"Llandrindod, Llangadog, Llanwrda, Llandybie"

Name of traveller

Reiner Luyken (b. 1951)

Reason for travel

• delayed train forced author to make a detour through south Wales

Date of travel

undated, ca. early 1990s

Wir haben Glück und schaffen die Fahrt nach Llandrindod Wells hinauf mit einem guten Zeitvorsprung. . . . Für zwei Raucher im Zug eine willkommene Gelegenheit, auf dem Bahnsteig einen Glimmstengel durchzuziehen. Eine dritte Passagierin steigt aus und säubert mit einer alten Socke, die sie aus ihrer Tasche hervorzaubert, die staubverklebten Scheiben. (Luyken 48)

Content

• people:
  • encounters with friendly, chatty passengers on the train and with the train conductor
  • author plays bag pipes to entertain co-travellers on the train
• politics: touches on underfunding and privatisation measures by the British government which lead to the closure of many train lines
• terrain:
  • view of picturesque, rural landscapes from the train
  • no signs of industry or industrial settlement
• transport:
  • modes of travel: train
  • intended train journey from Manchester to Swansea via Cardiff
  • after delayed train in Shrewsbury forces author to make a detour via the Heart of Wales Line
  • direct train line to Swansea, but slow travel owing to frequent manual operation of train signals on the line
  • "Heart of Wales" line kept alive by train enthusiasts
• compare with a later description of the same journey
• click here to read the full account

Nationality of traveller

German

Language of publication

German

Gender of traveller

Male

Type of publication

travelogue

Citation

Luyken, Reiner. "Llandrindod, Llangadog, Llanwrda, Llandybie." Die Zeit 29 (15 July 1994): 47-8. Print.