Search: Add your article Home Railway lines Railway lines by country The Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway was a Welsh railway company formed to connect the upper end of the Rhondda Fawr with Swansea, with the chief objective of transporting coal and other minerals to Swansea docks. Length 7.7 miElevation gain 1,581 ftRoute type Loop. It was reported in 1830 that a new railway was under construction, from Oakwood (near Pontrhydyfen) to Aberavon, for the purpose of transporting coal from coalfields above Pontrhydyfen. San Joaquin Valley Railroad Contacts. See more ideas about valley view, port talbot, wales england. The Swansea Bay line, operated by the Great Western Railway (GWR), transported coal from the Rhondda Valley and upper Afan Valley. On arrival there the clouds had cleared and, in the sheltered valley, the air was virtually still. [5] The bridge is 388 feet (118 m) in length and the structure contains 1,400 tons of iron. Afan Valley Valleys in Wales, where to go and what to see in Wales. The Rhondda Swansea Bay Railway station at Cymmer c. 1910. I took the train, both steam and diesel electric, from Cwmafan to Aberafan daily while attending grammar school. It passes a sealed railway tunnel entrance, which was designed and built by Brunel, and then returns to the visitor centre via a picnic area by the river. MacDermot; Baughan says 1 January 1906; Morgan says 1 July 1906, and describes the arrangement as a lease. In 1861 the Llynvi Valley Railway was opened in Glamorganshire, Wales, to convey mineral products to the Bristol Channel at Porthcawl. Authorisation to extend to Swansea, and also Neath, was secured and those lines opened in 1894 (goods) and 1895. The Rhondda Tunnel suffered a collapse in 1968 and the upper part of the line closed. El Afan Valley Escapes, Valley Views, The Nook, Sleeps 6 se … The railway viaduct, added in 1846, stands 30 feet above the canal. [7], The Bills went to the Parliamentary session of 1882 and the R&SBR scheme found preference, but there was stiff opposition from interests in Neath. In 1954 a connection was installed near Pontrhydyfen and the lower part of the PTR was closed. Neath; opened 14 March 1895; renamed Neath Canal Bridge 1924; renamed Neath Canalside 1926; closed 16 September 1935. The list of closed railway stations in Britain includes the following: Year of closure is given if known. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Bygone Railways of the Afan at Amazon.com. A dónde va la ley: humanidad o barbarie Este artículo de John Carlson y Neville Yeomans se publicó por primera vez en 1975 en The Way Out - Radical Alternatives in Australia (eds.) 7 de sept. de 2020 - Casa/apto. Length 7.7 mi Elevation gain 1,581 ft Route type Loop. [8][5], The R&SBR company remained in existence, as a financial company only; it was absorbed by the Great Western Railway in the Grouping of the railways of Great Britain in 1923, following the Railways Act 1921. Approximate time – 1.5 hours. Lead: Graham Gale force winds and the prospect of wintry showers could not deter five stalwarts as they prepared for the drive to Afan Argoed Visitors’ Centre. The line towards Swansea opened on 14 December 1894 to goods;[10] it left the Briton Ferry Dock line (at Briton Ferry Junction) and crossed under the GWR main line, then running northwards, following close on its east side through Briton Ferry village. [15] This change took place on 11 September 1933. This ride from Afan Argoed Countryside Centre uses two magnificent old stone viaducts in Pontrhydyfen which cross the Afon Afan. A tunnel would be needed at the upper end, and a rope-worked incline on the SWMR would have to be by-passed by means of a deviation. You would not recognise this today as you cycle past on the overgrown path that was once the railway. Box 937 Exeter, CA 93221 Emergency Phone Number (802) 527-3499 [7][5], The engineer for the construction was S W Yockney. The line suffered operational challenges and was never greatly profitable, but it arranged for the Great Western Railway to operate the line and guarantee good dividends from 1906. The Neath Swing Bridge is on the District Line section; it was fixed about 1982, and is a grade II listed structure.[16]. (Don’t take our word for it – Afan Forest Park is one of the ‘World’s Top 10 places to ride’ according to ‘What Mountain Bike’.) [7], Further construction involved the long tunnel, and inevitably the progress was slow. Exploring Afan Forest Park. No trains today, just cyclists and walkers. The Afan Forest Park (formally and locally known as Afan Argoed Country Park) is a 48-square-mile (120 km 2) forest park in Britain.It is set in the Afan Valley in Neath Port Talbot, in south Wales.It is well known for its mountain biking and hiking or hillwalking trails. Buy Bygone Railways of the Afan 1st Edition by Clive R. Smith (ISBN: 9780907117186) from Amazon's Book Store. Walk along the banks of the river Afan and stride out on the former route of Brunel’s South Wales Mineral Railway Line with its tunnel. [12] This was in effect a lease; the arrangement took effect from 30 June 1906. Gyfylchi Ridgetop Trail. The Llynvi and Ogmore Railwaywas opened in 1865, and the two companies amalgamated to form the Llynvi and Ogmore Railway in 1866. The Great Western Railway took up this scheme, and among other projects, improved the infrastructure in the Swansea and Port Talbot areas. The Taff Vale Railway did not consider the GWR a friendly company, and the TVR reminded the GWR that the agreement to use Treherbert TVR station was with the R&SBR, not the GWR: the latter had to rebrand the locomotives and renumber them in the R&SBR stock, as 31–33, to comply. The first section of line, between Aberavon and Cymmer, was opened for traffic on 2 November 1885,[8] giving improved access to the exceptionally rich coalfields in the Avon Valley. We walked from home to the railway station, and also walked to school at the other end. [7], Passenger services through to Swansea started on 14 March 1895,[10] with passenger trains now diverted away from the Aberavon Dock station and calling at a new Aberavon Seaside station. A new junction was made some distance west of Blaengwynfi, where the two routes separated once again. Note: the line from Dynevor Junction to Swansea Riverside was almost completely subsumed in marshalling sidings in later years. [5], The R&SBR line and the GWR former Llynvi and Ogmore Railway line ran parallel and adjacent from Cymmer to Blaengwynfi. The Rhondda Tunnel Society has a vision: to re-open the disused Rhondda & Swansea Bay Railway Tunnel, reconnecting the communities of the Rhondda and Afan Valleys as a pedestrian and cycling route. Coaches No. This article was written by Mr Ron Jenkins about his recollections as to why the paddling pool was built in Caerau Park. This trail follows the course of the former Rhondda and Swansea Bay (R&SB) railway on a largely level course along this spectacular valley. [8][11][10] The Rhondda Tunnel was the longest wholly in Wales, at 3,443 yards (1.956 mi; 3.148 km). Penrhys Walk. The former Cymmer station is now a public house, known as "The Refreshment Rooms". The Maesteg Line is a commuter rail line in South Wales from Bridgend to Maesteg. El Afan Lodge es un acogedor hotel de nueva construcción situado en unos terrenos propios, en el parque forestal Afan Argoed. On 16 September 1935 the R&SBR Neath branch closed to passenger traffic. The diversion from Riverside freed up the approach of goods traffic at the docks, which had previously conflicted with passenger trains crossing. Offering 3 cottages great for big groups near the bike trails, pub and restaurant. The viaduct was once part of a branch line of the Port Talbot Railway and Docks Co. to link the docks with the coal mines. Nonetheless use of the Mineral Railway would still pose considerable operational difficulties. [12][11] and made a junction with the GWR at Aberavon (Port Talbot GWR).[13]. Founded in 1979 with Past presidents such as Brinley Richards and John Lyons our aim is to promote history within the valley. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. [11], At Court Sart the line turned west, again crossing under the GWR line and crossing the Neath Canal and both parts of the River Neath, then turning south and then west to Danygraig. Other attractions en route are the Kanji Japanese Woodland near Oakwood and South Wales Miners Museum at Afan Argoed. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. In 1890 some short extension lines were authorised, at Swansea Docks, in Aberavon and Port Talbot, including the formation of a quay or wharf at Aberavon. The trail is primarily used for hiking and walking. Many of the bridges used by the railways can still be seen. Cymmer was the second of the upper Afan valley villages to develop. R&SB Junction; diverged from Taff Vale line; Blaenrhondda; opened 2 July 1890; closed 26 February 1968; Blaengwynfi; opened 2 June 1890; closed 26 February 1968; Cymmer; opened 2 November 1885; renamed Cwm Cymmer 1924; renamed Cymmer Afan 1926; amalgamated with Cymmer General (former L&OR), as Cymmer Afan, January 1950; closed to public 22 June 1970; school use until 14 July 1970; divergence of L&OR line to Maesteg; Duffryn Rhondda; miners' use by 1898; opened to public October 1912; closed 3 December 1962; later use by miners; Cynonville Halt; opened for miners as Cynon Colliery 1898.:opened to public as Cynonville Halt 1912: closed 2 January 1956; Pontrhydyfen; opened 25 June 1885; closed 3 December 1962; Cwmavon; opened 25 June 1885; closed 3 December 1962; [4].