28-04-2025
LMS Black Five steam locomotive passes through Pembrokeshire
The historic LMS Black Five steam locomotive - whose full title is LMS Stanier Class Black 5 45212 – travelled to Pembrokeshire from Bristol Temple Meads yesterday, Sunday April 27, with plenty of locals managing to get some pics as she steamed through.
There are now only 18 Black Five locomotives preserved out of a total of 842 which were built between 1934 and 1951.
(Image: Angela Judson) Several members of the class survived to the last day of steam on British Railways in 1968.
LMS Black 5 45212 was built in Newcastle in 1935.
(Image: Jack Simpson) The train visited Pembrokeshire as part of The Railway Touring Company's The Great Britain XVII rail tour. This was a nine-day experience for 160 passengers, costing up to £4,500 travel, on-board food and hotel accommodation.
The train travelled under steam from Pembroke Dock to Whitland on Sunday afternoon, leaving Pembroke Dock at around 2.06pm 14.06, travelling via Tenby and arriving in Whitland at around 3pm.
(Image: Tony Minkowsi) The train was then diesel-hauled from Whitland to Fishguard Harbour where it arrived slightly behind schedule at around 4.45pm. It departed shortly after an entirely steam-hauled return journey to Cardiff Central via Milford Haven.
The Great Britain XVII Rail Tour, which left London Victoria on Saturday, April 26, is The Railway Touring Company's annual, flagship steam tour billed as 'a classic railway adventure you'll remember with great pleasure for many years to come'.
(Image: Gareth Davies Photography) 'This year the highlight of day two of The Great Britain is the spectacular scenery of south Wales with a journey through Pembrokeshire National Park to Pembroke Dock, Fishguard and Milford Haven,' said The Railway Touring Company's MD Kelly Osborne.
'Leaving Fishguard Harbour, our historic steam locomotive faces the challenge of a 1 in 50 gradient so will be working hard!'
(Image: Western Telegraph) The Great Britain is one of dozens of heritage rail-themed UK, European and worldwide tours provided by The Railway Touring Company each year.
As the name suggests, this will be the 17th year The Great Britain has run. More details of tours and steam day trips can be found at linked above.
(Image: Mike Roch)
