The Last Hurrah .... gone but not forgotten

Buffed and fluffed for its 39th anniversary .............

 

The very last day of Class 52 working was 26th February 1977 and the event was suitably marked with a double-headed special excursion, the "Western Tribute".

 

Running from Paddington - Swansea - Bristol - Plymouth - Paddington, the train is seen headed by 1023 "Western Fusilier" and 1013 "Western Ranger" passing Cardiff heading west to Swansea.

 

Keen to get a viewpoint away from the masses four of us walked out west from Cardiff station and, having sussed out the spot, enjoyed a "pre-match" celebratory beverage in "The Cottage", a nearby hostelry.

 

After snapping this our next stop was Bristol and a lofty viewpoint high above the station to catch the train on the Plymouth leg. We didn't know it at the time but after passionately chasing Westerns together for 2-3 years this day was to prove a seminal moment, and things were never quite the same afterwards.

 

Were you the photographer in the distance?

 

Agfa CT18

26th February 1977

Done