'Bridgend Railway' tramroad 1829 - 1854

The Bridgend Railway was a tramroad that connected the Duffryn, Llynfi and Porthcawl Railway with Bridgend town centre running from near Parc Slip Colliery to what is now Bridgend bus station. It was opened in 1830 and It became part of the Llynfi Valley Railway Co (ex DLPR) in 1854 before the new broad-gauge Llynfi Valley Railway was built up the valley.

The Bridgend Railway Junction - SS 8855 8355

From the Duffryn, Llynfi and Porthcawl Railway the tramroad headed South, crossing the Kenfig River on a stone-built bridge, to head into Aberkenfig along the present-day Kenfig Hill to Aberkenfig road.

The Bridgend Railway, 1830	The Bridgend Railway, 1830	The Bridgend Railway, 1830	The Bridgend Railway, 1830
The tramroad at the River Kenfig	The tramroad at the River Kenfig	The tramroad at the River Kenfig	The tramroad at the River Kenfig

The Bridgend Railway through Aberkenfig - SS 8943 8330

From Aberkenfig the tramroad heads down Factory Terrace, over another stone-built bridge, and on to Glan-rhyd Viaduct.

The tramroad at Aberkenfig	The tramroad at Aberkenfig	The tramroad at Aberkenfig	The tramroad at Aberkenfig
The tramroad at Aberkenfig	The tramroad at Aberkenfig	The tramroad at Aberkenfig
The tramroad bridge at Aberkenfig	The tramroad bridge at Aberkenfig	The tramroad to Glan-rhyd Viaduct	The tramroad to Glan-rhyd Viaduct

Glan-rhyd Viaduct - SS 8989 8279

The Glan-rhyd Viaduct, or Ogmore Viaduct, was built in 1829 and has an inscribed stone plaque, "This bridge was erected in the year 1829 by Morgan Thomas Laleston mason". It s now dwarfed by the M4 motorway which soars above it.

Glan-rhyd Viaduct	Glan-rhyd Viaduct	Glan-rhyd Viaduct
Glan-rhyd Viaduct	Glan-rhyd Viaduct

Angleton Iron Furnace - SS 9042 8198

The tramroad runs alongside the Llynfi Valley Railway, which replaced it, to pass the weird ruins of Angleton Iron Furnace. The furnace was built in 1589 by Robert Sidney of Penshurst; this was the only attempt to introduce a blast furnace into central Glamorgan before the eighteenth century. The furnace was still in use in 1600. The two wall foundations are virtually all that remains. The back walls, probably 2.5m high, are formed of thin slabs of sandstone which have a thin coating of slag on the exposed surface. Debris has been heaped against the outer sides and tops of walls. The remains have been held together by the roots of a tree for at least 30 years. Remains of another furnace lie some 80m to the north. (Coflein)

The tramroad on Pen-y-fai Road	The tramroad on Pen-y-fai Road	The tramroad on Pen-y-fai Road	The tramroad on Pen-y-fai Road
The tramroad beside the railway	Stone sleepers on the route	Stone sleepers on the route	Stone sleepers on the route
The tramroad beside the railway	The tramroad beside the railway	Angleton Iron Furnace	Angleton Iron Furnace

The Bridgend Railway through Wildmill

Wildmill is now totally covered in housing but the tramroad can still be traced through the roads and lanes to Quarella Road bridge. From there it ran down Quarella Road into the centre of Bridgend

The tramroad at Quarella Road	The tramroad at Quarella Road	The tramroad at Quarella Road
Quarella Road bridge, Bridgend	Quarella Road bridge, Bridgend	Quarella Road, Bridgend

Llantrisant and the Ely Valley

Ely Valley

Upper Penrhiwfer Colliery, near Tonyrefail - SS 9972 8968

Penrhiwfer Colliery commenced operations in 1861 alongside the Ely Valley Railway between Tonyrefail and Penygraig. At some time Upper Penrhiwfer Colliery opened higher up the hillside. This had clay seams and a brickworks appears to have been built here. The Glamorgan Coal Co owned the colliery but it closed down in 1896 when the assets were auctioned.

Upper Penrhiwfer Colliery	Upper Penrhiwfer Colliery	Upper Penrhiwfer Colliery	Upper Penrhiwfer Colliery
Upper Penrhiwfer Colliery	Upper Penrhiwfer Colliery	Upper Penrhiwfer Colliery	Upper Penrhiwfer Colliery
Penrhiwfer Colliery building	Penrhiwfer Colliery auction, 4 May 1896	Bruce Terrace, Penrhiwfer	Bruce Terrace, Penrhiwfer
Bruce Terrace, Penrhiwfer	Bruce Terrace, Penrhiwfer	Bruce Terrace, Penrhiwfer	Bruce Terrace, Penrhiwfer

Llanharan

Meiros Colliery tramway, Llanharan - ST 0033 8321

Meiros Colliery tramway, 1897	Meiros Colliery branch, Llanharan	Meiros Colliery branch, Llanharan
Meiros Colliery branch, Llanharan	Meiros Colliery branch, Llanharan

South Rhondda Colliery, Llanharan - SS 9914 8487

South Rhondda Colliery, 1897	South Rhondda Colliery, Llanharan	South Rhondda Colliery, Llanharan
South Rhondda Colliery, Llanharan	South Rhondda Colliery, Llanharan	South Rhondda Colliery, Llanharan

Sulphur Springs pipeline, Llanharan - ST 0077 8342

A series of concrete blocks runs up the hillside from Llanharan towards Ffynnon Maelwg, a 'sulphureous' well according to the OS maps. I am guessing that an attempt was made to turn Llanharan into a spa and this was the pipeline from the well to one of the local hostelries, any other ideas are most welcome.

Sulphur Springs pipeline, Llanharan	Sulphur Springs pipeline, Llanharan	Sulphur Springs pipeline, Llanharan
Sulphur Springs pipeline, Llanharan	Sulphur Springs pipeline, Llanharan

Llantrisant Common

Gelynog Colliery, Beddau - ST 0554 8528

Also known as North Llantwit Colliery, Gelynog Colliery was open by 1854. It closed and re-opened under a number of owners until finally closing in 1901. It was connected to a short spur off the Treferig Railway. Recently the site has been used as a bus garage and is now going to be another housing development. The filled shaft is fenced off at the rear.

Gelynog Colliery, Beddau, 1876	Gelynog Colliery, Beddau, 1899	Gelynog Colliery, Beddau, 1919
Gelynog Colliery, Beddau	Gelynog Colliery, Beddau	Gelynog Colliery, Beddau	Gelynog Colliery, Beddau
Gelynog Colliery shaft, Beddau	Gelynog Colliery, Beddau	Gelynog Colliery loading bank

West Llantwit Colliery, Llantrisant Common - ST 0508 8499

West Llantwit Colliery appears to have been working c1865 and abandoned in 1895. it was connected by tramways to the Treferig Railway South of the colliery, Eastwards to a small building and Northwards to the lane. Aerial photos seem to suggest it might have carried on across the lane to an old shaft at Tal-y-fedw. The capped air shaft is easily found in the workings.

West Llantwit Colliery, 1876	West Llantwit Colliery, 1960	West Llantwit Colliery, Beddau	West Llantwit Colliery, Beddau
West Llantwit Colliery air shaft	West Llantwit Colliery, Beddau	West Llantwit Colliery, Beddau	West Llantwit Colliery, Beddau

Pontyclun

Pontyclun Station - ST 0357 8142

and along the Coed Ely branch to Talbot Green

Goods Yard entrance bridge	Goods Yard entrance bridge	Goods Yard entrance bridge	A473 Level Crossing, Talbot Green
A473 Level Crossing, Talbot Green	A473 Level Crossing, Talbot Green	A473 Level Crossing, Talbot Green	Ely River bridge, Pontyclun
Ely River bridge, Pontyclun	Ely River bridge, Pontyclun	Ely River bridge, Pontyclun	Sidings and shed area, Pontyclun
Sidings and shed area, Pontyclun	Tramway rail in sidings, Pontyclun	Subway under sidings, Pontyclun	Subway under sidings, Pontyclun
Subway under sidings, Pontyclun	Subway under sidings, Pontyclun	Ely Tinplate Works road bridge

Garw Valley to Blaengarw

Brynmenyn to Llangeinor - SS 9064 8483

The Garw Valley line from Brynmenyn to Llangeinor.

The Garw Valley line	Brynmenyn level crossing	Brynmenyn level crossing	Garw River bridge, Brynmenyn
Garw River bridge, Brynmenyn	Garw River bridge, Brynmenyn	Near Bryngarw Country Park	Near Bryngarw Country Park
Pandy Bridge near Bryngarw	Pandy Bridge near Bryngarw	Bridge rail near Pandy Bridge	Accommodation crossing
Bettws Llantwit river bridge	Bettws Llantwit river bridge	Bettws Llantwit river bridge

Llangeinor - SS 9131 8771

The Garw Valley line at Llangeinor.

Llangeinor Station, Garw Valley	Llangeinor Station, Garw Valley	Llangeinor level crossing	Llangeinor level crossing
Llangeinor level crossing	Llangeinor level crossing	Llangeinor level crossing	Llangeinor level crossing
Llangeinor level crossing	Llangeinor Saab Draken

Llangeinor to Pont-y-rhyl - SS 9050 8971

The Garw Valley line from Llangeinor to Pont-y-rhyl.

Ffynnon Dwym river bridge	Black Bridge, near Llangeinor	Black Bridge cottages	The line near Lluest Colliery
Port Talbot Railway river bridge	Port Talbot Railway river bridge	Port Talbot Railway junction house	Pont-y-rhyl Quarry tips
The line near the PTR junction	The line near the PTR junction	The Lluest Colliery Bridge	Pont-y-rhyl Crossing, Lluest

Pont-y-rhyl to Pont-y-cwmer - SS 9038 9127

The Garw Valley line from Pont-y-rhyl to Pont-y-cwmer

Garw Fechan bridge, Pont-y-rhyl	Braich-y-cymer Colliery loading bank	Pant-yr-gog Crossing
The line at Pont-y-cymer	The line at Pont-y-cymer	The line at Pont-y-cymer

Kenfig Valley and Cefn Cribbwr

Parc Slip Colliery - SS 8786 8353

Parc Slip Colliery opened in the 1860s by the Brogdens, becoming part of Norths Navigation Ltd. On 26 August 1892 an explosion killed 112 of the 146 men and boys working in the colliery. The site is now part of Parc Slip Nature Reserve.

Parc Slip Colliery, 1876	Parc Slip Colliery	Parc Slip Colliery dram
Parc Slip Colliery memorial	Parc Slip Colliery monument

Cefn Slip Colliery - SS 8786 8353

Cefn Slip Colliery opened in c1857 to supply coal to Cefn Ironworks. It became the Bryndu Colliery Co Ltd in 1908 but closed in 1912 due to serious water incursion. The colliery assets were auctioned in1915.

Cefn Slip Colliery, 1876	Cefn Slip Colliery	Cefn Slip Colliery
Cefn Slip Colliery	Cefn Slip Colliery	Cefn Slip Colliery dram

Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks - SS 8510 8345

Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks is a charcoal-fuelled furnace built by John Bedford of Birmingham, after he acquired the estate in 1771. A high-level charging ramp to the furnace with three calcining kilns, the ruins of the casting-house and a later 1820s beam-engine house survive.

Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks	Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks	Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks	Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks
Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks	Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks	Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks	Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks
Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks	Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks	Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks	Cefn Cribbwr Ironworks

The Dyffryn, Llynfi & Porthcawl Railway

Tondu to Kenfig Hill

The Dyffryn, Llynfi & Porthcawl Railway was built in 1825 and connected Porthcawl Harbour with Maesteg via Kenfig Hill and Tondu. It passed ironworks and collieries on its route to Maesteg. The 4'6" tramroad was converted to a steam railway in 1861. In 1894 the Port Talbot Railway built the Ogmore Valleys Extension Railway from its lines at Margam to meet the DLPR at Cefn Junction.

Subway under DLPR, Tondu	Bridgend Railway crossing	Bridgend Railway crossing
Fountain level crossing, DLPR	Fountain level crossing, DLPR	Fountain level crossing, DLPR	Fountain level crossing, DLPR
Cwm Ffos level crossing, DLPR	Cwm Ffos level crossing, DLPR	Cwm Ffos level crossing, DLPR	Cwm Ffos level crossing, DLPR
Cefn Junction, DLPR	Cefn Junction, DLPR	Near Kenfig Hill, DLPR	The site of Kenfig Hill Station

Cefn Junction signal box - SS 8589 8338

Cefn Junction signal box was built in 1898 to control the junction of the Port Talbot and Porthcawl lines. The Porthcawl line closed c1974 and the signal box became a local museum.

Cefn Junction signal box	Cefn Junction signal box	Cefn Junction signal box
Cefn Junction signal box	Cefn Junction signal box	Cefn Junction signal box
Cefn Junction signal box	Cefn Junction signal box	Cefn Junction signal box

The Ogmore Valleys Extension Railway

Cefn Junction to Pyle

The Ogmore Valleys Extension Railway was bult in 1896 by the Port Talbot Railway from Margam to the new Cefn Junction on the Dyffryn, Llynfi & Porthcawl Railway. The PTR intended to attract the valuable coal traffic away from Porthcawl to its own docks in Port Talbot.

The OVER at Cefn Junction	The OVER at Cefn Junction	The OVER at Cefn Junction	Bedford Road pedestrian crossing
Bedford Road pedestrian crossing	Bedford Road pedestrian crossing		An embedded dram wheel
Bedford Road bridge, OVER	Bedford Road bridge, OVER	Bedford Road bridge, OVER	Bedford Road bridge, OVER
The opencast sidings, OVER	The opencast sidings, OVER

Llynfi Valley to Maesteg

Wildmill to Sarn, Bridgend - ST 8640 7800

A small quarry and limekiln next to Candleston Farm and the ruined outbuildings at the farm, all dating back to at least 1880.

Llynfi Valley at Wildmill footbridge	Llynfi Valley at Wildmill footbridge	Llynfi Valley at the M4 crossing
Llynfi Valley at the M4 crossing	Llynfi Valley, Pen-y-cae road bridge

Tondu Junction - SS 8950 8447

Tondu Junction, the meeting of the Garw, Ogwr, Llynfi and Kenfig Hill lines. Only the Llynfi Valley has any traffic now.

Tondu Junction

Tondu Junction

Tondu Junction

Tondu Station

Tondu and the Ironworks

Tondu Ironworks - SS 8915 8440

Tondu Ironworks

Tondu Ironworks	Tondu Ironworks	Tondu Ironworks	Tondu Ironworks
Tondu Ironworks	Tondu Ironworks	Tondu Ironworks	Tondu Ironworks
Tondu Ironworks	Tondu Ironworks	Tondu Ironworks	Tondu Ironworks

Tondu Ironworks incline - SS 8915 8440

Tondu Ironworks incline ran from the GWR sidings to the coke ovens above the furnaces. The railway to the slag tips ran over the bridge.

Tondu Ironworks Incline	Tondu Ironworks Incline	Tondu Ironworks Incline	Tondu Ironworks Incline
Tondu Ironworks Incline	Tondu Ironworks Incline	Tondu Ironworks Incline	Tondu Ironworks Incline
Tondu Ironworks Incline cable	Tondu Ironworks Incline cable

Out and About in Mid-Glamorgan

Candleston Farm and Quarry - ST 8640 7800

A small quarry and limekiln next to Candleston Farm and the ruined outbuildings at the farm, all dating back to at least 1880.

Candleston Quarry

Candleston Quarry

Candleston Farm outbuildings

Other sites

Coed Ely coke ovens

Quarella Brickworks claypit

'NRDC Tondu Eng. Works'

'Hayes Maesteg'

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading

Information from 'Coflein'
'Railways of the Llynfi Valley' by Clive Smith