© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2011 The train was scheduled to run, steam hauled, from Carnforth to Carmarthen. Rather than attempting to emulate its 13-hour marathon schedule, we decided on a ride out to Knucklas, on the Central Wales line, to concentrate on the magnificent viaduct. Black 5s 45407 and 44871 would be working hard on the 1 in 60 gradient, on the climb to Llangunllo tunnel. My first thought was an aerial view - perhaps the site of the former castle, atop the hill to the north, would provide a good vantage point. There was only one way to find out. It didn’t. Perhaps if there were fewer trees on its steep slopes... My second thought was the field south of the minor road to Heyop, where a public footpath climbs gently to the eaves of a wood. A good vantage point? Judge for yourself. Several others thought so... Remarkably, the train passed some ten minutes early - and even more remarkably, the sun shone - until moments after the last coach left the viaduct! The line beyond the viaduct is (like so many others today) a linear forest - a scenic railway in winter, but not when the leaves are on the trees. But it was great to watch the cloud of steam moving steadily up the valley, and, when we could no longer see it, to hear the exhaust until the train was swallowed up by the tunnel, some 2½ miles distant. Video:  Two lovely black 5s... 45407 and 44871 stomp across Knucklas viaduct on a fine spring evening with day 8 of "The Cathedrals Explorer" (running 10 minutes early!). Notice how, unusually, the sun goes in just after the train has passed... Yes, right-to-left again...