Royal Scot steam train in Herefordshire – with service returning

TRAIN enthusiasts were thrilled as they got the chance to see an iconic steam engine pass through Herefordshire.

Heading south through Herefordshire was 46100 Royal Scot.

Originally built in 1927, Royal Scot was the flagship engine of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS).

OTHER NEWS:

• A49 bosses 'understand' villagers' fatal crash fears on A49 near Hereford
• New eastern river crossing for Hereford 'by end of the decade'
• Popular Hereford festival returns this summer as boss steps down

The steam-hauled St David's Day Welsh Marches Express was heading from Holyhead in North Wales, through the rolling hills of the pretty Shropshire countryside dividing England and Wales for a visit to the capital city of Cardiff.

"Crossing the Cheshire Plain and through historic Shrewsbury, we join the Welsh Marches line and at Church Stretton there are outstanding views of the Long Mynd, continuing past magnificent Stokesay Castle and the historic towns of Ludlow, Hereford and Abergavenny," Saphos Trains said, with tickets starting at £165.

The train passing through Pontrilas, south of Hereford towards Abergavenny (Image: Thea May)

"We enter South Wales and the county of Monmouthshire with superb views of the Brecon Beacons as the black mountains tower over the train. At Newport we cross the river Usk, continuing to Cardiff for an afternoon break."

According to realtimetrains.co.uk, the express will return through Pontrilas at 4.27pm, Tram Inn at 4.33pm and arrive in Hereford at 4.41pm.

It will then leave at 5.33pm, passing through Moreton-on-Lugg at 5.42pm, Leominster at 5.51pm and Craven Arms at 6.35pm.

It will arrive back in Holyhead at 11.22pm.