Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway
Encyclopedia
The Coleford, Monmouth, Usk & Pontypool Railway (abbreviated CMU&PR) was a standard gauge
railway of 16 miles (25.7 km) which ran between Monmouth
to Pontypool
. It was opened in 1857, passenger services were withdrawn in 1955. A Stephenson Locomotive Society
special ran along the line exactly 100 years from opening on 12 October 1957.
and Usk
in June 1856 and fully opened on 12 October 1857 upon the completion of Monmouth Troy Station. A viaduct was built over the River Wye
in an attempt to reach Coleford
in the Forest of Dean
, but following the purchase of the line by GWR
the scheme was abandoned.
The Railway had stations at Little Mill Junction, Usk
, Llandenny
, Raglan
, Dingestow
and Monmouth
. Usk and Monmouth Troy were the only stations on the line with two platforms. Halts were added at Glascoed
(1927), Elms Bridge
, (1933) and Cefntilla (1954). Raglan Station, known as Raglan Road was closed in 1931 and Raglan Station was moved to a previously unofficial stopping place called Raglan Footpath. The original station was then re-opened as a halt on 24 July 1931.
From 1940 ROF Glascoed
which produced munitions for the armed services was served by the line. When the branch closed the factory continued to be served by rail until 1993. The highly overgrown track from near Little Mill Junction to what is now BAE Systems
factory remains in situ but completely impassable.
Monmouth Troy Station was also used by the Wye Valley Railway
from 1876–1964, the Ross and Monmouth Railway
from 1874–1964 and the Coleford Railway
from 1883-1917.
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
railway of 16 miles (25.7 km) which ran between Monmouth
Monmouth
Monmouth is a town in southeast Wales and traditional county town of the historic county of Monmouthshire. It is situated close to the border with England, where the River Monnow meets the River Wye with bridges over both....
to Pontypool
Pontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
. It was opened in 1857, passenger services were withdrawn in 1955. A Stephenson Locomotive Society
Stephenson Locomotive Society
The Stephenson Locomotive Society was founded in the UK in Autumn 1909 for the study of rail transport and locomotives.It was originally named The Stephenson Society in honour of George Stephenson. In late 1911 the professional engineers seceded from the Society to form the Junior Institution of...
special ran along the line exactly 100 years from opening on 12 October 1957.
History
The railway was authorized by an Act of Parliament on 20 August 1853. The railway was partly opened between PontypoolPontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
and Usk
Usk
Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. A castle above the town overlooks the ancient Anglo-Welsh border crossing - the river can...
in June 1856 and fully opened on 12 October 1857 upon the completion of Monmouth Troy Station. A viaduct was built over the River Wye
River Wye
The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
in an attempt to reach Coleford
Coleford
Coleford may refer to a number of settlements in England:* Coleford, Devon* Coleford, Gloucestershire* Coleford, Somerset...
in the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
, but following the purchase of the line by GWR
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
the scheme was abandoned.
The Railway had stations at Little Mill Junction, Usk
Usk (GWR) railway station
Usk railway station is a disused railway station in the town of Usk, Monmouthshire, Wales. The station is now barely recognisable with the remains of the platforms beneath undergrowth, but the trackbed, the adjacent Usk Tunnel and road and river bridges remain extant and can be walked.-The...
, Llandenny
Llandenny railway station
Llandenny Station was a station along the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway. It was built in 1857 during the construction of the line and was located 8 miles and 52 chains from Monmouth Troy station. It was intended to serve the nearby village of Llandenny...
, Raglan
Raglan railway station
Raglan Station was a station along the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway. It was not an original station on the line built in 1876 to replace two previous stopping places, Raglan Footpath, a small station which was situated a little further west of Raglan and Raglan Road, an unofficial...
, Dingestow
Dingestow railway station
Dingestow Station was a station along the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway. It was built in 1857 during the construction of the line and was located 3 miles and 32 chains from Monmouth Troy. It was intended to serve the nearby village of Dingestow...
and Monmouth
Monmouth Troy railway station
Monmouth Troy was one of the two former stations at Monmouth. It was built in 1857 by the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway and was used by several other branch lines as the local rail network expanded...
. Usk and Monmouth Troy were the only stations on the line with two platforms. Halts were added at Glascoed
Glascoed
Glascoed is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, United Kingdom.- Location :Glascoed is located three miles east of Pontypool and three miles west of Usk.- History & Amenities :...
(1927), Elms Bridge
Elms Bridge Halt railway station
Elms Bridge Halt was a request stop on the former Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway. It was opened on 27th March 1933 to serve the villages near Raglan, Monmouthshire. It was closed in 1955 following the withdrawal of passenger services on the line. It was located in a small cutting...
, (1933) and Cefntilla (1954). Raglan Station, known as Raglan Road was closed in 1931 and Raglan Station was moved to a previously unofficial stopping place called Raglan Footpath. The original station was then re-opened as a halt on 24 July 1931.
From 1940 ROF Glascoed
ROF Glascoed
ROF Glascoed was a UK government-owned, Royal Ordnance Factory. It was designed as one of 20 munitions filling factories. It was planned as a Permanent Royal Ordnance Factory with the intention that, unlike some other similar facilities, it would remain open for production after the end of World...
which produced munitions for the armed services was served by the line. When the branch closed the factory continued to be served by rail until 1993. The highly overgrown track from near Little Mill Junction to what is now BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
factory remains in situ but completely impassable.
Monmouth Troy Station was also used by the Wye Valley Railway
Wye Valley Railway
The Wye Valley Railway was a standard gauge railway that ran for nearly between Chepstow and Monmouth along the lower part of the scenic Wye Valley in Monmouthshire, Wales, and Gloucestershire, England. It followed the route of the River Wye for most of its length...
from 1876–1964, the Ross and Monmouth Railway
Ross and Monmouth Railway
The Ross and Monmouth Railway was a standard gauge railway of which ran between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth....
from 1874–1964 and the Coleford Railway
Coleford Railway
The Coleford Railway also known as the Coleford Branch, was a short-lived standard gauge railway line which ran for approximately between Monmouth and Coleford. It was constructed in the 1880s, opened on 1 September 1883 and closed on 1 January 1917...
from 1883-1917.