Welsh Marches Express - Cardiff: 27/11/16

On the return, all was fine until just beyond Panteg by which time we were down to 44 with a bit of slipping on what was now a damp rail. The last mile to Pontypool was assisted where there was a speed increase to 51. Further on, Penpergym was 64, 57 through Abergavenny, fell away normally to 52 on the 1 in 82 and on the final less steep 1 in 95 we picked up to 54 by Llanvihangel. Colwall was more messy as, typically, the RHT train had just been along the line. The track was wet. Whilst we wound up to 60 in the dip beyond Ashperton, the eastbound speed restriction through Ledbury (40) was taken very cautiously and we came down to 20, that is actually the westbound PSR. It was then almost impossible for the 5s to keep their feet on the 1 in 70 through the station so help was called for to get us onto the single line section and the viaduct. We then plodded up to the tunnel entering it at 19.