Ebbw Vale Slug hunt

Trip to South Wales on 3rd February 1987 in search of what were at the time a new sub class 37 - the 37/9's. The Aberbeeg signalman obligingly provided a cup of tea and told us what was about - the days when you could just knock on a signalbox door on spec ! Did not note the loco on the down loaded coal from Marine Colliery, but the empties were powered by 37293. We were eventually rewarded with Mirlees powered 37902 on steel coils but in the era of tube cameras it took an eternity for the thing to switch on and warm up so caught it a bit late. Sadly the camera batteries were dead by the time I reached the naming of 37906 at Canton Depot that evening. Worth noting how quiet the 'Slugs' were when new, prior to removal of the silencers...

[@imautuber]

I've never wanted to be little again so much in my life. This brings back so many good memories.

[@RailfanDownunder]

thanks for posting - your comments about ',,,the days when you could just knock on a signalbox door ...' I can only repeat - there was a time in New South Wales (Australia) when you could do the same but that has changed dramatically in the last decade! In my home state of Victoria, those days ended in the eighties but you could still travel about NSW with an open door at signal boxes, stations, marshalling yards and loco depots until about 2010.....them days have gone forever, I fear?

[@amfwelsh]

seen lots of class 37son that crossing in risca as a kid in 1987 , awesome locos, then later on lived in aberbeeg next to the line when the steelworks were still open ., good times!!!! thanks for posting!!

[@Reggyrail]

The sound of that run past at 2:00 was great and brought back some memories. Thanks for posting!

[@simonpilk]

Biased though I may be but the railways of South Wales are just something else, sadly almost all of it now gone at least from a freight perspective. The blue 37s on the MDV and HTV wagons at the crossing is basically priceless.... superb little video.

[@MSmifffy]

What a great Video. Not only is it well shot, but it really captures a piece of history. Sadly, my forays in to South Wales in the late 70s and early 80s never got much beyond Severn Tunnel Junction, not least as I was too young to drive.

[@HSTHoward]

Amazing, if only I where born in the 80s...

[@OlafProt]

3:15 is a spectacular scene

[@Wikkus]

Got to echo what Simon says in respect to seeing 21t hops and opens clanking and banging through the valleys :)
5*.

[@joshwilliams0391]

Best steam coal in the world

[@taffboyslim]

1:28 to 2:12 - the soundtrack of my youth

[@G5BTB5G]

37901 & 37905 will be back together in just over a weeks time at the MHR 2013 Diesel Gala!

[@Isochest]

Video da iawn:-)

[@garethifan1034]

Cytuno'n llwyr!