19th April 1980: The "Black Countryman" was arranged to move Black 5 no 5000 and BR Std 2-6-4T no 80079 to Rainhill for the "150 Event". With a 13 coach load, they worked right through from Hereford to Chester, and then on to Manchester Victoria via Northwich, Altrincham, and Stockport Tiviot Dale, but not without water problems for 80079. Maximum speed was 66 mph at Dorrington. [view log of 5000 and 80079]  

11th October 1980: "The Welsh Dragon". Black 5 no 5000 again acted as pilot, this time to Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0 no 43106. With load 13, the itinerary was Shrewsbury to Newport, and then back to Hereford.  After a poor climb up to Church Stretton, running was steady, rarely reaching 60 mph, though we did reach 64 mph at Pempergwm southbound. Unrealistic schedules did not help timekeeping.  [view log of 5000 and 43106]  

7th March 1981 and 5th March 1983: On the 1981 run 5000 was on the Welsh Marches "bottom leg" from Hereford to Newport and return. With the usual 11 coach load, the work was competent throughout, maximum speed was 69 mph at Pempergwn northbound. On the 1983 run from Hereford to Chester, 5000 had a 12 coach load of 480 tons. Running was steady to Craven Arms, but a good climb followed to Church Stretton. 33 mph for a Black 5 on 480 tons was good going. We then came down through Dorrington at 75 mph. Onwards to Chester, with a water stop at Baschurch, the running was steady, with a maximum of 68 mph at Balderton.  [view log of 5000]  

7th March 1981 and 25th April 1981: 6201 "Lizzie" was a popular engine on the "Welsh Marches". On 7th March 1981 she was on the Shrewsbury to Hereford leg. A respectable climb to Church Stretton was followed by brisk running on to Hereford, with 70 mph at Bromfield. On 25th April it was the Newport leg. Here 6201 was severely handicapped by the Bridge Slacks, many of which were taken at 10 mph. She climbed Llanvihangel southbound at 27 mph and northbound at 28 mph. Maximum speed was 63 mph at Abergavenny Junction. [view log of 6201] 

17th April 1982: I had three runs on the Welsh Marches with 92220 "Evening Star". Two were dreadful, but this one excellent. With a heavy 450/475 ton load, we followed a "Footex" from Shrewsbury and were  immediately checked. Then followed a p.w.slack at Bayston Hill, after which "Evening Star" was well and truly opened up. 55 mph at Dorrington, and 41 mph at Church Stretton summit. Thereafter some brisk running, 68 mph max, on to Hereford. [view log of 92220]  

23rd and 31st October, 6th November 1982: 46229 came south on 23rd October 1982, and worked Chester to Shrewsbury with some panache. With a 525 ton load, nothing lower than 42 mph on Gresford bank was excellent. Then  a 76 mph at Baschurch, and we knew the "Duchess" had arrived. On the 31st, she worked north from Newport, with good climbs up to Pontypool Road (38 mph at Panteg), and to Llanvihangel (41 mph). She returned north on 6th November, working Hereford to Shrewsbury and  Chester. Up to Church Stretton she was worked easily, 31 mph at the summit, and it was after the Baschurch water stop that the best running occurred, with 73 mph at Whitehurst, and 71 mph at Pulford. [view log of 46229]

19th and 26th February 1983: On the 19th February  this potent Severn Valley loco pairing  was on the "Top leg" from Shrewsbury to Hereford. A good climb to Church Stretton, 37 mph, was the best feature. Thereafter  running  was restrained on an inflated  schedule, though we did reach 69 mph at Dinmore. It was on the 26th February, on the Hereford to Newport  leg, and the return, that the fireworks began. Superb hill climbing, Llanvihangel taken southbound at 43 mph, and northbound at 38mph, was matched by some "brisk" running elsewhere. The Pempergwm curve was taken at 73/74 mph southbound, and 76 mph northbound. After some vigorous run pasts at Abergavenny, we were 18 mins early back into Hereford. A serious contender for the "Most exciting run of the 1980s". [view log of 80079 and 43106]