'The Christmas Cheshireman' & Trains At Newport (South Wales) - 25/11/17

A cold day on the mainline gave us a small variety of different powered trains, starting with steam power, and then ending the day with diesel power. These scenes were filmed on Saturday 25th November, 2017.

First, we head over to Panteg footbridge, where 'The Christmas Cheshireman' steam special is seen heading from Bristol Temple Meads to Chester, with Britannia Class 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' being the steam loco for this year's steam special. Diesel loco 47580 'County Of Essex' was providing a bit of first-generation power on the back of the train.

Later, we head over to Newport, where we then filmed some passenger trains and small freight movements, with a mini-convoy of Class 66s being seen as well. The passenger services were extremely busy, as the rugby was going on in Cardiff, so loads of passenger trains with 150s, 158s, 170s & 125 HSTs were regularly seen during the busy winter's day.

And by the front of the Newport tunnel, a mast for the electrification of the Western Mainline is seen, showing that the masts are now not far away, as some of the masts are already springing up on sections of the Western line between Bishton and Duffryn.