Brecon, archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid-Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the county town of Brecknockshire (Breconshire); although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of the County of Powys, it remains an important local centre. Brecon is the third-largest town in Powys, after Newtown and Ystradgynlais. It lies north of the Brecon Beacons mountain range, but is just within the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Ystradgynlais is a town on the River Tawe in southwest Powys, Wales. It is the second-largest town in the principal area and county of Powys. Ystradgynlais is in the historic county of Brecknockshire. The town has a high proportion of Welsh language-speakers. The community includes Cwmtwrch, Abercraf and Cwmgiedd, with a population of 8,092 in the 2011 census. It forms part of the Swansea Urban Area where the Ystradgynlais subdivision has a population of 10,248.
The Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway (B&MR) was a railway company in Wales. It was originally intended to link the towns in its name. Finding its access to Merthyr difficult at first, it acquired the Rumney Railway, an old plateway, and this gave it access to Newport docks. This changed its emphasis from rural line to mineral artery.
The Swansea Vale Railway (SVR) was a railway line connecting the port of Swansea in South Wales to industries and coalfields along the River Tawe on the northern margin of Swansea, by taking over a tramroad in 1846. It was extended to Brynamman in 1868. Passengers were carried from 1860, and a loop line through Morriston was built.
Neath railway station is a main line railway station serving the town of Neath, south Wales. Managed by Transport for Wales, the station is located at street level on Windsor Road, situated back from the street fronting a small car park. It is 208 miles 20 chains (335 km) from London Paddington.
Llangammarch railway station serves the village of Llangammarch Wells in Powys, Wales. Situated near the centre of the village, the station is on the Heart of Wales Line 56+3⁄4 miles (91.3 km) north east of Swansea.
Merthyr 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 Transport for Wales. The station has one platform, and is situated near to the Tesco Superstore in the town.
Hay was a railway station serving the town of Hay-on-Wye in Powys, Wales. Hay had one of the earliest railway stations in the country, being part of a horse-drawn tramway.
The Dulas Valley Mineral Railway was incorporated in 1862 to bring coal from the Onllwyn area north-east of Neath to the quays there, and in the following year was reconstituted as the Neath and Brecon Railway. The line was opened as far as Onllwyn in 1863.
Penwyllt is a hamlet located in the upper Swansea Valley in Powys, Wales, lying within the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Sennybridge is a village in the historic county of Brecknockshire, Wales, now within the unitary authority area of Powys, situated some 42 miles (68 km) from Cardiff and 31 miles (50 km) from Swansea. It lies 9 miles (14 km) west of Brecon on the A40 trunk road to Llandovery, at the point where the Afon Senni flows into the Usk. It is in the community of Maescar.
Abercrave railway station served the village of Abercraf in the traditional county of Glamorganshire, Wales. Opened in 1869 by the Swansea Vale and Neath and Brecon Junction Railway, it was eventually absorbed by the Midland Railway which closed it to passengers in 1932 although the line through the station remained open for freight for some time after that.
The Brecon Forest Tramroad is an early nineteenth century tramroad, or rather a network of connecting tramroads or waggonways, which stretched across the hills of Fforest Fawr in the historic county of Brecknockshire in south Wales, UK. Its northern terminus was at the village of Sennybridge in the Usk Valley whilst its southern ends lay at Abercraf and Ystradgynlais in the upper Swansea Valley some 20 km to the south.
John Dickson (c1819-1892), 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.
Colbren Junction was a railway station on the Neath and Brecon Railway. The station, which was near Coelbren, was completed at the same time as the Swansea Vale and Neath and Brecon Joint Railway opened a seven-mile branch from here to Ynysygeinon in 1873. It was a key junction in the networks operated by the Midland, Neath and Brecon, and Great Western railway companies.
Three Cocks Junction railway station was a station in Three Cocks, Powys, Wales. The station closed in 1962. The station had a signal box.
Brecon Free Street railway station served Brecon, in the historic Welsh county of Brecknockshire, now Powys.
Craig-y-nos railway station was a station in Penwyllt, Powys, Wales. The station was opened in 1867 and closed in 1962. The station building, built in 1886, was funded by Adelina Patti.
Pentre-bach is a hamlet in Powys, Wales, in the former county and current Shire Committee Area of Breconshire or Brecknockshire. It is located on the Afon Cilieni, a small tributary of the River Usk, between Brecon and Llandovery. The hamlet has a pub called the "Shoemakers Arms" or Tafarn y Crydd, and a former chapel, originally Calvinistic Methodist, named "Beili-du", Welsh for "black yard". The nearest church is in Llandeilo'r-Fan, 2 km to the NW, and the nearest shop is in Sennybridge, 4 km to the south.
The Afon Cilieni is a short river which rises on the southern slopes of Mynydd Epynt in Powys, Wales. The name may mean ' the river rising in a small nook'.
