© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2011 This was a Saturday trip to the Welsh Valleys - a dull, grey December day, which perhaps suited the sombre valleys, but wasn't too great for photography (the resulting rather dark slides needed a bit of "tweaking"). Not really knowing what might be working, we made our way to Mountain Ash. By the time we arrived - late morning perhaps - AB 2074 of 1939 "Llantarnam Abbey" appeared to have finished for the day, while pannier 7754 stood cold in the shed. However, "No 1", HC 1885 of 1955, would be paying a visit to the Phurnacite plant, and returning with a rake of wagons. For some reason, this locomotive seemed to run around without a dome cover (someone lost it perhaps?). The four locomotives depicted are still with us - Llantarnam Abbey is at Blaenavon, 7754 lives an active life at Llangollen, and Sir John (a long-term project) at the Gwili Railway. No 1, also having spent some time at the Gwili, is now "The Pilling Pig" at Fold House Caravan park, near the terminus of the erstwhile Garstang, Pilling and Knott End Railway (still sans dome cover...). Links: • Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway • Gwili Railway • The Llangollen Railway • Visions International DVD "Industry of Steam 2 - South Wales"