Vale of Neath Railway
Encyclopedia
The Vale of Neath Railway was a broad gauge
railway line from Neath
to Merthyr Tydfil
, in Glamorgan
, Wales
, and also operated the Swansea and Neath Railway which gave it access to the docks at Swansea
. It was opened on 24 September 1851 and amalgamated
with the Great Western Railway
on 1 February 1865.
on 3 August 1846. The first section to be opened was the main line from Neath
to Gelli Tarw Junction, and the branch from there to Aberdare
, on 24 September 1851. The line from Gelli Tarw to Merthyr Tydfil
was opened on 2 November 1853.
In 1854 to 1857 further branches were opened from Gelli Tarw into the Dare and Amman valleys. These were only used for goods traffic, but included the Dare Viaduct, one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
's famous timber viaduct
s.
The Vale of Neath Railway leased the new Aberdare Valley Railway, which opened in 1857 from Aberdare to Middle Duffryn colliery.
, but this entailed moving trains over the South Wales Railway
. The alternative was for the South Wales Railway to haul coal trains up the steep incline to Swansea
. In 1861 an Act of Parliament was passed for a new Swansea and Neath Railway which, by the time it opened on 15 June 1863, was owned by the Vale of Neath company. The railway contractor John Dickson
claimed to have been largely instrumental in promoting this extension but his real role remains unclear.
The Vale of Neath had also been working its own coal trains over the South Wales Railway since 1861, and had taken over responsibility for working the railways of the Swansea Harbour Trustees too.
allowed the Great Western Railway
to run standard gauge
trains from Hereford
through to Swansea over a connection at Middle Duffryn.
The broad gauge rail was removed after the South Wales Railway was converted
to standard gauge on 11 May 1872, although by this time the Vale of Neath Railway had been amalgamated
with the Great Western Railway
, this happening on 1 February 1865.
A coal seam has been worked through the south wall of the tunnel, this occurred during the 1984 miners strike
.
The tunnel often suffered drainage problems during its lifetime, comprising a brick roof with masonry walls, its patchwork nature suggests that, even during operational times, much repair work was needed. Today the tunnel has become very dangerous to explore, there are several collapsed sections of wall and roof lining, which could cause the tunnel to collapse entirely at some stage.
. In 2006, a study by local transport alliance Sewta appeared to rule out any such extension for the foreseeable future.
In November 2009, WAG sponsored Network Rail in a feasibility study to reopening both the section to Hirwaun, and parts of the former Anglesey Central Railway
between Llangefni
on Anglesey
, and Bangor
. Network Rail has already began work on gathering evidence for its study, beginning with cutting away vegetation on track sections to examine the condition of rails and track bedding. Its report is expected to be published in early 2010, before any business case to reopen the lines can be developed.
and Tower Colliery
in Hirwaun
. The eastern portions of the line now serve as part of the Valley Lines network. The western portion of the line is used to distribute coal from the Onllwyn
and Aberpergwm
collieries to Swansea Docks
and to Aberthaw Power Station
.
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
railway line from Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
to Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, in Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and also operated the Swansea and Neath Railway which gave it access to the docks at Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. It was opened on 24 September 1851 and amalgamated
Consolidation (business)
Consolidation or amalgamation is the act of merging many things into one. In business, it often refers to the mergers and acquisitions of many smaller companies into much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group...
with the Great Western Railway
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...
on 1 February 1865.
Chronology
- 1846 Vale of Neath Railway authorised by Act of ParliamentAct of ParliamentAn Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
- 1851 Opened from Neath to AberdareAberdareAberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
- 1853 Main line completed to Merthyr Tydfil
- 1854 Dare Valley branch
- 1857 Aberdare Valley Railway opened
- 1862 Acquired the railways of the Swansea Harbour Trustees
- 1863 Swansea and Neath Railway opened
- 1865 Amalgamated with Great Western Railway
History
The railway was authorised by Act of ParliamentAct of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
on 3 August 1846. The first section to be opened was the main line from Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
to Gelli Tarw Junction, and the branch from there to Aberdare
Aberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
, on 24 September 1851. The line from Gelli Tarw to Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
was opened on 2 November 1853.
In 1854 to 1857 further branches were opened from Gelli Tarw into the Dare and Amman valleys. These were only used for goods traffic, but included the Dare Viaduct, one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
's famous timber viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
s.
The Vale of Neath Railway leased the new Aberdare Valley Railway, which opened in 1857 from Aberdare to Middle Duffryn colliery.
Swansea and Neath Railway
Since 1852, the Vale of Neath Railway had shipped coal from a wharf at Briton FerryBriton Ferry
Briton Ferry is a town and community in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales. The town encompasses the electoral wards of Briton Ferry East and Briton Ferry West....
, but this entailed moving trains over the South Wales Railway
South Wales Railway
The South Wales Railway was a broad gauge railway that linked the Gloucester and Dean Forest Railway with Neyland in Wales.-History:The need for the railway was created by the need to ship coal from the South Wales Valleys to London, and secondly to complete Brunel's vision of linking London with...
. The alternative was for the South Wales Railway to haul coal trains up the steep incline to Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. In 1861 an Act of Parliament was passed for a new Swansea and Neath Railway which, by the time it opened on 15 June 1863, was owned by the Vale of Neath company. The railway contractor John Dickson
John Dickson (railway contractor)
John Dickson , was a railway contractor responsible for the promotion, construction and operation of several railway lines in England and Wales, especially in and around Swansea. His finances were never securely based and he was forced into bankruptcy on three occasions.-Early days :Dickson was...
claimed to have been largely instrumental in promoting this extension but his real role remains unclear.
The Vale of Neath had also been working its own coal trains over the South Wales Railway since 1861, and had taken over responsibility for working the railways of the Swansea Harbour Trustees too.
Gauge conversion
Almost the whole of the Vale of Neath system had a third rail added to its tracks in 1863. This mixed gaugeDual gauge
A dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail...
allowed the Great Western Railway
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...
to run standard gauge
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...
trains from Hereford
Hereford railway station
Hereford railway station serves the city of Hereford, England. Managed by Arriva Trains Wales, it lies on the Welsh Marches Line between Leominster and Abergavenny and is the western terminus of the Cotswold Line.The station has four platforms...
through to Swansea over a connection at Middle Duffryn.
The broad gauge rail was removed after the South Wales Railway was converted
Gauge conversion
In rail transport, gauge conversion is the process of converting a railway from one rail gauge to another, through the alteration of the railway tracks...
to standard gauge on 11 May 1872, although by this time the Vale of Neath Railway had been amalgamated
Consolidation (business)
Consolidation or amalgamation is the act of merging many things into one. In business, it often refers to the mergers and acquisitions of many smaller companies into much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group...
with the Great Western Railway
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...
, this happening on 1 February 1865.
Stations
- Aberdare branch
- AberdareAberdare railway stationAberdare railway station is a railway station serving the town of Aberdare in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It is the terminus of the Aberdare branch of the Merthyr Line, 36 km north of...
(1851) - Merthyr Road (Temporary station 1851–1853)
- Aberdare
- Merthyr to Neath
- Merthyr TydfilMerthyr Tydfil railway stationMerthyr Tydfil railway station is a railway station serving the town of Merthyr Tydfil in Wales. It is the terminus of the Merthyr branch of the Merthyr Line. Passenger services are provided by Arriva Trains Wales...
(1853) - AbernantAbernant railway stationAbernant railway station served the village of Abernant in Wales. Served by the Vale of Neath railway, the station lay at the other end of the 2497 yard Merthyr Tunnel from Merthyr Tydfil.-History:...
(1854) - Llwydcoed (1853)
- Hirwaun (1851)
- Glynneath (1851)
- Resolven (1851)
- Aberdylais (1851)
- NeathNeath railway stationNeath railway station is a mainline railway station, serving Neath, Wales. The station is located at street level on Windsor Road in Neath town centre...
(1851, South Wales RailwaySouth Wales RailwayThe South Wales Railway was a broad gauge railway that linked the Gloucester and Dean Forest Railway with Neyland in Wales.-History:The need for the railway was created by the need to ship coal from the South Wales Valleys to London, and secondly to complete Brunel's vision of linking London with...
station)
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Swansea and Neath Railway
- Neath (Low Level) (1863)
- Neath Abbey (1863)
- Briton Ferry Road (1863)
- Swansea East Dock (1880)
- Swansea Wind Street (1863)
Locomotives
The Vale of Neath Railway owned 19 broad gauge and 6 standard gauge locomotives:- No.s 1–6 4-4-0ST broad gauge locomotivesVale of Neath Railway 4-4-0ST locomotivesThe nine Vale of Neath Railway 4-4-0ST locomotives were broad gauge 4-4-0 saddle tank steam locomotives. The first entered service in 1851 and the last was withdrawn in 1872...
delivered in 1851 - No.s 7–9 4-4-0ST broad gauge locomotivesVale of Neath Railway 4-4-0ST locomotivesThe nine Vale of Neath Railway 4-4-0ST locomotives were broad gauge 4-4-0 saddle tank steam locomotives. The first entered service in 1851 and the last was withdrawn in 1872...
delivered in 1854, rebuilt as 0-6-0STsVale of Neath Railway 0-6-0ST locomotivesVale of Neath Railway 0-6-0ST locomotives were 0-6-0 saddle tank steam locomotives for working the heavy goods traffic on the Vale of Neath Railway and its associated lines in Wales. The first of 13 broad gauge locomotives entered service in 1854 and the last was withdrawn in 1886...
in 1858 - No.s 10–12 0-6-0ST broad gauge locomotivesVale of Neath Railway 0-6-0ST locomotivesVale of Neath Railway 0-6-0ST locomotives were 0-6-0 saddle tank steam locomotives for working the heavy goods traffic on the Vale of Neath Railway and its associated lines in Wales. The first of 13 broad gauge locomotives entered service in 1854 and the last was withdrawn in 1886...
delivered in 1854 - No.s 13–15 0-6-0ST broad gauge locomotivesVale of Neath Railway 0-6-0ST locomotivesVale of Neath Railway 0-6-0ST locomotives were 0-6-0 saddle tank steam locomotives for working the heavy goods traffic on the Vale of Neath Railway and its associated lines in Wales. The first of 13 broad gauge locomotives entered service in 1854 and the last was withdrawn in 1886...
delivered in 1856 - No.s 16–19 0-6-0ST broad gauge locomotivesVale of Neath Railway 0-6-0ST locomotivesVale of Neath Railway 0-6-0ST locomotives were 0-6-0 saddle tank steam locomotives for working the heavy goods traffic on the Vale of Neath Railway and its associated lines in Wales. The first of 13 broad gauge locomotives entered service in 1854 and the last was withdrawn in 1886...
delivered in 1861 - No.s 20–23 0-6-0ST standard gauge locomotives
- No.s 24–25 0-8-0ST broad gauge locomotives delivered in 1864
The Viaducts at Edwardsville
There was a viaduct on the Vale Of Neath Railway connecting Quakers Yard High Level with Mountain Ash through the Cefn Glas Tunnel. Another second viaduct was on the Rhymney Railway/Great Western Joint Line linking Quakers Yard High Level with Aberfan, Abercanaid and Merthyr. Later on, timber lattice work was included within the arches of the viaduct, but was not by design. It was put in to prevent the viaducts collapsing because of mining subsidence from Deep Navigation workings underneath. Both viaducts were so unsafe they had to be demolished a year after the line had closed. Even today the subsidence is still a problematic issue in Edwardsville.Cefn Glas Tunnel (Quakers Yard Tunnel)
Cefn-Glas Tunnel, a single bore 704 yard long structure, was opened in 1851 near the Quakers Yard viaducts to take the extension of the GWR route from Pontypool to Neath through Craig-yr-Efail. The very same mountain between Treharris and Aberdare that was quarried for stone that the viaducts below was built on. It is named after the former-Cefn Glas colliery, which once existed just north-west of the tunnel's east portal. A canal ran around the curve of Craig-yr-efail, also just above this portal. It was closed to traffic on the 15th June 1964. The west portal is located just off the A470 just north of the Abercynon roundabout.A coal seam has been worked through the south wall of the tunnel, this occurred during the 1984 miners strike
UK miners' strike (1984–1985)
The UK miners' strike was a major industrial action affecting the British coal industry. It was a defining moment in British industrial relations, and its defeat significantly weakened the British trades union movement...
.
The tunnel often suffered drainage problems during its lifetime, comprising a brick roof with masonry walls, its patchwork nature suggests that, even during operational times, much repair work was needed. Today the tunnel has become very dangerous to explore, there are several collapsed sections of wall and roof lining, which could cause the tunnel to collapse entirely at some stage.
Extension to Hirwaun
Since its termination at Aberdare following the Beeching Axe, there have been various proposals to extend the line northwards towards Hirwaun again. In recent years, these have been driven by the Welsh Assembly GovernmentWelsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
. In 2006, a study by local transport alliance Sewta appeared to rule out any such extension for the foreseeable future.
In November 2009, WAG sponsored Network Rail in a feasibility study to reopening both the section to Hirwaun, and parts of the former Anglesey Central Railway
Anglesey Central Railway
The Anglesey Central Railway was a long standard-gauge railway in Anglesey, Wales, connecting the port of Amlwch and the county town of Llangefni with the North Wales Coast Line at Gaerwen. Built as an independent railway, the railway opened in portions from 1864 to 1867...
between Llangefni
Llangefni
Llangefni is the county town of Anglesey in Wales and contains the principal offices of the Isle of Anglesey County Council. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, the population of Llangefni was 4,662 people and it is the second largest settlement on the island...
on Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, and Bangor
Bangor, Gwynedd
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
. Network Rail has already began work on gathering evidence for its study, beginning with cutting away vegetation on track sections to examine the condition of rails and track bedding. Its report is expected to be published in early 2010, before any business case to reopen the lines can be developed.
Vale of Neath Railway today
Most of the Vale of Neath Railway and the Swansea and Neath Railway branch is still open today with the exception of a section between ResolvenResolven
Resolven is a small village in Neath Port Talbot county borough, Wales. It is located in the heart of the Vale of Neath.- Location :The village is situated in the Vale of Neath, next to the A465 Heads of Valleys Road, and is the main settlement in the community of Resolven...
and Tower Colliery
Tower Colliery
Tower Colliery is the oldest continuously working deep-coal mine in the United Kingdom, and possibly the world, and the last mine of its kind to remain in the South Wales Valleys...
in Hirwaun
Hirwaun
Hirwaun is the name of a village at the northwest end of the Cynon Valley in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. The village of Hirwaun is from the town of Aberdare, and comes under Aberdare for postal reasons...
. The eastern portions of the line now serve as part of the Valley Lines network. The western portion of the line is used to distribute coal from the Onllwyn
Onllwyn
Onllwyn is a small village in Neath Port Talbot, Wales, near Seven Sisters.-History:First developed by the Romans, local village Banwen is confined to the Roman Road of Sarn Helen. There are two Roman forts and the remains of a Roman Road within the community.Legend has it that St Patrick was born...
and Aberpergwm
Aberpergwm
Aberpergwm is the site of a colliery in the Vale of Neath near Glynneath in south Wales.The drift mine was reopened in 1996 after being closed by British Coal in 1985. It is owned and worked by Energybuild, a private company now wholly owned by Walter Energy of the USA...
collieries to Swansea Docks
Swansea docks
Swansea Docks is the collective name for several docks in Swansea, Wales. The Swansea docks are located immediately south east of Swansea city centre. In the mid-19th century the port was exporting 60% of the world's copper from factories situated in the Tawe valley...
and to Aberthaw Power Station
Aberthaw Power Station
Aberthaw Power Station refers to a series of two coal-fired power stations situated on the coast of South Wales, near Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan. It is actually located on the waterfront of the nearby villages of Gileston and West Aberthaw on Limpert Bay...
.