Sugar Loaf Mountaineer II: 7/09/19

Thank you Graham, you've summed up the day very nicely. I concur that 45231 and the honorary Welshmen did a fine job! A few of us commented that it was reminiscent of railtours past.

Starting this madness with the Arriva-run Cambrian from Aberystwyth and getting on with the job of line bashing the following year, I caught the tail end of the steam, beer and window-hanging-type excursions; in retrospect, things were already changing by 2010.

This year I am starting to really notice a thinning out of many familiar faces, and this will have an inevitable effect on what runs in future. For those seeking to relive or obtain a glimpse of railtouring past but were not on the train, you have indeed missed out on something a little bit special.

 

After 45231 failed her FTR in September last year, I believe she needed a re-tube and additionally had airbrakes fitted along with updated TPWS. That period of downtime will be part of why she has not featured on a lot of tours.

 

Many thanks for that i know bert hitchin owned 45231 she has been a regular mainline 5mt.