Cab Ride: Milford Haven to Port Talbot via Swansea District Line
Filmed in May 2025, this is the third and final part of the West Wales Route Learner.
Following Network Rail's reorganisation of the Rail Head Treatment trains for the 2025 season, Colas won the contract to operate the West Wales circuit. This was previously run by DB and working off Margam, starting from 2025, it switched to Port Talbot.
Remarkably, for this route learner, Class 59, 59003 'Yeoman Highlander' was used! On lease from GBRf, this may well have been the first time a 59 has run to the likes of Fishguard Harbour, Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock.
This programme features the third part of what was an epic day in West Wales. From Milford Haven we run along the single line branch to Clarbeston Road and forward to Whitland. Taking the freight-only Carmarthen avoider, we pass the semaphores at Ferryside and Pembrey & Burry Port prior to their replacement, before branching off at Llandeilo Junction and forward on the almost freight-only Swansea District line to Briton Ferry and finally to Port Talbot itself. The entire journey is shown.
Bonus footage: A look at some loco-hauled action in West Wales - over the route of this cab ride - filmed 2017-2021, including 37s on a PLPR train at Fishguard and Tenby, DB Class 60s working oil and steel trains, a GB Class 66 on a stone train, a DB Class 66 on coal to Onllwyn Colliery and Colas 56 & 70 hauled timber trains.
Produced with the full assistance of Colas Rail Freight.
The full journey is shown. Maps, on-screen captions and minimal narration. A thrash cam in the back cab records the loco at work and ambient sounds.
Produced by - Train Crazy
Duration - 153 minutes
Format - 16:9 widescreen
DVD and Blu-ray
Released - May 2026
