Class 197 Cambrian Line testing / training in October / November / December 2025, plus Class 97 RHTT

If you like this video, check out this one! (link)

Or this one! (link)


***Please read - video quality disclaimer - please manually set quality to "2160p60 4K"*** - This video was taken in 1080p, but rendered/exported and uploaded in 4K; this way it causes YouTube to apply its "least worst" video compression. Therefore, please manually set the quality to "2160p60 4K" if your internet speed allows it.


00:00 Intro


===Previously unused footage from November 2025, December 2025 and October 2025===

Transport for Wales pre-driver training checks with accepted units (left factory in 2023);
starting with the first daytime 197s that ran between Machynlleth and Aberystwyth:

00:10 Aberystwyth (AYW) 10/11/25 197029+197030 3C00 0924 Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs (XMC)-AYW
01:54 Aberystwyth (AYW) 10/11/25 197030+197029 3C01 1020 AYW-Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs (XMC)
03:30 Bow Street bridge 11/11/25 197029+197030 3C00 0924 Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs (XMC)-AYW
04:59 Bow Street bridge 11/11/25 197030+197029 3C01 1020 AYW-Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs (XMC)
06:29 Talybont stn TLB: 12/11/25 197029 (solo) 3C05 1557 XMC-Pwllheli railway station PWL
07:16 Caersws stn (CWS) 13/11/25 197030+197029 3C98 1040 XMC-Shrewsbury railway stn (SHR)
08:02 Caersws stn (CWS) 13/11/25 197029+197030 3C99 1226 Shrewsbury railway stn (SHR)-XMC

Transport for Wales driver training with accepted units (left factory in 2023):

08:49 Borth stn (BRH) - 12/12/25 197029+197030 3C02 0924 Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs (XMC)-AYW
10:35 Borth stn (BRH) - 12/12/25 197030+197029 3C03 1020 AYW-Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs (XMC)
11:44 'Picnic Island' - 12/12/25 197029+197030 3C06 1557 XMC-PWL (bridge, near Aberdovey)

Rail Operations Group ETCS mileage accumulation with units that left factory in 2025+2023:

12:55 Newtown (NWT): 30-31/10/25 197039+197025 3Q81 2130 Crewe South Yard-Machynlleth MCN
13:53 Newtown (NWT): 30-31/10/25 197025+197039 3Q82 0048 Machynlleth MCN to Welshpool WLP
14:13 Newtown (NWT): 30-31/10/25 197039+197025 3Q83 0149 Welshpool (WLP) to Newtown (NWT)
15:15 Newtown (NWT): 30-31/10/25 197025+197039 3Q84 0212 Newtown NWT-Crewe South Yard XCT


===Reused footage from June 2025, May 2025 and July 2025===

The first signalled 197(s) to Aberystwyth (first ever were in 2022 under possession):
16:23 Aberystwyth (AYW) 03/06/25 197029+197035 3C01 0325 AYW-Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs (XMC)
Original video:    • 197029+197035 (ETCS) Aberystwyth, Barmouth...  

Earlier pairing of the units from the first half of this video, with nine horn tones!
17:05 Welshpool (WLP) - 16/05/25 197030+197029 3Q92 0028 Welshpool WLP to Machynlleth MCN
Original video:    • 197030+197029 on ETCS at Newtown & Welshpo...  

Two other units (besides 197039) that left the factory in 2025 (I didn't video 197040):
18:19 Newtown (NWT): 10-11/07/25 197032+197038 3Q82 2358 Machynlleth MCN to Welshpool WLP
Original video:    • 197038+197032 (& 97302+37405 log empties) ...  


===Previously unused footage from October 2025===

18:31 Newtown (NWT): 16-17/10/25 97303 w/ RHTT 3S71 2113 Coleham Lmd-Coleham Lmd (arr.)
19:43 N'town bridge: 16-17/10/25 97303 w/ RHTT 3S71 2113 Coleham Lmd-Coleham Lmd (dep.)
97303 'Dave Berry' on RailHead Treatment Train 3S71 (Coleham Lmd to Machynlleth part)

20:00 Newtown (NWT): 16-17/10/25 97303 w/ RHTT 3S71 2113 Coleham Lmd-Coleham Lmd (pass)
97303 'Dave Berry' on RHTT 3S71 (Machynlleth-Coleham Lmd-Craven Arms-Shrewsbury-Wrexham-Bidston-Wrexham-Shrewsbury-Crewe-Chester-Holyhead-Chester-Crewe-Shrewsbury-Coleham Lmd part)


20:14 End