On the rails: Termini ticked off…

I have a list. Well two actually. The first is the main focus of todays rambling, a list of single track termini…

150252 after arrival at Rhymney, 31/3/2026.

So why am I at Rhymney then? Well it’s a UK terminus ticked off, a valleys terminus ticked off but yes, not single track - the reason is more the shape of the service today. Operated last week by the classic Class 150, my favourite Sprinter…

That second list is a note of every train I’ve ridden on over the last few years. It is nice to see how many of the Transport for Wales units I’ve ridden, as they enter their twilight years from Cardiff it feels important to make the most of their noisy character. I had ridden 150252 previously, a few years ago between Cardiff Bay and Queen Street, back aboard an old friend.

Climbing out from Cardiff Central I opened the hopper windows and my son and I enjoyed that classic sound track on the hour long adventure, leaving the metropolis behind, to twist our way up the narrowing valley passing the settlements and scars of a rich heritage of coal mining.

It was fitting, as we left Pontlottyn, that a brake issue almost halted our progress… as if the old girl didn’t want to continue her journey towards the inevitable scrap yard. Instead, forever halted at this surprisingly picturesque spot just a few minutes south of the terminus… but the trusty 150 doesn’t let you down - and the driver skilfully re-started her and climbed hard up to Rhymney where after a small wait and one train turned back before reaching us, they shunted the errant 150252 into the sidings.

150284 arriving at Rhymney. Errant 252 now in the sidings. 31/3/2026.

We had a stroke of luck, as that slight delay meant the 756 was turned back early and the next train down the valley was 150284 - so another ‘new’ unit ticked off that second list.

The following day I took a ride out to Barry Island - aboard a DEMU Flirt, smooth and comfortable but sadly not quite as exciting as the 150, but a tick in the single line terminus list…

To round off my time in Penarth (itself a single line terminus, albeit one I have started to visit more often since Mum moved) the return to Ruabon kicked off with 150285 down to Central - as if the Sprinter had been scheduled ‘just for me’ - another unit ticked off, and recorded on the second list.

231011, Barry, 1/4/2026
 

We have funny habits and collections don’t we? I collect models and books, but never really had much interest in numbers… but now, older, perhaps wiser, certainly more aware of my limited time on this earth, lists of things to do, to achieve, mean something more - progress against a goal, movement forwards, opportunity to spend time doing something I find restorative, perhaps my brain creating an excuse to be selfish and indulge in this pursuit for my own benefit? 

150285, Penarth, 2/4/2026.

So anyhow, four of the termini ticked off from Cardiff - and I’ll be down there again in the summer. Until next time, more soon…

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