It is quite a large castle. They have been having concerts on during the summer so there was a lot of that stuff in the grounds which did somewhat detract from it. By the entrance to the cellar there was a small balcony fom which the view of the side of the castle and the River Wye was spectacular.
Once out of the castle we went for lunch and found a lovely Italian resturant. Panavino The food was reasonably priced but the quality was great. I can recommend it.
After eating we walked around the corner and on to the bridge. One side of the bridge is Wales and the other side is England. The day was getting hotter so after a walk up the high street we grabbed a drink in a Wetherspoons then headed to the station for the train to Newport.
Back at the station we were almost wilting from the heat so we weren't please to see that the train was late. Only a few minutes but there was limted shade.
2G61 Chepstow to Newport (South Wales) 150242 winner [17m 38ch]
The wife suggested a drink and a desert so we made our way to the Wetherspoons which was only a 5 minute walk away. After the food and drink we went back to the station for out train towards London.
1L27 Newport (South Wales) to Paddington 802107 winner [133m 31ch]
A pretty uneventful trip back was spoiled by the train picking up a 18 minute delay on arrival in London. Navigating past the carnival goers on the station we made it down to get the Elizabeth Line.
345044 winner [3m 44ch]
The walk back to the Thameslink always seems to take longer than the opposite direction.
9S55 Farringdon to East Croydon 700106 non winner [12m 11ch]
2M67 East Croydon to Selhurst 377705 non winner [0m 77ch]