The Trefil Tramroad and Railway

From Ebbw Vale and Beaufort to Trefil

The Trefil Tramroad Co (actually a railroad) dates from 1796, running from the quarries at Trefil to Ebbw Vale and Beaufort Ironworks via the Rassa Railroad. The original 3'8" tramroad was converted to a 3'9" gauge tramway in 1908 using steam locomotives. As Ebbw Vale Steelworks grew, the tramway was itself converted to a standard gauge railway and re-aligned in 1922, particularly at Nant Milgatw with a completely new route from Trefil Machine to Ebbw Vale. The line closed in 1964 and much of the Ebbw Vale end has been eaten away by urban re-development.

The Trefil Tramroad ran from Ebbw Vale Ironworks to Beaufort where it met the Rassa tramroad (both were actually rail roads using edge rails rather than tramplates). The Rassau Tramroad went as far as Trefil Machine (a weighing machine) and then the Trefil Tramroad continued up the Sirhowy Valley to Trefil itself. Trefil quarries were the destination of the the Trefil Tramroad, Tredegar Tramroad, Rhymney Tramroad and Brinore Tramroad, the Clapham Junction of tramroads !

In 1837 Thomas Davies of Penmyarth, Breconshire, bought 4 shares in the 'Trefil Railway' for £400 from the Earl of Albemarle. This is the contract for the purchase. Was it a bargain?

Trefil Railway shares contract

Trefil Railway shares contract

Trefil Railway shares contract

Trefil Railway shares contract

From Beaufort Ironworks to Trefil Machine

The Trefil Tramroad ran from Ebbw Vale Ironworks to Beaufort, where it was joined by the Clydach Railroad from Gilwern. At the Rhyd-y-blew Inn at Carmeltown it joined the Rassa Tramroad, which filled the gap to Trefil Machine. The Rassa Tramroad crossed the Rassa Brook on a bridge at SO 1603 1152, rebuilt in 1806, but still there today.

Tramroads through Beaufort	Tramroads around Ebbw Vale	Tramroads around Ebbw Vale
Carmeltown, 1915	Needhams Row, Carmeltown	The Rassa Tramroad, Carmeltown	The Rassau (Trefil) Tramroad
The Rassa Tramroad, Carmeltown	The Rassa Tramroad, Carmeltown	The Rassa Tramroad, Carmeltown	The Rassa Tramroad, Carmeltown
The Rassa Tramroad, Carmeltown	The Rassa Tramroad, Carmeltown	The Rassa Tramroad, Carmeltown	The Rassa Tramroad, Carmeltown
The Clydach Railroad, Carmeltown	The Rassa Tramroad bridge	The Rassa Tramroad bridge	Rassa Tramroad to Trefil Machine
Rassa Tramroad to Trefil Machine		Trefil Station on the MT & AR	Trefil Station buildings

From Trefil Machine to Cwm Milgatw

Along the trackbed from Beaufort Wells

The area around Trefil Machine has changed completely with all the road building going on. The route from Beaufort Wells has been broken by the new A465 dual-carriageway but it is easily followed on either side of the new road. and, other than some unsightly plastic fencing, there's no damage to Cwm Milgatw from the abortive 'Circuit fo Wales'.

The Trefil Railway	The Trefil Railway trackbed	The Trefil Railway trackbed	The Trefil Railway trackbed
The Trefil Railway trackbed	The Trefil Railway trackbed	The Trefil Railway trackbed	The Trefil Railway trackbed
The Trefil Railway trackbed	Trefil Railway embankment	Trefil Railway chair	Trefil Railway sleeper
Trefil Railway, stone sleeper	Trefil Railway, stone sleeper	Trefil Railway, stone sleeper	The railway towards Cwm Milgatw
The railway towards Cwm Milgatw	Trefil Railway wooden sleeper	Railway diversion at Cwm Milgatw	Railway diversion at Cwm Milgatw
Railway diversion at Cwm Milgatw	Railway diversion at Cwm Milgatw

Cwm Milgatw and Engine Pond

The Tramroad on the East side of Cwm Milgatw - SO 1342 1233

Now the threat from the Circuit of Wales has receded and the work on the A465 is complete, It's time to re-visit the railway and tramroad to Trefil. The new road has cut through the trackbed but there is alternative access and, other than some unsightly plastic fencing, there's no damage to Cwm Milgatw.

The Eastern side of Cwm Milgatw	The Eastern side of Cwm Milgatw	The Eastern side of Cwm Milgatw	The Eastern side of Cwm Milgatw
The Eastern side of Cwm Milgatw	The Eastern side of Cwm Milgatw	The Eastern side of Cwm Milgatw	The Eastern side of Cwm Milgatw
The Eastern side of Cwm Milgatw	The Eastern side of Cwm Milgatw	The Eastern side of Cwm Milgatw	The Eastern side of Cwm Milgatw
The Eastern side of Cwm Milgatw	Trefil Tramroad pipe	Trefil Tramroad pipe	East side Iron post

The Tramroad at the head of Cwm Milgatw - SO 1336 1257

The Tramroad and Engine Pond	The Eastern culvert	The Eastern culvert	The Eastern culvert
The Eastern culvert	The Eastern culvert	The Eastern culvert	The Eastern culvert
The Eastern culvert	The Eastern culvert	The Eastern culvert	The Eastern culvert
The Eastern culvert	The Eastern culvert	The Eastern culvert	The Eastern culvert
The Western culvert	The Western culvert	The Western culvert	The Western culvert
The Western culvert	The Western culvert	The Western culvert	The Western culvert

Engine Pond and leat, Cwm Milgatw

Other than some unsightly plastic fencing, there's no damage to Cwm Milgatw.

Engine Pond at Cwm Milgatw	Engine Pond at Cwm Milgatw	Engine Pond at Cwm Milgatw	Engine Pond at Cwm Milgatw
Engine Pond at Cwm Milgatw	Engine Pond at Cwm Milgatw	Engine Pond leat at Cwm Milgatw	Engine Pond leat at Cwm Milgatw
Engine Pond leat at Cwm Milgatw	Engine Pond leat at Cwm Milgatw	Engine Pond leat at Cwm Milgatw

The Tramroad on the West side of Cwm Milgatw - SO 1334 1231

The Western side of Cwm Milgatw	The Western side of Cwm Milgatw	The Western side of Cwm Milgatw	The Western side of Cwm Milgatw
The Western side of Cwm Milgatw	The Western side of Cwm Milgatw	The Western side of Cwm Milgatw	The Western side of Cwm Milgatw
The Western side of Cwm Milgatw	The Western side of Cwm Milgatw

From Cwm Milgatw to Trefil Village

The Tramroad culvert loop - SO 1297 1230

The tramroad crossed a culvert on a sharp bend so the railway by-passed it on a new formation.

Trefil Tramroad culvert	Trefil Tramroad culvert	Trefil Tramroad culvert	Trefil Tramroad culvert
Tramroad at the culvert loop	Tramroad at the culvert loop	Tramroad at the culvert loop	Tramroad at the culvert loop
Trefil Tramroad Sleepers	Trefil Tramroad Sleepers	Railway diversion at the culvert	Trefil railway at the culvert
Trefil railway approaching Trefil	Trefil railway approaching Trefil

Brinore Tramroad

Brinore Tramroad

The Brinore Tramroad ran from Trefil to the limekilns and wharf at Talybont. At Trefil it connected with Benjamin Hall's tramroad from Rhymney Ironworks and Brinore Collieries. It opened in 1815 but by 1860 traffic was minimal and by the 1870s unsuccessful efforts were made to sell the tramroad. The track was still in place in 1890 and for sale when the company records just cease. It's highly likely it technically still exists. The majority of the route is still open as a footpath and well worth a look.

Brinore Tramroad North	Brinore Tramroad South		Brinore Tramroad at Talybont
Brinore Tramroad at Penriwcalc	Tramroad at Duffryn Crawnon	Brinore Tramroad at Trefil	Brinore Tramroad at Trefil

Near Hendre Quarry, Trefil

Brinore Tramroad junction

Limekilns below Trefil Quarry

Limekilns below Trefil Quarry

Limekilns below Trefil Quarry

Between Trefil and Penrhiwcalc

From Trefil to Penrhiwcalc	From Trefil to Penrhiwcalc	From Trefil to Penrhiwcalc	From Trefil to Penrhiwcalc
From Trefil to Penrhiwcalc	From Trefil to Penrhiwcalc	From Trefil to Penrhiwcalc	From Trefil to Penrhiwcalc
From Trefil to Penrhiwcalc	From Trefil to Penrhiwcalc

Between Penrhiwcalc and Talybont

The site of Penrhiwcalc bridge	A view towards Talybont	From Penrhiwcalc to Talybont	From Penrhiwcalc to Talybont
Brinore Tramroad tramplate	Brinore Tramroad tramplate	Brinore Tramroad beerhouse	From Penrhiwcalc to Talybont
From Penrhiwcalc to Talybont	From Penrhiwcalc to Talybont	Brinore Tramroad sleeper	Brinore Tramroad sleeper
From Penrhiwcalc to Talybont	From Penrhiwcalc to Talybont	From Penrhiwcalc to Talybont	Brinore Tramroad wagon

The Brinore Tramroad at Talybont

The counting or toll house at Talybont was derelict for some time before restoraton as a holiday cottage.

Limekiln cottages, Talybont	Limekilns, Talybont	Limekilns, Talybont	Limekilns, Talybont
Tramroad counting house	Tramroad counting house	Tramroad counting house	Tramroad counting house

Rhymney Tramroad to Trefil

The First Tramroad - Rhymney Union Ironworks to Tredegar

This 2' 9" gauge tramroad from Samuel Homfrays Union Ironworks at Rhymney was built in c1804 to link the ironworks with Tredegar and indirectly to Trefil. It ran across Brynoer Patch to Tafarnau-bach and Nant-y-bwch where the route joined the Tredegar Tramroad, as both were 2'9" gauge at this time. In 1810 Benjamin Hall took over both Rhymney ironworks and, in 1814, built a new 3'4" gauge tramroad directly to Trefil to join his Brinore Tramroad, which was the same gauge. The two tramroads crossed at a point now buried under the A469.The first tramroad was then redundant and the track lifted in 1829 from the crossover to Rhymney. The section from the crossover to Tredegar was retained as it served collieries along the line, finally closing in 1904. A short section of the tramroad between the ironworks and Bryn-brith Pit can be found. Beyond Bryn-brith the reworking of Brynoer Patch and the construction of the MTAR and the A469 road have destroyed the route to Bryn Bach Park. From the Park entrance, the tramroad followed Merthyr Road to Nant-y-bwch and its junction with the Tredegar Tramroad.

Brynoer Patch - SO 1110 0925

On the North Western side of the stream towards Bryn-brith Pit, along the hedgerow, investigations have found evidence of a tramroad. This is should be the first 2'9" tramroad to Tredegar. The small header pond, below the original Bryn Bach pond, still exists. The second 3'4" tramroad to Trefil on the South Eastern side of the stream is shown on the Tithe maps and OS maps running at a higher level, with a possible branch to Bryn-brith Pit, disused by 1875. This area has been landscaped and the modern footpath is at a much lower level and further West.

Tramroads near the Union Ironworks	The original Tredegar Tramroad	The original Tredegar Tramroad	The original Tredegar Tramroad
The original Tredegar Tramroad	The original Tredegar Tramroad	The original Tredegar Tramroad	The original Tredegar Tramroad
Feeder pond near Bryn-brith	Feeder pond near Bryn-brith

The Second Tramroad - Rhymney Bute Ironworks to Trefil

Benjamin Halls 3'4" tramroad from Rhymney Bute Ironworks to Trefil was opened in 1814. It connected directly with the Brinore Tramroad giving continuous access to the Brecon canal at Talybont. By 1852 the Rhymney Ironworks no longer used the quarries at Trefil as they had opened quarries at Twynau Gwynion, served by the Rhymney Limestone Railway so the tramroad shut. Due to later workings around Rhymney and Brynoer Patch, nothing can be found of the tramroad between Rhymney town and Tafarnau-bach.

Rhymney Town - SO 1135 0775

The tramroad can be followed through Rhymney Town before it disappears under modern housing and the Brynoer reclamation. From the furnace tops it crossed Victoria Road and followed the lane at the rear of High Street before joining it near the church. It then went up Kings Avenue and disappears in the housing estate at the end.

Tramways and tramroads in Rhymney	The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney	The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney	The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney
The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney	The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney	The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney	The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney
The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney	The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney	The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney	The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney
The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney	The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney	The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney	The Rhymney Tramroad at Rhymney

Tafarnau-bach - SO 1205 1038

This short stretch of the tramroad route ran in front of the Siloam Chapel, Tafarnau-bach, before the route was swallowed by the industrial estate.

The Tramroad at Tafarnau-bach	The Tramroad at Tafarnau-bach	The Tramroad at Tafarnau-bach
The Tramroad at Tafarnau-bach	The Tramroad at Tafarnau-bach	The Tramroad at Tafarnau-bach

Nant-y-bwch - SO 1275 1100

The tramroad passed through Nant-y-bwch on its way to its meeting with the Tredegar Tramroad at Pentwyn Farm. There was no junction here as the two tramroads were different gauges, they carried on to Trefil side-by-side.

The Tramroads at Nant-y-bwch	The Tramroads at Nant-y-bwch	The Tramroad at Nant-y-bwch	The Tramroad at Nant-y-bwch
The Tramroad at Nant-y-bwch	The Tramroad at Nant-y-bwch	The Tramroad at Nant-y-bwch	The Tramroad at Nant-y-bwch
The Tramroad at Nant-y-bwch	The Tramroad at Nant-y-bwch	The Tramroad at Nant-y-bwch	The Tramroad at Nant-y-bwch
The Tramroad at Nant-y-bwch	The Tramroad at Nant-y-bwch	Rhymney Tramroad at Penrhyn Farm

Tredegar Tramroad to Trefil

Tredegar Tramroad to Trefil

The 2'9" gauge Tredegar Tramroad was built by Samuel Harford in c1804 to link Tredegar ironworks with Trefil quarries. At Nant-y-bwch it joined a line to Rhymney Union ironworks, also owned by Harford. In 1820 Benjamin Hall took over the Rhymney ironworks and built a new line of 3'4" gauge to Trefil. This met the Tredegar Tramroad at Penrhyn farm and the two tramroads carried on, side-by-side, to Trefil. There the Tredegar Tramroad headed in to the quarries while the Rhymney Tramroad went further on to join the Brinore Tramroad. Just before Trefil village the Tredegar line looped around an outcrop, the Rhymney line blasted through it. Rhymney ironworks stopped using Trefil in 1852 and the Tredegar Tramroad took over the cutting through the outcrop. Around 1854 steam locomotives made their appearance on the tramroad, the first two built at Tredegar ironworks. Later locos came from Fletcher Jennings and Vulcan. Tredegar ironworks ceased production in 1900 and Trefil was left solely to Ebbw Vale and the Trefil Railroad.

The tramroad through Tredegar town	The tramroad through Nant-y-bwch	The tramroad near Shon Sheffery	The tramroad through Trefil
The Yard gates at Church Street	The site of Briggs Pit	Tredegar Tramroad in Stockton Way	Tredegar Tramroad in Stockton Way
Tredegar Tramroad in Sycamore Avenue	Tredegar Tramroad at Nantybwch, 1865	Tredegar Tramroad train near Nantybwch	Tramroad at Tredegar Ironworks
Tredegar Tramroad at Nantybwch	Tredegar Tramroad at Nantybwch	Roughly the same view today	Tredegar Tramroad in Station Road
Tredegar Tramroad loop	Tredegar Tramroad loop	Tredegar Tramroad loop
Tredegar Tramroad in Trefil village	Tredegar Tramroad in Trefil village	The site of the tunnel

Trefil Village and quarries

Trefil Village and the original quarry - SO 120134

Preserved dram in Trefil village	The leat to Trefil village	Trefil quarry from village	Ready-mixed cement plant
Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry
Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry
Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry
Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry
Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry
Trefil village quarry	Trefil village quarry	Railway from Hendre Quarry	Railway to Hendre Quarry

Blaen-duffryn Quarry - SO 1000 1500

Limekiln in Blaen-duffryn Quarry	Limekiln in Blaen-duffryn Quarry	Blaen-duffryn Quarry
Blaen-duffryn Quarry	Blaen-duffryn Quarry	Blaen-duffryn Quarry	Blaen-duffryn Quarry
Blaen-duffryn Quarry	Blaen-duffryn Quarry	Blaen-duffryn Quarry	Blaen-duffryn Quarry
Blaen-duffryn Quarry	Blaen-duffryn Quarry	Blaen-duffryn Quarry	Blaen-duffryn Quarry
Blaen-duffryn Quarry	Blaen-duffryn Quarry

Hendre and Ystrad Quarries - SO 087145

Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil
Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil
Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil
Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil
Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil
Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil
Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil
Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil
Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil	Hendre Quarry, Trefil

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

Thanks for addition information to :- T Eric Davies, Mark Lloyd.
'Early Limestone Railways' by John van Laun, The Newcomen Society