Popular Post PGH Posted January 29, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) 46511 at Builth Road Loco Shed 48470 in the sidings connecting the Central Wales Line to the Mid Wales Line. Judging by the stock in the sidings here it seems there was some transfer of freight traffic from the Mid Wales Line to Swansea via the Central Wales Line. Builth Road Low Level Signal Box Signals at the junction of the connecting line to the Mid Wales Line Builth Road Low Level Station, looking north towards Moat Lane Junction. The station building is now a pub, appropriately named the Cambrian Arms, with a car park occupying the filled in platform area. Train from Brecon approaching Builth Road Low Level 46514 on the northbound train at Builth Road Low Level Station Edited January 10, 2016 by PGH 33 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PGH Posted January 29, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) Rhayader Signal Box View from the northbound train approaching Marteg Tunnel 46514 crossing 46520 on a southbound train at Pantydwr 46520 leaving Pantydwr on the Brecon train Llanidloes Station Moat Lane Junction - the main Cambrian Line platforms. The Mid Wales Line platform was behind the station building. 46523 at left and 78002 on an Aberystwyth train at right. Edited January 12, 2016 by PGH 33 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PGH Posted January 29, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) 29th December 1962, the last day of scheduled passenger service on the three remaining lines to Brecon. Builth Wells Station with a Brecon train approaching. Three Cocks Junction with the Mid Wales Line to Moat Lane Junction on the left, the line to Hereford on the right. 46508 approaching Three Cocks Junction on a Hereford to Brecon train Brecon Station with 46508 on the left next to the signal box Brecon Station with 4679 on a Newport train 4679 at Talyllyn Junction Station 2251 Class 0-6-0 arriving at Talyllyn Junction with one wagon and a brakevan Pentir Rhiw. An additional pannier tank has been added to assist 4679 with the southbound train up the bank to Torpantau as it waits in the loop to cross a northbound Brecon train. Edited January 10, 2016 by PGH 44 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted January 30, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 30, 2014 You think the views can't get any better and they just carry on. Wow, thanks for sharing. I really hope that you have got it sewn up so your lovley collection goes somewhere like the Kidderminster Railway museum when the time comes as so many wonderful archives like yours are split up via auctions and ebay. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some Hay and Brecon soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveNCB7754 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 The next 6 posts cover the Central Wales (or Heart of Wales Line as its now known) and the Mid Wales Lines. In compiling this topic its been interesting to try and work out what I actually did when riding on some of these lines over 50 years ago, as I didn't make any notes and the photo taking was rather spasmodic. The Mid Wales and Central Wales Lines were first covered with a school mate during 4-5 days of travel, presumably using one of the rover tickets then available, all done on a daily basis from home on the North Wales Coast. The first day we travelled through Caernarfon - Afonwen - down the Cambrian Coast line to Dovey Junction - Moat Lane Junction, then down the Mid Wales Line, presumably all the way to Brecon, although for some reason I didn't take any photos there. The few photos I did take on the Mid Wales were only blurry views from the train. Return to North Wales would probably have been via Oswestry and Chester. The second day we did Bala to Wrexham, the photos taken on that trip were covered in Post #49. I haven't a clue how we got to Bala, presumably via Afonwen and Dolgelley, but the return would have been via Chester. The third/fourth day we travelled to Shrewsbury, then by the Central Wales Line to Swansea (taking the few photos in this Post), up the valley lines to I've no idea where, except that we must have passed through Abercynon where I took a solitary photo, to Cardiff, then returned home overnight via Newport and Hereford, arriving back in North Wales on the morning of day 4. The next day (day 5) it was down to Hereford and as far as Fawley on the Gloucester Line (the photos taken were in Post #30), but this was a solo trip as my mate must have had enough travelling by day 4. The next trip covering these two lines was in October 1962, down the Central Wales Line from Craven Arms to Builth Road, then up the Mid Wales Line to Moat Lane Junction. Quite a number of photos were taken on that trip. The last trip was on Saturday 29th December 1962, which I believe was the last day of scheduled passenger services for the three remaining lines to Brecon (officially closed on 31st January). We travelled overnight via Crewe and Shrewsbury, down the Central Wales Line, arriving at Builth Road in the early hours. Then down the Mid Wales Line to Brecon; down the Newport Line as far as Pentir Rhiw; then returned north up the full length of the Mid Wales Line to Moat Lane Junction. 9A.17B.jpg I'm not sure of the merits of this view, but it's the Swansea train at Builth Road High Level Station. On the left is the luggage lift down to the Mid Wales Line's Low Level Station with the footpath down alongside. The bridge over the Mid Wales Line is just in front of the loco. Above the footway in the distance is the small single road loco shed with steam visible from a loco standing outside. 9A.19B.jpg Crossing 48706 on a northbound goods train at Garth 9A.20B.jpg Llandovery Station with a variety of wagons in the yard - 3 steel 16T minerals, a van, a cattle wagon and a tank wagon 9A.21B.jpg I've no idea where this is, except it must be between Llandovery and Swansea, and where the Central Wales Line connected with a local service. This negative was never printed so when I recently scanned these negatives it was the first time I'd seen this view since I took it over 50 years ago ! 9A.22B.jpg 5699 at Abercynon. The disc above the front buffer with the lettering "C 02" might give a clue as to what it was doing there ? First of all - thanks for yet more excellent and evocative photographs (especially the mid-Wales ones). Until recently, I had not really noticed these target boards or discs, but since the recent excellent article by D.K. Jones ('Abercynon Locomotive Depot and its Duties'; Jan 2014 Steam Days magazine), I have been keeping an eye out for them. From Jones' article, Abercynon workings were 'J' prefixes, but checking through Derek Huntriss' 'The Heyday of Steam in South Wales', there is a photo of a pannier at Quaker Yard Low Level in 1964 on a down mineral with 'C13' on the disc, attributed to Cardiff Cathays. In an earlier photo, another pannier leaves Nantgarw Colliery with 'H25' on its disc and this is attributed to Cardiff Canton. Perhaps someone, somewhere, has compiled a list of all these reporting discs? Regards, Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGH Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some Hay and Brecon soon. Blandford - please un-cross your fingers, unfortunately I didn't do the Three Cocks Junction - Hay - Hereford line Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted January 31, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 31, 2014 Never mind, I will still look forward to seeing more of your exquisite photos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Cocks Junction Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 The next 6 posts cover the Central Wales (or Heart of Wales Line as its now known) and the Mid Wales Lines. In compiling this topic its been interesting to try and work out what I actually did when riding on some of these lines over 50 years ago, as I didn't make any notes and the photo taking was rather spasmodic. The Mid Wales and Central Wales Lines were first covered with a school mate during 4-5 days of travel, presumably using one of the rover tickets then available, all done on a daily basis from home on the North Wales Coast. The first day we travelled through Caernarfon - Afonwen - down the Cambrian Coast line to Dovey Junction - Moat Lane Junction, then down the Mid Wales Line, presumably all the way to Brecon, although for some reason I didn't take any photos there. The few photos I did take on the Mid Wales were only blurry views from the train. Return to North Wales would probably have been via Oswestry and Chester. The second day we did Bala to Wrexham, the photos taken on that trip were covered in Post #49. I haven't a clue how we got to Bala, presumably via Afonwen and Dolgelley, but the return would have been via Chester. The third/fourth day we travelled to Shrewsbury, then by the Central Wales Line to Swansea (taking the few photos in this Post), up the valley lines to I've no idea where, except that we must have passed through Abercynon where I took a solitary photo, to Cardiff, then returned home overnight via Newport and Hereford, arriving back in North Wales on the morning of day 4. The next day (day 5) it was down to Hereford and as far as Fawley on the Gloucester Line (the photos taken were in Post #30), but this was a solo trip as my mate must have had enough travelling by day 4. The next trip covering these two lines was in October 1962, down the Central Wales Line from Craven Arms to Builth Road, then up the Mid Wales Line to Moat Lane Junction. Quite a number of photos were taken on that trip. The last trip was on Saturday 29th December 1962, which I believe was the last day of scheduled passenger services for the three remaining lines to Brecon (officially closed on 31st January). We travelled overnight via Crewe and Shrewsbury, down the Central Wales Line, arriving at Builth Road in the early hours. Then down the Mid Wales Line to Brecon; down the Newport Line as far as Pentir Rhiw; then returned north up the full length of the Mid Wales Line to Moat Lane Junction. 9A.17B.jpg I'm not sure of the merits of this view, but it's the Swansea train at Builth Road High Level Station. On the left is the luggage lift down to the Mid Wales Line's Low Level Station with the footpath down alongside. The bridge over the Mid Wales Line is just in front of the loco. Above the footway in the distance is the small single road loco shed with steam visible from a loco standing outside. 9A.19B.jpg Crossing 48706 on a northbound goods train at Garth 9A.20B.jpg Llandovery Station with a variety of wagons in the yard - 3 steel 16T minerals, a van, a cattle wagon and a tank wagon 9A.21B.jpg I've no idea where this is, except it must be between Llandovery and Swansea, and where the Central Wales Line connected with a local service. This negative was never printed so when I recently scanned these negatives it was the first time I'd seen this view since I took it over 50 years ago ! 9A.22B.jpg 5699 at Abercynon. The disc above the front buffer with the lettering "C 02" might give a clue as to what it was doing there ? 9A.21B is LLandilo, "Junction for the Carmarthen line", and the local on the left is the Carmarthen train. Its route will pass through LLandilo Bridge, Golden Grove, Drysllwyn, LLanarthney Halt, Nantgaredig and Abergwili. For anyone lucky enough to have "Steam in South Wales - Volume 2 North and West of Swansea" by Michael Hale, Plate 114 shows the Carmarthen local awaiting its connection in the bay at LLandilo on 29/08/1959. The makeup of the train is fascinating and I have attempted a re-creation using N gauge RTR, probably not the topic for this thread. Plates 108,109 and 110 show three of the stations on the former LNWR branch and Plate 115 shows the train from Shrewsbury arriving at LLandilo and about to make its connection with the branch train. As has already been said, this is indeed a marvellous collection, and thanks for sharing it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
llanben Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 These are brilliant pictures, I especially like the prairie tank, really grainy and full of atmosphere. Thanks for the postings. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyman7 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I joined the trackbed just a bit further down from where you took your picture, but visibly missing is the road to Bala on the right.....Not yet built I presume. The Bala - Trawsfwynydd road was built in the mid 70s, the bit from Trawsfynydd as far as Arenig was already a track but the rest was new. Driving along it you can easily follow the course of the branch line cut into the mountainside, the area is one of the most other-wordly in the British Isles. I would love to have been able to travel the line and am grateful to the OP for sharing these views (and yes, I love the GW branch train-plus-Presflo shot too!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I love these photos. I have the video "Four Ways To Brecon" (B&R 111) which gives a wonderful idea of the nature of the mid-Wales and its services. These pictures just to add to that atmosphere. I am just sad that I never got to travel on the lines in question. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) Mornin' all, I have 4 excellent B&R DVDs for that part of the world: No 94 Steam North of Swansea for the Central Wales line, Carmarthen to Aberystwyth inc. Newcastle Emlyn & Aberaeron No 19 Steam on the Cambrian Whitchurch to Pwihelli/Aberystwyth, Ellesmere, Oswestry amongst others Another vote for No 111 mentioned above Also No 120 for The Forest of Dean & Vale of Neath You can't go wrong with these...all excellent Dave Edited February 1, 2014 by Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 ...sorry Larry, it should have read No 94...a senior moment I'm afraid. Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PGH Posted February 15, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) The next posts cover a rather mixed bag of photos in the Oswestry Area. I didn't usually bother with main line trains, but this was prompted by the surprise of seeing an ex LMS loco on the Shrewsbury-Chester line, marking the transfer of the line to the London Midland Region. 45699 approaches Gobowen station on a Chester train in October 1962. I rode the Gobowen-Oswestry auto train several times but unfortunately this is the only photo I took which shows it - in the bay platform at the north end of Oswestry Station with 7810 on a Whitchurch train c1959. 7812 on a southbound train at Oswestry Station October 1962 The following Locos were in store at the rear of Oswestry Shed in October 1962: 7428 - the "GWR" was in yellow chalk ! 5421 2251 3200 Edited January 10, 2016 by PGH 30 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PGH Posted February 15, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) 46401 at Llanfyllin Station 1960 In October 1962 I made another trip to Llanfyllin. 46502 awaits departure at Oswestry. 46502 at Llanfyllin Ground signal/point indicator at Llanfyllin On the return journey I stopped off at Pant, a charming little station I thought, as 46502 departs for Oswestry. The darker patch in the platform marks the location of a tunnel under the station, which was once occupied by a narrow gauge tramway from quarries on the left to the canal just below the station on the right. If you visit this spot today its hard to imagine that there was once a railway line and a station here. Edited January 10, 2016 by PGH 33 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PGH Posted February 15, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) Llanymynech c1959. Rather a poor photo but interesting as it shows the wagon repair works behind the station. In the foreground condemned wagons for scrapping are stored in the former Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Railway platform lines. In the left distance is the limeworks chimney, now restored and preserved along with the limeworks site and remains of the tramway system - well worth a visit for anyone interested in industrial archeology. 7801 at Llanymynech on a 2 coach northbound train October 1962 The following four photos show condemned wagons stored in the S&MR sidings on the same date: Ex GWR 20T Pt .Way Construction hopper wagon No.60043 lettered "Return to Llynclys Junction" Ex LMS 12T van No.M160732 built Wolverton 1924 Ex GWR 12T vans Nos.W104791 and W105481 Ex GWR 8T cattle wagon No.W106580 and 10T 8 plank open No.S11073 The body of auto coach No.210 at the back of the station yard Edited January 10, 2016 by PGH 36 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PGH Posted February 15, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) Blodwell Junction Station 1960 Ex Cambrian signal at Blodwell Junction The A495 overbridge at Blodwell Junction in September 1974, the same bridge pictured in the first view above. The track now terminates just on the other side of the bridge. In the foreground is the end of the former Blodwell Junction platform. Blodwell Quarry sidings. In the centre of the photo is the elevated platform where lorries tipped the ballast into BR wagons. A495 overbridge on the Nantmawr Branch. Note the interesting combination of materials in its construction - dressed stone abutments with brick parapet walls and steel (or wrought iron ?) girders with timber framed corrugated iron parapets. The level crossing on the Nantmawr Branch Porthywaen, view from the overbridge in September 1974 showing the double reversal required to access the Whitehaven Quarries. The former Tanat Valley Line to Blodwell Quarry and Nantmawr curves left past the signal box; the centre line formerly continued into the works yard of Whitehaven Quarries and then curved right, passing under the right hand line, to serve the limekilns; the line curving away to the right climbed up the hillside to the upper level of the quarries. View of the overbridge looking towards Llynclys. The small opening on the right was once occupied by the narrow gauge Crickheath Tramway. Porthywaen Signal Box The remains of Porthywaen Halt platform Edited January 10, 2016 by PGH 33 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PGH Posted February 15, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) In May 1984 I followed 25083 on a ballast train to Blodwell Quarry: The A495 level crossing at Porthywaen, view towards Llynclys 25083 being flagged across the road on the empty train Running round the train at Blodwell Quarry. The loop has been added since 1974. The returning loaded train crossing the A495 View from the overbridge at Porthywaen. The connection to Whitehaven Quarries has now been lifted and only the through line remains. Edited January 10, 2016 by PGH 34 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Great shots, brought back a lot of memories from living in Oswestry for a short while in 1970/71. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BR(W) Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) The next posts cover a rather mixed bag of photos in the Oswestry Area. 0.11.38B.jpg I didn't usually bother with main line trains, but this was prompted by the surprise of seeing an ex LMS loco on the Shrewsbury-Chester line, marking the transfer of the line to the London Midland Region. 45691 approaches Gobowen station on a Chester train in October 1962. Hello. I can't thank you enough for sharing these wonderful photographs with us. I think that the 'Jubilee' in the first image may, however, possibly be 45699 'Galatea', not 45691. 5699 was one of the Bristol Barrow Road allocation which were transferred to 89A Salop en bloc when, as you say, the area came under the jurisdiction of the LMR. 7428 worked the Bala line for a while before becoming the small pilot at Aberystwyth. Rumour has it that she was kept away from Swindon in case the continually-touched-up 'GWR' was painted over, and Aberystwyth and Oswestry between them carried out work on her which should really have been done at Swindon. And as for Pant, well, when the Stanlow to Aberystwyth oil tank trains finished in the 1990s (I think), Shell road tankers thundered throught this little village. Progress, eh? Thanks again, BR(W). Edited February 15, 2014 by BR(W) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Just a quick thought but I remember plenty of LMR locos through Wrexham in the mid/late 50's. Black 5's, 8F's and even the odd Jubilee. No idea what the workings were - they just appeared and we wrote down the numbers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGH Posted February 15, 2014 Author Share Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) Hello. I can't thank you enough for sharing these wonderful photographs with us. I think that the 'Jubilee' in the first image may, however, possibly be 45699 'Galatea', not 45691. 5699 was one of the Bristol Barrow Road allocation which were transferred to 89A Salop en bloc when, as you say, the area came under the jurisdiction of the LMR. BR(W). I've had a closer look at the neg, which is a bit grainy but it doesn't look like a "1" and it could well be a "9", so I guess you are correct. For some reason I wrote 45691 on the back of the print done at the time. Thanks for the correction, caption duly amended. Edited February 15, 2014 by PGH Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvdlcs Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Thank you for posting the pictures of the condemned wagons at Llanymynech. Not many people seemed to take pictures of the freight stock back then, concentrating on the locos and passenger stock. Condemned stock is often of interest because it shows a mix of vehicles that weren't normally seen together, sometimes in areas that they didn't normally work in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveNCB7754 Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Hi again, Another great set of photographs and all the more so, for featuring subjects that many simply did not bother to record. Those final Blodwell Quarry images, would be a fantastic source for anyone contemplating a small industrial layout, ala' Chris Nevard. Thanks again for these postings. Steve N Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarryscapes Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Stunning shots, So much good stuff from my neck of the woods. I must admit I am very tempted to shift allegience from Cambrian to GWR and model something of the Bala-Ffestiniog line. Bala station with it's interesting goods shed in particular! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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