PASSENGERS ON a railtour to Wales have been given an extra treat with a royal train locomotive hauling their train, writes Neil Gordon.
The Cambrian Coast Express called at Bromsgrove earlier today (Thursday) when heading from Bristol to destinations along the Welsh coast with class 67 diesel locomotive 67007 working the train.
The locomotive is one of three class 67 locomotives assigned royal train duties taking members of the Royal Family around the country to perform official engagements.
During the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 the locomotive received its current special jubilee-inspired royal purple livery and jubilee logos, along with the wording: ‘Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee 2022’.
Picture by Neil Gordon. s
In addition to its royal train duties, the locomotive also works passenger, freight and charter trains.
The Pathfinder Tours train departed Bristol at dawn this morning before picking-up passengers at Cheltenham Spa, Worcester Shrub Hill, and Bromsgrove at 7.42am.
At Shrewsbury two Network Rail class 97 diesel locomotives took over as the train headed to the Welsh coast calling at Barmouth, Minffordd and Portmeirion, Porthmadog and Pwllheli, its final destination, for a two-hour stay.
The class 67 works the train back from Shrewsbury to Bristol tonight (Thursday) passing through Northfield at 10.48pm, Barnt Green at 10.54pm and calling at Bromsgrove at 10.59pm (platform 4). The train continues through Droitwich at 11.10pm and Worcester Shrub Hill at 11.19pm before finishing back in Bristol.
