The Clydach Railroad

The 3'8" gauge Clydach Railroad dates from 1793 by Thomas Dadford as a horse-drawn edge railroad linking Beaufort with the canal at Gilwern. Most of the Beaufort and Brymawr route was closed by 1833 and the rest was little used by 1865. Short sections may still have been used into the early 20th century. It ran from a junction with the Rassau Railroad at Rhyd-y-Blew, Carmeltown through Beaufort and Brynmawr. It then followed the Northern side of the Clydach Gorge to a wharf at Gilwern. For the first few years it ran on from Gilwern to Glangrwyney Forge. This plan shows the 'Brecknock and Abergavenny Railroad' from Rhyd-y-Blew to Glangrwyney is dated 1795.

The Clydach Railroad, 1795	The Clydach Railroad, 1795	The Clydach Railroad, 1795
The Clydach Railroad, 1795	The Clydach Railroad, 1795

Beaufort to Brynmawr

Beaufort

Tramroads through Beaufort	The Clydach Railroad at Beaufort
The Clydach Railroad, Carmeltown	Clydach Railroad through Beaufort	Clydach Railroad through Beaufort
Clydach Railroad through Beaufort	Clydach Railroad through Beaufort

Brynmawr

The Clydach Railroad ran along Warwick Road and Alma Street through Brynmawr to cross Pont Clydach and enter the Clydach Gorge

The Clydach Railroad at Brynmawr	The Clydach Railroad at Brynmawr		Market Square, Brynmawr, c1880
The Railroad along Alma Street	The Railroad along Alma Street	The Railroad along Alma Street	The Railroad heads to the bridge

Brynmawr to Black Rock

The Clydach Railroad from Pont Clydach to Black Rock

The Clydach Railroad starts its journey down the Clydach Gorge but very little is left following the building and dualling of the A465. Heavy engineering is still in progress in 2020 so I've no idea how little has survived. A short branch went South to the Brecon Boat Co's levels and then a longer branch crossed the river at Pont Harry Isaac and went up to Gellifelen Collieries. The Llammarch Tramroad took most of this traffic so the branch was little used. Another short spur entered Black Rock Quarry passing under the original Turnpike Road. The quarries at Darren Ddu were served by an incline running up from the lime works.

Pont Clydach

Pont Nant Gam

Black Rock

Pont Clydach - SO 1960 1214

The original Pont Clydach is under the Heads of the Valley road roundabout at the entrance to Brynmawr. It carried both the Turnpike and the Railroad until the A465 arrived and I believe it has survived the dualling of the road. Old pre-1880 levels just below the bridge were uncovered during the roadworks, originally just nicks in the banking, like the Hafod Arch example.

The original Pont Clydach	Levels below Pont Clydach	Levels below Pont Clydach	Pre-1880 level near Hafod Arch
The original Pont Clydach	The original Pont Clydach	The original Pont Clydach	The original Pont Clydach
The original Pont Clydach	The original Pont Clydach	The top of Clydach Gorge	The top of Clydach Gorge
The top of Clydach Gorge	The top of Clydach Gorge

Coal Tar Houses and the Brecon Boat Co levels - SO 1999 1217

The Brecon Boat Co levels (occasionally known as Clydach Colliery) were served by a short spur off the Railroad and later a siding off the MTAR with Coal Tar Houses next to them.

Coal Tar Houses, 1878	Coal Tar Houses and Railroad	Coal Tar Houses and Railroad
Brecon Boat Co tramroad	Brecon Boat Co drainage level	Brecon Boat Co drainage level
Brecon Boat Co drainage level	Brecon Boat Co drainage level

Coal Tar Cave

Gwent Caving Club explored Coal Tar Cave in the Summer of 2019. It is a man-made cave to divert the River Clydach away from the coal workings of the Brecon Boat Co, which are above it.

Coal Tar Cave	Coal Tar Cave	Coal Tar Cave	Coal Tar Cave
Coal Tar Cave	Coal Tar Cave	Coal Tar Cave	Coal Tar Cave
Coal Tar Cave	Coal Tar Cave	Coal Tar Cave	Coal Tar Cave

Hafod Arch - SO 2021 1226

The Hafod Arch was rebuilt in 2011 after becoming dangerously unstable. The setting was rather spoilt by the Brynmawr sewerage pipeline running above it but thats been demoished now.

Hafod Arch, Clydach Railroad	Hafod Arch, Clydach Railroad	The Clydach Railroad at Hafod Arch	The Clydach Railroad at Hafod Arch
Hafod Arch, Clydach Railroad	Hafod Arch, Clydach Railroad	Hafod Arch, Clydach Railroad	Hafod Arch, Clydach Railroad
The sewerage pipe, Hafod Arch	The sewerage pipe, Hafod Arch	The sewerage pipe, Hafod Arch	The sewerage pipe, Hafod Arch
The sewerage pipe, Hafod Arch	The sewerage pipe, Hafod Arch	Pre-1880 level near Hafod Arch
Hafod Arch, Clydach Gorge	Hafod Arch, Clydach Gorge

Cwm Nant Gam and The George Inn - SO 2086 1224

The Gelli-felen branch of the Clydach Railroad crossed Pont Harry Isaac and came up through Cwm Nant Gam, where the George Inn stood up to the 1920s. All that remains of it now are the cellars. The branch ended up at Gellifelen Collieries, which were better served by the Llammarch Tramroad on that side of the gorge.

Pont Harry Isaac	Pont Harry Isaac and the Railroad	The Clydach Railroad / MTAR crossing	The Clydach Railroad / MTAR crossing
The cellars of the George Inn	The cellars of the George Inn	The cellars of the George Inn	Clydach Railroad bridge

Gardeners Cottage - SO 2110 1245

The well-known photo of the Clydach Railroad at Gardeners Cottage was taken by 'Judges' for a commercial picture postcard, probably around 1910. It shows the railroad with conventional rails but it was probably little used by then. The 'Judges' photographer also took another photo looking West. The whole area now lies under the A465 dual carriageway.

Gardeners Cottage, Black Rock

Gardeners Cottage, Black Rock

Gardeners Cottage, Black Rock

Near Gardeners Cottage

Black Rock Quarry - SO 2135 1255

Opened by 1811 and closed after 1944. It was linked to the Clydach Railroad by a steep branch crossing the turnpike road on the level and then a tunnel underneath it.

Black Rock Quarry and branch	Black Rock Quarry	Black Rock Quarry	Black Rock Quarry
Black Rock Quarry	Black Rock Quarry	Black Rock Quarry

Black Rock Limeworks and Daren Ddu Quarry - SO 2184 1275

Opened in the 1790s, the current kilns date from the end of the 19th century and were connected to the Clydach Railroad by a short incline. A much longer incline leads up to Daren Ddu quarries.

Black Rock Limeworks	Black Rock Limeworks	Black Rock Limeworks	Black Rock Limeworks and incline
Daren Ddu Quarry	Daren Ddu Quarry	Daren Ddu Quarry and incline	Daren Ddu Quarry and incline
Daren Ddu Quarry and incline	Daren Ddu Quarry and incline	Daren Ddu Quarry

Craig-y-Ffynnon cave at Daren Ddu Quarry

There's a cave (not a mine, a cave) up on Daren Ddu, all safely locked up, but if you're an experienced caver and you know the man with the key, then you're in. And you're in for a surprise! Inside there's a short length of tramway and a couple of wagons that were used for securing the entrance. Thanks to Jamie Larke of the Gwent Caving Club for sharing this little gem.

Craig-y-Ffynnon cave tramway	Craig-y-Ffynnon cave tramway	Craig-y-Ffynnon cave tramway
Craig-y-Ffynnon cave tramway	Craig-y-Ffynnon cave tramway

Black Rock to Gilwern

The Clydach Railroad from Cheltenham to Gilwern

The Clydach Railroad approaches the Abergavenny - Merthyr Turnpike level crossing at Cheltenham from the West, the cellars of the three-storey houses could have been warehouses. The collection of tinplate signs includes an 'Abergavenny - Monmouth Road' station sign at the top - and as for 'Ringer's Shag', the less said, the better. The cast-iron sign is headed 'Roads Act 1920, Section 7 (4)' and the footer lists the exceptions. It continues its journey past the Bellevue Inn, through Maes-y-Gwarthfa, to Gilwern and the Llanelly and Clydach Wharves on the Brecon and Abergavenny Canal.

The Railroad at Cheltenham	The Railroad at Maes-y-Gwarthfa		The Railroad at Bethlehem Chapel
Clydach Railroad and warehouses	Clydach Railroad and warehouses	Turnpike crossing looking West	The tinplate signs on the shop
The 1920 roadsign on the Railroad	Approaching the Bellevue Inn	Passing the Bellevue Inn	Passing the Bellevue Inn
Heading to the Bethlehem Chapel	Heading to the Bethlehem Chapel	Heading to the Bethlehem Chapel	At the Bethlehem Chapel
Heading to Maes-y-gwarthfa	Passing through Maes-y-gwarthfa	Passing through Maes-y-gwarthfa	Passing through Maes-y-gwarthfa
Passing through Maes-y-gwarthfa	Passing through Maes-y-gwarthfa	Heading to Machine House	Heading to Machine House
Railroad at Machine House	Glangrwyney branch junction	Railroad at Machine House

Branch from Clydach Ironworks

It is quite probable that there was a branch from Clydach Ironworks up to the Clydach Railroad.

Clydach Railroad bridge, West side

Clydach Railroad bridge, East side

Incline above Maesygwartha - SO 2346 1433

There appears to be a well-built incline at this location which local opinion states was built as a carriage road from the Rectory in Maesygwartha to Llanelly Church on the hill above. It's very well constructed and a less steep route would seem to have been a better idea, given the effort involved.

Incline at Maesygwartha. Gilwern

Incline at Maesygwartha. Gilwern

Incline at Maesygwartha. Gilwern

Incline at Maesygwartha. Gilwern

Llanelly Wharf - SO 2424 1469

The main line of the Railroad continued along Maes-y-gwartha Road from Machine House to Llanelly Wharf and limekilns. These are heavily overgrown but can be viewed from the towpath, (preferrably in Winter).

Gilwern Wharf tramroads	Heading to Llanelly Wharf	Heading to Llanelly Wharf	Heading to Llanelly Wharf
Railroad at Llanelly Wharf	Railroad at Llanelly Wharf	Llanelly Wharf limekilns	Llanelly Wharf limekilns
Llanelly Wharf limekilns	Llanelly Wharf limekilns	Llanelly Wharf limekilns	A bar rail from the Railroad

Gilwern to Glangrwney Forge

The Clydach Railroad from Gilwern to Glangrwney Forge

The Clydach Railroad branch to Glangrwney Forge left the main line at 'Machine House' at SO 2416 1439 and cross the Llammarch Tramroad just before the dock. After passing through a substantial stone tunnel under the canal at SO 2440 1450 the route travelled behind and above Dan-y-bont Mill, over the Crickhowell Road at the 'Corn Exchange' Inn and on to Glangrwyney Forge at SO 2395 1610.

From Gilwern to Glangrwyney	Heading down to the tunnel	Heading down to the tunnel	Heading down to the tunnel
Heading down to the tunnel	Railroad tunnel from the West	Railroad tunnel from the West	Railroad tunnel from the West
Railroad tunnel from the West	Railroad tunnel from the East	Railroad tunnel from the East	Railroad tunnel from the East
Railroad tunnel from the East	Above Dan-y-bont Woollen Mill	Above Dan-y-bont Woollen Mill	Above Dan-y-bont Woollen Mill
Dan-y-bont Woollen Mill

Dan-y-bont Lane level crossing

The railroad crossed Dan-y-bont Lane, passing through what are now the gardens of the cottages either side. The owner of one has dug up a rail from the railroad and has supplied these photos.

Looking back up to the canal	A rail from Dan-y-bont Lane	A rail from Dan-y-bont Lane
Looking towards the level crossing	Looking towards the level crossing	Looking towards the level crossing
Dan-y-bont lane level crossing	Dan-y-bont lane level crossing	Dan-y-bont lane level crossing

Crickhowell Road level crossing

The Railroad leaving Church Road

The Railroad leaving Church Road

Crickhowell Road level crossing

On to Glangrwyney

The Clydach River bridge	Between Gilwern and Glangrwyney	Between Gilwern and Glangrwyney	Between Gilwern and Glangrwyney
Between Gilwern and Glangrwyney	Between Gilwern and Glangrwyney	Between Gilwern and Glangrwyney	Between Gilwern and Glangrwyney
The 'temporary' bridge	Approaching Glangrwyney Forge	The end of the line at Glangrwyney

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

'Early Limestone Railways' by John van Laun, Geoff Palfrey