Fascinating history of rail lines and stations

AS A former railway manager, I read Sian Burkitt’s article (Forgotten Welsh Railways) with interest.

While much research has been done in the compilation of longforgotten (not by all of us) railways, I have to say that a few errors have crept in.

This is quite understandable as it is a very complex subject and after many years I am still learning.

Crumlin High Level was located on the former Great Western Railway (GWR) Vale of Neath line, which ran from Pontypool Road to Neath General.

Pontypool Road was located on the Newport to Hereford line.

The best part of the journey for me was crossing over the fantastic Crumlin viaduct.

Crumlin Low Level was not the junction for Ebbw Vale, this was Aberbeeg.

It was good to stand on the platform at Aberbeeg waiting for the Ebbw Vale train with the sight and smell of the adjacent brewery.

The Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Railway did not run to Dowlais, this involved a change at Pant but services from Brecon did stop at Dowlais Top, a long way from the centre of Dowlais.

The best way to travel to Brecon by public transport now is from Abergavenny, also from Merthyr Tydfil, but not Merthyr Vale as indicated in the article.

The latest station at Porthcawl was the one built by the GWR a few metres from the sea.

It was great to alight from the train at the excellent three-platform station next to the harbour but with the possible exception of an excursion train, there were no through trains to Abergwnfi.

A change at Tondu, which was then a five-platform station,was required as the service to Abergynfi ran from Bridgend, as does the present service to Maesteg.

In the last years of operation the service from Porthcawl terminated at Pyle.

This was the station where most passengers from Cardiff changed for the seaside town.

It is a fact that although passengers were not carried between Pyle and Tondu, the engine and coaches required for the service ran without passengers from Tondu to Pyle.

The Central Wales did run from Swansea to far-off places such as

Manchester and York but from the large Swansea Victoria station.

Although Beeching did try to close the amazing line, he failed, but subsequently it was decided to divert through Central line trains into Llanelli, reverse and then via the west Wales main line to the present Swansea station.

I hope this is helpful.

Howard Morris Rogiet, Caldicot