Lost Lines of Wales: Brecon to Newport, by Tom Ferris

[locoholic]

Just picked up a copy of this small pictorial book, published in 2016 by Graffeg.

 

I was wondering about the photo on page 35; it shows a 14xx hauling a goods train past a distinctive stone built house next to a canal or mill leat, and purports to be a photo of where the Brecon & Merthyr line crossed the canal at Talybont-on-Usk. However, in Branch Line Album (Second Series), by P B Whitehouse, there is a photo by Ben Ashworth showing this location, which bears no resemblance to the photo in Tom Ferris' book.

 

The reasons for my doubts about the accuracy of the caption are as follows: I've never seen another photo of a 14xx on the Brecon & Merthyr, and wonder whether it would have made it up Seven Mile Bank with a goods train, plus the wagons in the photo are on multi-span girder bridge, presumably over a river. At Talybont the river bridge was the other side of the station from the canal bridge.

 

I haven't posted a copy of the photo for copyright reasons. Does anyone else have the Tom Ferris book, and can they confirm the actual location of the photo on page 35?

[br2975]

_{No concerns about copyright, the publishers webpage shows the book, and the photo:-}

_.

_{https://www.graffeg.com/product/lost-lines-brecon-newport/}

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_{Just scroll through the example pages, and you'll come to the photo mentioned by 'locoholic'}

_.

_{I've been to Talybont-on-Usk numerous times, but I'm not familiar with this viewpoint.}

 

_{Brian R}

[Blandford1969]

Certainly it looks more DFR rather than Talybont. I know Tom spent an awful lot of time getting facts checked. It does not take away from what looks like a very good book.. Sadly I did not see that one in Bridgnorth today, otherwise it would have been bought.  I will mention it to Tom when I next see him.

[Andy Kirkham]

Your suspicions are correct. It's Bullock's Mill crossing on the Presteign branch http://www.lyonshall.net/ShowPhoto.asp?PhotoNo=382&Title=Bullock%27s%20Mill%20-%20Railway%20&%20Train