Baileys Tramroad from Nantyglo to Govilon

Baileys Tramroad from Nantyglo Ironworks to Govilon Wharf on the Brecon and Abergavenny Canal was built in 1821 to a gauge of c4'4". By the 1850s tramroads were quite outdated and it was converted to a railway, the 'Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway' (MTAR), which opened in 1862. The MTAR used the same route of the tramroad but some lengths of the original tramroad can still be found.

The route from Nantyglo to Brynmawr is now an industrial estate but East of Brynmawr the tramroad became Greenland Road. It was then used by the MTAR until going around the rock outcrop at Gellifelen, avoided by the MTARs tunnels. The tramroad was used again by the MTARthrough Darrenfelin until it went round a second outcrop at Clydach and through the limeworks, once again avoided by the MTARs tunnels and viaduct. The tramroad route re-appears near Gilwern where it ran along lanes and roads to Baileys Wharf at Govilon.

Baileys Govilon Tramroad at Nantyglo and Brynmawr

The tramroad route from Nantyglo to Brynmawr is untraceable today and may have been one of two possible routes. A collection of sidings existed in Catholic Road, Brynmawr, at SO 1916 1163, seemingly linking the three Bailey tramroads. Its quite possible they were converted to railways and connected to the MTAR near Brynmawr East Junction as they are referred to as 'Bailey Siding' on the 1920 map.

Baileys tramroad in Nantyglo	Govilon Tramroad in Brynmawr		Market Square, Brynmawr, c1880
Govilon Tramroad sidings	Govilon Tramroad sidings	Govilon Tramroad sidings	Govilon Tramroad sidings

Gellifelen to Clydach

Baileys Govilon Tramroad at Gellifelen

The original tramroad route at Gellifelen crossed the Nant Llammarch higher up than the MTAR. It went round the spur in the hillside, by-passed by the MTAR tunnels when it was converted to a railway.

Govilon Tramroad at Gellifelen	Govilon Tramroad above the MTAR	Govilon Tramroad rejoins the MTAR	Tramroadside cottage at Gellifelen
Tramroadside cottage at Gellifelen	Govilon Tramroad at Gellifelen	Govilon Tramroad at Gellifelen	Govilon Tramroad at Gellifelen
Govilon Tramroad at Gellifelen	Govilon Tramroad at Gellifelen	Govilon Tramroad at Gellifelen	Govilon Tramroad at Gellifelen
Govilon Tramroad at Gellifelen	Govilon Tramroad at Gellifelen	Govilon Tramroad at Gellifelen	Govilon Tramroad at Gellifelen

Baileys Govilon Tramroad at Clydach

The original tramroad route at Clydach went through the quarry yard, across the Nant Dyar and back down to the station. It then went round the spur in the hillside, by-passed by the MTAR tunnels when it was converted to a railway.

Govilon Tramroad at Clydach	Govilon Tramroad at Clydach	Govilon Tramroad at Clydach	Govilon Tramroad at Clydach
Govilon Tramroad at Clydach	Govilon Tramroad at Clydach	Govilon Tramroad at Clydachh	Govilon Tramroad at Clydach
Govilon Tramroad at Clydach	Govilon Tramroad at Clydach	Clydach Station

The Clydach Limeworks

Baileys Tramroad enters the Limeworks

Govilon Tramroad at the Limeworks

Govilon Tramroad at the Limeworks

Govilon Tramroad at the Limeworks

Clydach Limeworks - SO 2326 1270

Clydach Limeworks	Clydach Limeworks from viaduct	Clydach Limeworks double kilns
Clydach Limeworks double kilns	Clydach Limeworks double kilns	Clydach Limeworks double kilns
Clydach Limeworks beyond bins	Clydach Limeworks, double kilns	Limeworks double kiln top
Top of the stairway	Looking up the stairway	Looking down the stairway

The Original limekiln

Clydach Limeworks original kilns

Clydach Limeworks original kilns

Clydach Limeworks original kilns

Clydach Limeworks original kilns

Aggregate bins and ball mill

Clydach Limeworks aggregate bins	Clydach Limeworks aggregate bins	Clydach Limeworks aggregate bins
Clydach Limeworks aggregate bins	Limeworks ball mill engine bases

Clydach Quarry - SO 2335 1275

Clydach Quarry from Blaen Dyar	Clydach and Gilwern Hill Quarries	Clydach Quarry	Clydach Quarry North incline top
Clydach Quarry North structure	Quarry North structure and tips	Clydach Quarry South brakehouse	Quarry South brakehouse interior
Quarry South brakehouse interior	Quarry South brakehouse interior	Clydach Quarry South tramways	Clydach Quarry South tramways
Quarry South upper galleries

Baileys Tramroad reaches Govilon

Below Gilwern the tramroad veers off to the South of the railway line to follow old tracks and lanes to reach Govilon Wharf.

Govilon

Govilon Tramroad near Govilon	Govilon Tramroad at Govilon		Govilon Tramroad canal bridge
Govilon Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad, Govilon
Baileys Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad, Govilon
Govilon Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad, Govilon
Govilon Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad at Siop Newydd	Govilon Tramroad at Siop Newydd
Govilon Tramroad at Siop Newydd	Govilon Tramroad at Siop Newydd	Baileys Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad, Govilon
Govilon Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad, at Wilden	Govilon Tramroad, at Wilden
Govilon Tramroad, Govilon	Govilon Tramroad through Govilon	Govilon Tramroad through Govilon	Govilon Tramroad through Govilon
Govilon Tramroad through Govilon	Govilon Tramroad through Govilon	Govilon Tramroad through Govilon	Govilon Tramroad through Govilon
Govilon Tramroad canal bridge	The canal basin, Govilon	The canal basin, Govilon	The canal basin, Govilon

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

Thanks to :- Chris George, Richard Preece and Brynmawr Historical Society for their photos and information.
'Early Limestone Railways' by John van Laun