Nantybwch | |
---|---|
General information | |
Location | Nantybwch, Blaenau Gwent Wales |
Coordinates | 51°47′15″N3°15′53″W / 51.7876°N 3.2647°W |
Grid reference | SO128106 |
Platforms | 4 |
Other information | |
Status | Disused |
History | |
Original company | Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway |
Pre-grouping | London and North Western Railway |
Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway |
Key dates | |
1 March 1864 | Opened as Tredegar |
1 November 1868 | Renamed |
2 November 1868 | Becomes a junction station |
4 January 1958 | Withdrawal of Abergavenny and Merthyr services |
13 June 1960 | Final closure |
Nantybwch railway station was a station on the London and North Western Railway's Heads of the Valleys line serving the village of Nantybwch in the Welsh county of Monmouthshire. [1]
Nantybwch, or Nant-y-Bwch, is immediately north of Tredegar in the Sirhowy Valley, on the A4048 near its junction with the Heads of the Valleys road. Its most notable feature is the nearby Parc Bryn Bach, a park with a large recreational lake. It is also on Route 467 of the National Cycle Network.
The first section of the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway from Abergavenny to Brynmawr was opened on 29 September 1862. [2] The line was leased and operated by the London and North Western Railway which acquired the smaller railway company on 30 June 1866. [3] [4] On 1 March 1864, the line was extended from Brynmawr to Nantybwch where a station was opened. [5] [6] Initially named Tredegar, it was renamed Nantybwch on 1 November 1868, [5] [7] the day before the public opening of the northward extension from Sirhowy of the Sirhowy Railway which had its own Tredegar station. [8] [9]
The station was reached by the 118 yards (108 m) nine-arch Blaen-y-Cwm viaduct. [10] It was situated to the north of the small settlement from which it took its name and to the north-west of the local school. [11] Road access was via an unmade up lane reached by passing staff cottages adjacent to the line. [12] Situated at 1,165 feet (355 m) above sea level, the station was situated in a desolate and bleak landscape. [13] [14] To the west the three miles to Rhymney Bridge were at a gradient of 1 in 35, whilst to Sirhowy the gradients varied between 1 in 42 and 1 in 37. [15] Single-engine loads between Rhymney and Nantybwch were restricted to 12 loaded wagons only. [15]
Four platform faces were provided: two platforms either side of a curving island platform, a bay platform for Sirhowy services and a platform for Merthyr services. [16] The Merthyr platform was adjacent to the road entrance and the platform building incorporated a ticket office and porters' room. [17] A weather-boarded footbridge linked the platforms which were lit by Sugg's Rochester pattern gaslights. [18] On the island platform was No. 1 signal box which was completed in 1891 and remained in use until 1959. [19] [20] On the Down island platform until 1929 was the Area Traffic Control Office near No. 1 box until it was relocated to Abergavenny. [21] [22] On the Up side was a water column fed from a brick-lined reservoir. [23] Beyond the station to the west was No. 2 box which was stone-built and of Rhymney Railway design; it controlled the goods sidings adjacent to the double track which were used for stabling and running around stock after closure of the line to the west. [24] Colliers' coaches were also stored here for the Sirhowy trains. [21]
As a result of decline in the local industry and the costs of working the line between Abergavenny and Merthyr, [25] passenger and goods services ceased on 4 January 1958. [26] The last passenger service over the line was an SLS railtour on 5 January 1958 hauled by LNWR 0-8-0 49121 and LNWR 0-6-2 tank 58926. [26] [27] Final closure of Nantybwch came on 13 June 1960 with the withdrawal of the Sirhowy services,; [5] [7] [28] [29] the last timetable showing three trains on weekdays from Tredegar. [30] The final day of operations was in fact the previous Saturday 11 June when GWR 5700 No. 3634 worked the last Up train from Tredegar at 4.32pm [31] [29] and the last Down at 4.50pm with No. 8711. [32] The last train was the 6.33pm from Risca to Tredegar which had been extended to Nantybwch and departed from there at 7.52pm. [33] Earlier in the day there had been a rare Saturday excursion special from Brynmawr to Barry Island which called at Nantybwch. [31]
Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Rhymney Bridge Line and station closed | London and North Western Railway Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway | Trevil Halt Line and station closed | ||
Terminus | London and North Western Railway Sirhowy Railway | Sirhowy Line and station closed |
The site of the station has been lost under the A465 road. [34] [35]
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.
Abergavenny railway station was a station on the London and North Western Railway's Heads of the Valleys line serving the town of Abergavenny in the Welsh county of Monmouthshire.
Abergavenny Junction railway station was a station situated near the junction made between the London and North Western Railway's Heads of the Valleys line and the West Midland Railway's Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway, which served the town of Abergavenny in the Welsh county of Monmouthshire.
The Sirhowy Tramroad was a plateway built to convey the products of ironworks at Tredegar to Newport, South Wales. It opened in 1805 between Tredegar and Nine Mile Point, a location west of Risca, from where the Monmouthshire Canal Company operated a tramroad to Newport. The Sirhowy Tramroad was operated at first by horse traction, but early locomotives were used, and a passenger service was operated.
Beaufort railway station was a station on the London and North Western Railway's Heads of the Valleys line serving the village of Beaufort in the Welsh county of Brecknockshire.
Waenavon railway station, also known as Waen Avon, was a station on the Brynmawr and Blaenavon Railway in South East Wales. To the south of the station a short line served Milfraen Colliery.
Nantyglo railway station was a station which served Nantyglo, in the Welsh county of Monmouthshire.
Brynmawr railway station was a station which served Nantyglo and Brynmawr in the Welsh county of Brecknockshire.
Ebbw Vale railway station was a station on a short branch from the London and North Western Railway's Heads of the Valleys line which served the town of Ebbw Vale in the Welsh county of Monmouthshire.
Trevil Halt railway station was a station on the London and North Western Railway's Heads of the Valleys line serving the village of Trefil in the Welsh county of Monmouthshire.
Rhymney Bridge railway station was a station on the London and North Western Railway's Heads of the Valleys line serving the village of Llechrhyd in the Welsh county of Glamorganshire.
Gelli Felen Halt railway station was a station on the London and North Western Railway's Heads of the Valleys line near the settlement of Gellifelin in the Welsh county of Monmouthshire.
Clydach railway station was a station on the London and North Western Railway's Heads of the Valleys line near the village of Clydach in the Welsh county of Brecknockshire.
Gilwern Halt railway station was a station on the London and North Western Railway's Heads of the Valleys line near the village of Gilwern in the Welsh county of Brecknockshire.
Govilon railway station was a station on the London and North Western Railway's Heads of the Valleys line serving the village of Govilon in the Welsh county of Monmouthshire.
Tredegar railway station was a station on the Sirhowy Railway. It served the town of Tredegar. The station was near the southern edge of Bedwellty Park.
Sirhowy railway station was a station on the Sirhowy Railway. It served Sirhowy near the town of Tredegar.
Bedwellty Pits Halt railway station was a station on the Sirhowy Railway. It was initially spelled Bedwelty, then known as Bedwellty Pits, and finally Bedwellty Pits Halt. It consisted of 2 wooden platforms to serve the workforce of the local colliery, which is 2 miles south of Tredegar in the Sirhowy Valley.
Dowlais Top (LNWR) railway station served the village of Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales from 1862 to 1885 on the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway. The station consisted of two platforms with services to both Brecon and Newport. The station closed in 1885 and was replaced by Dowlais High Street. 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.
Dowlais High Street railway station was a station that served the village of Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales on the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway. The station closed in 1958 The site is now occupied by Station Terrace with only the steps visible..