Cardiff allocated Class 120s fitted with headlamps would be the normal traction on these Central Wales Line / Heart of Wales Line services for many years. In the 1980s 101s and 108s allocated to Swansea would take over, other types would also appear.
A headlamp fitted two-car Swindon Cross-Country DMU at Shrewsbury in September 1969. George Woods.
Two-car Class 120 DMU set C600 (presumably 50702 + 50664) in Llandovery station, Swansea High Street on the destination blind, circa 1971. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Two-car Class 120 DMU set C600 (50664 and presumably 50702) in Llandovery station, Swansea High Street on the destination blind, circa 1971. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Swindon-built Cross-Country set C601 (presumably 50672 + 50722) departs from Knighton with the 10.04am Swansea - Shrewsbury service on February 8th, 1975. Michael Mensing.
Class 120 DMU set C603 (presumably 50673 + 50724) in Llanwrtyd station on 8 February 1975. Michael Mensing.
Class 120 DMU set C603 (presumably 50724 + 50673) passes Llanwrtyd Well signalbox on 8 February 1975. Michael Mensing.
Swindon-built Cross-Country Class 120 DMU set C601 (presumably 50722 + 50672) arrives at Knighton with the 10.04am Swansea - Shrewsbury service on February 8th, 1975. Michael Mensing.
BR (Swindon) Cross Country 3-car dmu (Class 120) No.C505 (consisting of Class 120/2, 179 & 120/1 cars) with Central Wales Line headlamp between cab windows, in BR Rail Blue & Grey with all yellow front end, at Builth Road on a Swansea (High St) - Llanelli (General) - Shrewsbury (General) service, 04/75. Hugh Llewelyn.
BR (Swindon) Cross Country 2-car dmu (Class 120) No.C601 (presumably 50672 + 50722) with Central Wales Line headlamp between cab windows, in BR Rail Blue & Grey with all yellow front end, awaiting departure at Shrewsbury (General) on a Swansea (High St) service, 04/75. Hugh Llewelyn.
Shrewsbury station in April 1975, with Class 120 DMU set C601 (presumably 50672 + 50722) awaiting departure on a Swansea (High St) service. Hugh Llewelyn.
Class 120 set C600 (presumably led by 50664) seen at Llanwrtyd Wells from a passing train (a railtour?) circa 1976. Image taken by John Vaughan. Stuart Mackay Collection.
Class 120 set C603 (50724 and presumably 50673) in Swansea High Street station waiting to depart on a Heart of Wales service to Shrewsbury on 17/1/76. Stephen Burdett.
W50686 leads Class 120 set C605 at Llanelli with the 10:49 Shrewsbury-Swansea service passing 37 217 outside the goods shed on 21 August 1976. Robert Thomas.
Set C604 at Llanwrtyd Wells. Undated. Tom Clift.
Two class 120 "Swindon" units pass on the Central Wales line north of Llanelli on 26th March 1977. C605 (presumably 50686 + 50733) is the approaching unit, heading south. Bob Belcher.
Swindon built Class 120 W50701 stands at Shrewsbury after arriving with the with the 1225 from Swansea on 23 May 1978. Keith Long.
The Central Wales Line used to be operated with pairs of class 120 "Cross Country" motor coaches fitted with headlights (at a time this was unusual in Britain) because of the numerous level crossing on the line. The photo was taken on a circular "Central Wales roundabout" ticket which allowed one to travel from London to Swansea, Shrewsbury (via the Central Wales) and back to London (or v.v) for a bargain fare. I imagine this was taken (at Llanwrtyd Wells on September 16, 1978, presumably 50664 + 50702) while waiting for another train to cross. The line, from Llanelli to Craven Arms, is now known as the Heart of Wales line. Jeremy Chapter.
Set C600 (presumably led by 50702) is seen at Llanwrtyd in 1980. Hamish Stevenson.
The 14th April 1980, and C604 (50701 + 50681) is seen at Builth Road on the 10:46 Shrewsbury - Swansea. Hamish Stevenson.
W50681 leads Class 120 set C604 (with 50701) at Builth Road with the 10:46 Shrewsbury - Swansea service on April 14, 1980. Hamish Stevenson.
Aberbeeg - Ebbw Vale
Barnstaple - Exeter
Barry Island - Merthyr
Birmingham - Leamington Spa
Birmingham - Stratford-upon-Avon
Birmingham - South Wales
Bristol - Severn Beach
Bristol - Weymouth
Cardiff - Chepstow
Cardiff - Weston-Super-Mare
Coryton - Cardiff Bute Road
Exmouth - Exeter
Henley - Twyford
Kemble - Cirencester/Tetbury
Lapworth - Wellington
Leamington Spa - Stratford-upon-Avon
Liskeard - Looe
Marlow - Maidenhead
Maiden Newton - Bridport
Merthyr - Cardiff
Newport - Blaenavon
Paddington - Reading
Paddington - Oxford
Paignton - Exeter
Paignton - Kingswear
Par - Newquay
Plymouth - Gunnislake
Slough - Windsor
Stourbridge Jct - Town
Swansea - Carmarthen
Swansea - Shrewsbury
Taunton - Minehead
The Birmingham Pullman
The Bristol Pullman
The South Wales Pullman
Yatton - Clevedon
More lines will be added in the future!