Dowlais Top | |
|---|---|
 The station in 1962 | |
| General information | |
| Location | Dowlais, Glamorgan Wales |
| Platforms | 3 |
| Other information | |
| Status | Disused |
| History | |
| Original company | Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway |
| Pre-grouping | Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway |
| Post-grouping | Great Western Railway |
| Key dates | |
| 1 August 1867 | Opened |
| 31 December 1962 | Closed |
Dowlais Top railway station served the village of Dowlais, Glamorgan, Wales, from 1867 to 1962 on the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway.
The station opened on 1 August 1867 by the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway. To the west of the level crossing was Dowlais Top signal box. When it heavily snowed in 1947, an RAF jet used the line to clear the snow. The station closed on 31 December 1962. [1] The station house still survives today. [2]
Merthyr Tydfil is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about 23 miles (37 km) north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after Tydfil, daughter of King Brychan of Brycheiniog, who according to legend was slain at Merthyr by pagans about 480 CE. Merthyr generally means "martyr" in modern Welsh, but here closer to the Latin martyrium: a place of worship built over a martyr's relics. Similar place names in south Wales are Merthyr Cynog, Merthyr Dyfan and Merthyr Mawr.
The A465 runs from Bromyard in Herefordshire, England to Llandarcy near Swansea in South Wales. The western half is known officially as the Neath to Abergavenny Trunk Road, but the section from Abergavenny to the Vale of Neath is more commonly referred to as the Heads of the Valleys Road because it links the northern heads of the South Wales Valleys. Approximately following the southern boundary of the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Ordnance Survey Pathfinder guide describes it as the unofficial border between rural and industrial South Wales. The A465 provides an alternative route between England and the counties in South West Wales and to the ferries to Ireland.
The Rhymney Railway was a railway company in South Wales, founded to transport minerals and materials to and from collieries and ironworks in the Rhymney Valley of South Wales, and to docks in Cardiff. It opened a main line in 1858, and a limited passenger service was operated in addition.
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.
Fochriw is a village located in Caerphilly County Borough, Wales, United Kingdom. It was well known for its neighbouring collieries, which employed nearly the entire local population in the early 20th century. It lies within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. The village appears as the backdrop on the BBC Wales sitcom High Hopes credits. The villages population was recorded as 1,250 in 2011.
The Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway, also known as the Heads of the Valleys line, was a railway line which operated between 1860 and 1958 between the Monmouthshire town of Abergavenny and the Glamorgan town of Merthyr Tydfil in South East Wales.
The A4060, also known as the East of Abercynon to East of Dowlais Trunk Road, is a trunk road in Wales.
The Mid-Wales Railway was conceived as a trunk route through Wales connecting industrial areas in north west England with sea ports in south west Wales. The company was prevented from reaching its goal by competing proposals in Parliament, and it was only able to build a line between Llanidloes and a junction with the Brecon and Merthyr Railway 5 miles (8 km) east of Brecon. The line was 70 miles (110 km) long and opened in 1864. The company found it impossible to raise the share subscription, but the contractor partnership of Davies and Savin agreed to build the line and take shares in payment,
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. In mid 2018, it had an estimated population of 60,183. It is located in the historic county of Glamorgan and takes its name from the town with the same name. The county borough consists of the northern part of the Taff Valley and the smaller neighbouring Taff Bargoed Valley. It borders the counties of Rhondda Cynon Taf to the west, Caerphilly County Borough to the east, and Powys to the north.
Pant railway station was a station which served Pant, Merthyr Tydfil, in the historic Welsh county of Glamorgan, now Merthyr Tydfil County Borough. It was the junction at which the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Railway line from Pontsticill in the North split to serve the Dowlais Central and Dowlais Top lines. The line opened in 1859 and closed in 1964.
Pontsticill railway station is an intermediate station on the Brecon Mountain Railway at Pontsticill, in the historic Welsh county of Brecknockshire, now Merthyr Tydfil County Borough.
Cwmsyfiog Halt railway station served the suburb of Cwmsyfiog, Monmouthshire, Wales, from 1937 to 1962 on the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway.
Dowlais Central railway station served the village of Dowlais, Glamorgan, Wales, from 1869 to 1960 on the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway.
Cefn Coed railway station served the suburb of Cefn-coed-y-cymmer, Glamorgan, Wales, from 1867 to 1964 on the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway.
Dowlais Cae Harris railway station served the village of Dowlais, Glamorgan, Wales, from 1867 to 1964 on the Rhymney Railway.
Dowlais Top (LNWR) railway station served the village of Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales from 1862 to 1962 on the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway. The station consisted of two platforms with services to both Brecon and Newport. The station closed in 1962 along with the line and has since been demolished. The site now occupied by an industrial estate and trackbed forms part of a one way lane for the Heads of the Valley Road. The old station building has survived as an office.
Pantysgallog High Level Halt railway station was a station that served the village of Pant, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales on the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway. A short branch line from Pant to Dowlais Central. The station closed in 1960 with the line and the site is now a housing estate.
Pantywaun Halt railway station served the hamlet of Pantywaun and village of Bute Town, Caerphilly, Wales on the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway. The site of the halt does not appear on os maps but was likely in private ownership. Nothing remains of the halt.
Ogilvie Village Halt railway station served the village of Deri, Caerphilly, Wales on the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway. The site of the halt does not appear on os maps but was likely in private ownership. Nothing remains of the halt.
Groesfaen Colliery Platform railway station served the workers at Groesfaen Colliery near the town of Bargoed, Caerphilly, Wales on the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway. The site of the platform does not appear on OS maps and the station was only for workers at the nearby colliery. Nothing remains of the platform or colliery and the station site has since been reused by the A469.
| Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pant Line and station closed | Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway Northern section | Pantywaun Halt Line and station closed |
Coordinates: 51°46′02″N3°20′05″W / 51.7671°N 3.3346°W
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