Pontypridd to Porth

'The Doctors Tramroad'

Dr Richard Griffiths built his tramroad in 1809 linking the collieries at Trehafod with Treforest Ironworks. Later he linked the Treforest terminus of the tramroad to the Glamorganshire Canal with his own short canal. On Wednesdays, coal was replaced by seats in the drams and the ladies would be taken to Newbridge (Pontypridd) market.

The Doctors Tramroad, 1874	Doctors Tramroad, High Street	'Doctors Tramroad' bridge
'The Doctors Tramroad' near Trehafod	'The Doctors Tramroad' near Trehafod	'The Doctors Tramroad' near Trehafod
'The Doctors Tramroad' tramplates	'The Doctors Tramroad' tramplates	'The Doctors Tramroad' tramplates

Trehafod - ST 0430 9100

A quarry on the Doctors Tramroad	The Lower Eirw Bridge	The Lower Eirw Bridge	The Lower Eirw Bridge 'Gents'
Stench pipe near Hafod Colliery	Stench pipe near Hafod Colliery	Girders near Hafod Colliery	'150 253' on the river bridge

Hafod Colliery, Trehafod - ST 0404 9128

Hafod No 1 level was a furnace ventilation level opened in c1911. Hafod Pit was part of the Lewis Merthyr Colliery complex.

Hafod Colliery No 1 level,1915	Hafod Colliery No 1 level	Hafod Colliery No 1 level	Hafod Colliery No 1 level
Hafod Colliery No 1 level	Hafod Colliery quarry	Hafod Colliery reservoir	Hafod Colliery reservoir
Hafod Colliery spoil tips tramway	Hafod Colliery spoil tips tramway

Lewis Merthyr Colliery, Trehafod - ST 0400 9110

Now the home of the Rhondda Heritage Park, Lewis Merthyr Colliery was originally sunk in 1850 as 'Hafod Colliery'. It lay abandoned until 1872 when a new owner, Thomas Jones, re-started it. He re-named it 'Jones Navigation' in 1877. In 1881 a number of collieries amalgamated, soon to become the 'Lewis Merthyr Consolidated Collieries Ltd' and it reverted back to the name 'Hafod'. It closed in 1983 and was transformed into the Rhondda Heritage Park.

Lewis Merthyr Colliery	Lewis Merthyr Colliery	Lewis Merthyr Colliery
Lewis Merthyr Colliery	Lewis Merthyr Colliery	Lewis Merthyr Colliery

Porth to Treherbert

Upper Penrhiwfer Colliery, near Tonyrefail - SS 9972 8968

Penrhiwfer Colliery and Bruce Terrace are now on the Ely Valley page as they were linked to the Ely Valley, rather than the Rhondda.
Here's the link :- Upper Penrhiwfer Colliery

Williamstown, near Penygraig - ST 0018 9074

The Rhondda Tramway Co opened the extension to Williamstown on 30 March 1912. This photo was taken looking at Railway View, Williamsrown, just short of the terminus, from the other side of the railway line. It appears to show a tram crossing a temporary bridge while the main road bridge was being rebuilt, widened or strengthened. There don't appear to be any traction poles and there's a vehicle in front of the tram, possibly a tower wagon. Perhaps this is a test of the track with the tram being towed.

Test tram at Williamstown, 1912

Temporary bridge at Williamstown

Llwynypia, Trealaw and Porth.

Llywnypia Colliery engine house	Llywnypia Colliery engine house	Llywnypia Colliery engine house	Llywnypia Colliery engine house
Llywnypia Colliery engine house	Llywnypia Colliery engine house	Llywnypia Colliery engine house	Llywnypia Colliery engine house
Trealaw panorama	Trealaw panorama	Trealaw panorama	Trealaw panorama
Welsh Hills Works, Porth	Welsh Hills Works, Porth	Cymmer Colliery outflow, Porth

Taken in passing from the Pontypridd to Treherbert train

Lewis Merthyr Colliery	Lewis Merthyr Colliery	Graig-Rhiw-Gwynt quarry, Porth	Trealaw quarry
Llwynypia Colliery engine house	Ton Pentre quarry	Abergorki Quarry, Treorchy	Abergorki Quarry, Treorchy
Ty'n y Bedw Quarry, Treorchy	Ty'n y Bedw Quarry, Treorchy	Treherbert Station	Treherbert Station

Building the Bwlch Mountain Road. 1926-28

The Bwlch Mountain Road - SS 9395 9456

The Bwlch Mountain Road is a three-way link between Treorchy (Rhondda), Nant-y-moel (Ogwr) and Blaengwynfi (Afan) across the ridge separating them. This road and the Rhigos Mountain Road were propsed in 1924 to improve communications and provide work to relieve the unemployment situation. The Bwlch road was completed in 1928, replacing the old, unsuitable mountain tracks. The contractors used 2 O&K steam locos, 1 Baguley and 3 MR petrol locos on its 2" gauge tracks.
Photos courtesy of Terry Mason and the 'Collieries of Wales' Facebook group.

Map of the rebuilding programme, 1926-28	Rebuilding the Bwlch Road	Rebuilding the Bwlch Road	Rebuilding the Bwlch Road
Rebuilding the Bwlch Road	Rebuilding the Bwlch Road	Rebuilding the Bwlch Road	Rebuilding the Bwlch Road
Rebuilding the Bwlch Road	Rebuilding the Bwlch Road	Rebuilding the Bwlch Road	Rebuilding the Bwlch Road
Rebuilding the Bwlch Road	Rebuilding the Bwlch Road	Rebuilding the Bwlch Road	Rebuilding the Bwlch Road

Blaenrhondda

Penpych Woodland Park - SS 9242 9910

If you've got a free day, go to Penpych Woodland Park and spend some time exploring this area. The sites of Dunraven Colliery (or Tydraw Colliery), Glenrhondda Colliery, Fernhill Colliery and the mouth of the Rhondda Tunnel have been 'landscaped' but the inclines and old levels on the hillsides deserve a lot more exploration than I had time for.

At the very head of the Rhondda are a collection of old dams, pipelines and lower down the RUDC pipeline tunnel from Llyn Fawr Reservoir, which was opened in 1909 and is still in use. There's a tramway around the back of the RUDC tunnel to the waterfall and there looks like an interesting iron tank there. I only saw it on the photos after the walk! Lower down again there's more to see of the pipeline aqueduct and tunnel, odd ruins and ironmongery and a now uncovered tunnel on the tramways to Tyn-y-waun Colliery, Cwar Du and Cwar Hendy quarries.

Around Blaencwm - SS 9242 9910

Either side of the Penpych car park.

The RSBR at Blaencwm	Site of Glenrhondda Colliery	Site of Dunraven Colliery site
St Albans Road bridge	St Albans Road bridge
Pipeline supports at Penpych	Pipeline supports at Penpych	Pipeline supports at Blaenrhondda	Pipeline supports at Blaenrhondda

Coldra Road

Coldra Road leads up the Eastern side of the valley to the RUDC pipeline tunnel

Coldra Road pipeline tunnel	Coldra Road pipeline tunnel	Coldra Road pipeline tunnel	Coldra Road aqueduct
Coldra Road concrete pillar	Coldra Road rail and pipe	Coldra Road stone pillar	Coldra Road tramway tunnel
The Blaenrhondda branch trackbed	The Blaenrhondda branch trackbed	The Blaenrhondda branch trackbed
Inclines to Tyn-y-waun Colliery	Inclines to Cwar Du Quarry	Inclines to Cwar Du Quarry

Fernhill Colliery

Fernhill Colliery was sunk c1870 growing steadly until c1925 when it had five shafts and a number of levels. Three shafts closed in 1966 when the colliery was linked with Tower. It closed in 1978 and the site was landscaped.

The site of Fernhill Colliery	The site of Fernhill Colliery	The site of Fernhill Colliery	Fernhill's magazine or pumphouse
The site of Fernhill Colliery	The site of Fernhill Colliery	Fernhill Colliery power station	Fernhill Colliery power station
Tips above Blaenrhondda Farm	Tips above Blaenrhondda Farm	Building from site clearance

RUDC pipeline tunnel - SN 9246 0156

The tunnel held the pipeline that connected the reservoir at Llyn Fawr, near Rhigos, with the Rhondda Valley. At one time it was served by a 2ft gauge railway.

RUDC pipeline tunnel	RUDC pipeline tunnel	RUDC pipeline tunnel	RUDC pipeline tunnel
RUDC pipeline tunnel	RUDC pipeline tunnel aqueduct	RUDC pipeline tunnel aqueduct	RUDC pipeline tunnel bridge
RUDC tramway to tunnel	RUDC tramway to tunnel	RUDC pipeline tunnel	RUDC pipeline tunnel

Tramways and Levels - SN 9226 0152

A tramway went around the first waterfall beyond the RUDC tunnel to reach old levels. Alongside it an old boiler served as a water tank.

Tramway and water tank	Tramway at Blaenrhondda	Tramway at Blaenrhondda
Tramway at Blaenrhondda	Tramway at Blaenrhondda	Tramway at Blaenrhondda

Blaenrhondda dams - SN 9186 0166

Embankment on track to the dam	Pipework near the dam	Valve body next to the dam	Dam on the Nant-Garreg-Llwyd
The upper dam at Blaenrhondda	The upper dam at Blaenrhondda	The upper dam at Blaenrhondda	The upper dam at Blaenrhondda

Tylorstown to Maerdy

Tylorstown - ST 0195 9560

Tylorstown Colliery tip and level	Tylorstown, level by tip and incline	Tylorstown, level by tip and incline	Tylorstown, level by tip and incline
Tylorstown, level by tip and incline	Tylorstown, level by tip and incline	Tylorstown, tramway from level

Lluest-wen Reservoir - SN 9507 0155

Lluest-wen reservoir outfall pipe	Lluest-wen reservoir outfall building	Lluest-wen reservoir pipeline	Lluest-wen reservoir pipeline
Lluest-wen 'tank'	Lluest-wen 'tank'

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading

Further information :- Early photos of the RUDC pipeline tunnel at Blaenrhondda are available on the R.C.T. Library Archive website