Railways: Brecon & Merthyr Tydfil Railway Co. (1859-1921)
The Brecon & Merthyr Tydfil Railway was incorporated by two Acts of Parliament dated 1 August 1859 and 15 May 1860, to build a railway between the Vale of Usk and the Taff Fechan. It was hoped that by superseding the Brecon & Abergavenny Canal and Brinore Tramroad by the railway, agricultural produce from Brecknock would find better markets in Merthyr and Dowlais, and the cost of iron, coal and lime would be greatly reduced in Brecknock.
Before construction began disputes arose with the Mid Wales Railway and Hereford, Hay & Brecon Railway about the acquisition of the Hay Railway (a horse worked tramroad), as all three companies wished to use its alignment to gain access to Brecon.. Eventually it was agreed that the B&MR should acquire the section between Talyllyn Junction and Brecon, and the MWR the section between Three Cocks Junction and Talyllyn, confirmed by Amendment Acts of 1861. The HH&BR who had originally purchased the Hay Railway on 6 August 1860 for conversion, was left with the remainder.
The first B&MR passenger train entered Brecon from Pant (near Dowlais) on 1 May 1863 to a temporary terminus at the Watton. The MWR commenced goods and passenger services on 21 September 1864, closely followed by those of the HH&BR. An Act to amalgamate the B&MR with the HH&BR was granted on 5 July 1865, but an investigation into B&MR affairs following the financial crisis of 1866, revealed that the preferential share holders had not ratified this decision, so the two companies resumed their separate identities by means of the B&M Agreement Act of 1868.
The B&MR opened a new station at Free Street Brecon on 1st March 1871 for joint use. They and the HH&BR used it from this date and the MWR did so from 1 May, transferring from Mount Street (Neath & Brecon Rly) where they had been since moving from the Watton on 22 October 1868. The N&BR did not agree to extend its trains to Free Street until 1874.
The B&MR now promoted various acts which would enable it to build its own lines to Newport, Cardiff and Nantybwch. At this last point it wished to connect with the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway to prevent its westward expansion. The B&MR was only successful in reaching Newport, which it did by obtaining its Bargoed Rhymney Branch Act, and purchasing the Rumney Tramroad for conversion into a railway. The Taff Vale Railway was successful in obtaining a restrictive clause in the Bargoed Rhymney Act which forbade the B&MR from opening these lines until its original line to Merthyr was completed. The Merthyr Branch was opened to Cefn on 1 August 1867 following the completion of the Cefn Coed Viaduct, and passenger trains finally reached Merthyr High Street station on 1 August 1868. The B&MR then lost no time in starting its Brecon to Newport services, which commenced one month later on 1 September 1868.
The B&MR opened a short branch from Pant to Dowlais on 23 June 1869, which after 1 January 1873 when the westward expansion of the Merthyr Tredegar & Abergavenny Railway had reached Penywern and Ivor Junction's, became the terminus of London & North Western Railway services from Abergavenny. After the LNWR threatened to build its own line into Merthyr, the B&MR agreed to make most of its Merthyr branch a joint with the LNWR, and in return the LNWR paid the B&MR half the original construction costs. Accordingly the LNWR built a connecting line to Morlais Junction near Vaynor, and LNWR passenger trains entered Merthyr High Street Station on 1 June 1879.
The B&MR was absorbed into the Great Western Railway in 1922 under the Railways Act of 1921.
[South Wales Branch Lines, by H. Morgan, pub 1984]
Before construction began disputes arose with the Mid Wales Railway and Hereford, Hay & Brecon Railway about the acquisition of the Hay Railway (a horse worked tramroad), as all three companies wished to use its alignment to gain access to Brecon.. Eventually it was agreed that the B&MR should acquire the section between Talyllyn Junction and Brecon, and the MWR the section between Three Cocks Junction and Talyllyn, confirmed by Amendment Acts of 1861. The HH&BR who had originally purchased the Hay Railway on 6 August 1860 for conversion, was left with the remainder.
The first B&MR passenger train entered Brecon from Pant (near Dowlais) on 1 May 1863 to a temporary terminus at the Watton. The MWR commenced goods and passenger services on 21 September 1864, closely followed by those of the HH&BR. An Act to amalgamate the B&MR with the HH&BR was granted on 5 July 1865, but an investigation into B&MR affairs following the financial crisis of 1866, revealed that the preferential share holders had not ratified this decision, so the two companies resumed their separate identities by means of the B&M Agreement Act of 1868.
The B&MR opened a new station at Free Street Brecon on 1st March 1871 for joint use. They and the HH&BR used it from this date and the MWR did so from 1 May, transferring from Mount Street (Neath & Brecon Rly) where they had been since moving from the Watton on 22 October 1868. The N&BR did not agree to extend its trains to Free Street until 1874.
The B&MR now promoted various acts which would enable it to build its own lines to Newport, Cardiff and Nantybwch. At this last point it wished to connect with the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway to prevent its westward expansion. The B&MR was only successful in reaching Newport, which it did by obtaining its Bargoed Rhymney Branch Act, and purchasing the Rumney Tramroad for conversion into a railway. The Taff Vale Railway was successful in obtaining a restrictive clause in the Bargoed Rhymney Act which forbade the B&MR from opening these lines until its original line to Merthyr was completed. The Merthyr Branch was opened to Cefn on 1 August 1867 following the completion of the Cefn Coed Viaduct, and passenger trains finally reached Merthyr High Street station on 1 August 1868. The B&MR then lost no time in starting its Brecon to Newport services, which commenced one month later on 1 September 1868.
The B&MR opened a short branch from Pant to Dowlais on 23 June 1869, which after 1 January 1873 when the westward expansion of the Merthyr Tredegar & Abergavenny Railway had reached Penywern and Ivor Junction's, became the terminus of London & North Western Railway services from Abergavenny. After the LNWR threatened to build its own line into Merthyr, the B&MR agreed to make most of its Merthyr branch a joint with the LNWR, and in return the LNWR paid the B&MR half the original construction costs. Accordingly the LNWR built a connecting line to Morlais Junction near Vaynor, and LNWR passenger trains entered Merthyr High Street Station on 1 June 1879.
The B&MR was absorbed into the Great Western Railway in 1922 under the Railways Act of 1921.
[South Wales Branch Lines, by H. Morgan, pub 1984]
Railways: Cambrian Railways Co. (1864-1921)
The Cambrian Railways Company was formed by Act of 25 July 1864, which amalgamated the Llanidloes & Newtown Railway (4 August 1853), Newtown & Machynlleth Railway (27 July 1857), Oswestry & Newtown Railway (26 June 1855), and Oswestry Ellesmere & Whitchurch Railway (1 August 1861). The dates within brackets refer to when each company was incorporated. The Act included agreements with the Mid Wales and Manchester & Milford companies, and mutual traffic facilities with the Great Western Railway. A separate Act confirmed London & North Western Railway agreements. The Aberystwith & Welch Coast Railway (22 July 1861), was vested into the Cambrian Railways on 5 July 1865 by the Cambrian and Coast Railways (Amalgamation ) Bill.
The Cambrian worked the Mid Wales Railway from 2 April 1888 and absorbed the company by Act of 24 June 1904. It worked the dormant Van Railway on behalf of the owners from 1 August 1896, and the Wrexham & Ellesmere Railway, the Welshpool & Llanfair and Tanat Valley Light Railways from their openings on 2 November 1895, March-April 1903, and 5 January 1904 respectively, taking the TVLR over in 1921. The Cambrian promoted a Light Railway Order dated 2 March 1910, to reconstruct the derelict Mawddwy Railway and reopened the line on 29 July 1911. In August 1913 the Vale of Rheidol Light Railway sold out to the Cambrian.
The Cambrian Railways enjoyed a close relationship with the London & North Western Railway with which it connected at Whitchurch and Welshpool, operating through carriage services from Aberyswyth to London (Euston), Manchester (London Road) and Liverpool (Lime Street). In contrast the Great Western Railway had a Paddington to Barmouth through carriage via Ruabon and Dolgellau throughout the year. In summer the LNWR also had a service from Barmouth via Welshpool, and one from Pwllheli and Portmadoc via Afonwen Junction on the Coast Line. The GWR also had a summer service from Pwllhelli and Barmouth via Dolgellau and to Aberystwyth via both Welshpool and the Manchester & Milford line. The Cambrian Railways operated a South Wales Express to Cardiff, Newport and the Rhondda via the Mid Wales and Brecon & Merthyr Railways, and in conjunction with the Taff Vale and Rhymney Railways.
The Cambrian was absorbed into the Great Western Railway in 1922 under the Railways Act of 1921. In its last year the Cambrian Railways sustained its worst accident, the head on collision that occurred between Newtown and Abermule on 26 January 1921 which killed seventeen people, including Lord Herbert Vane-Tempest, a Director of the Cambrian Railways Company. [G.S.]
[A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain Vol. II]
The Cambrian worked the Mid Wales Railway from 2 April 1888 and absorbed the company by Act of 24 June 1904. It worked the dormant Van Railway on behalf of the owners from 1 August 1896, and the Wrexham & Ellesmere Railway, the Welshpool & Llanfair and Tanat Valley Light Railways from their openings on 2 November 1895, March-April 1903, and 5 January 1904 respectively, taking the TVLR over in 1921. The Cambrian promoted a Light Railway Order dated 2 March 1910, to reconstruct the derelict Mawddwy Railway and reopened the line on 29 July 1911. In August 1913 the Vale of Rheidol Light Railway sold out to the Cambrian.
The Cambrian Railways enjoyed a close relationship with the London & North Western Railway with which it connected at Whitchurch and Welshpool, operating through carriage services from Aberyswyth to London (Euston), Manchester (London Road) and Liverpool (Lime Street). In contrast the Great Western Railway had a Paddington to Barmouth through carriage via Ruabon and Dolgellau throughout the year. In summer the LNWR also had a service from Barmouth via Welshpool, and one from Pwllheli and Portmadoc via Afonwen Junction on the Coast Line. The GWR also had a summer service from Pwllhelli and Barmouth via Dolgellau and to Aberystwyth via both Welshpool and the Manchester & Milford line. The Cambrian Railways operated a South Wales Express to Cardiff, Newport and the Rhondda via the Mid Wales and Brecon & Merthyr Railways, and in conjunction with the Taff Vale and Rhymney Railways.
The Cambrian was absorbed into the Great Western Railway in 1922 under the Railways Act of 1921. In its last year the Cambrian Railways sustained its worst accident, the head on collision that occurred between Newtown and Abermule on 26 January 1921 which killed seventeen people, including Lord Herbert Vane-Tempest, a Director of the Cambrian Railways Company. [G.S.]
[A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain Vol. II]
Railways: Cambrian Railways Co. constituent companies
Newtown & Llanidloes Railway Co. (1853-1864)
The year 1852 saw two schemes: the Shrewsbury & Aberystwyth Railway and the Montgomeryshire Railway for connecting these towns, each had a different route. The London & North Western Railway intended subscribing to the S&AR, but as a safeguard deposited Bills for a Shrewsbury to Newtown line and the Crewe to Shrewsbury line. This posed a threat to the Montgomeryshire Railway already cut back to Newtown. The people of Llanidloes promoted the Llanidloes & Newtown Railway which received Royal Assent on 4 August 1853, to link up with whatever railway was passed by Parliament . However the other schemes failed leaving the L&NR isolated, which prompted the formation of the Oswestry & Newtown Railway by Act of 26 June 1855 to link the L&NR with the Great Western Railway at Oswestry.
David Davies of Llandinam was awarded the contract for the L&NR, work commenced in October 1855 and was virtually complete late in 1857 when the money ran out. David Davies and his partner Thomas Savin moved on to construct the Vale of Clwyd Railway, and on their return leased the L&NR by Act of 21 July 1859 pending completion of the work. The official opening took place on 31 August 1859.
The L&NR agreed to build a new station at Llanidloes for use by the Mid-Wales Railway, Manchester & Milford Railway and itself, and a connecting line to Penpontbren Junction where the M&MR turned towards Llangurig.
David Davies of Llandinam was awarded the contract for the L&NR, work commenced in October 1855 and was virtually complete late in 1857 when the money ran out. David Davies and his partner Thomas Savin moved on to construct the Vale of Clwyd Railway, and on their return leased the L&NR by Act of 21 July 1859 pending completion of the work. The official opening took place on 31 August 1859.
The L&NR agreed to build a new station at Llanidloes for use by the Mid-Wales Railway, Manchester & Milford Railway and itself, and a connecting line to Penpontbren Junction where the M&MR turned towards Llangurig.
Oswestry & Newtown Railway Co. (1855-1864)
The Oswestry & Newtown Railway was authorised by Act of 26 June 1855 and was opened between Oswestry and Welshpool on 14 August 1860 and throughout on 10 June 1861. The O&NR agreed to allow the LNWR to run from Buttington Junction to Welshpool from the Shrewsbury & Welshpool Railway. This section of the O&NR was doubled in readiness for the opening of the S&WR on 27 January 1862. A further Act of 17 May 1861 authorised the Llanfyllin and Kerry branches. The Llanfyllin line opened on 10 April 1863 and the Kerry branch on 2 March for goods and 1 July for passengers the same year.
Newtown & Machynlleth Railway Co. (1857-1864)
The opening of Machynlleth station
The Newtown & Machynlleth incorporation Act of 27 July 1857 sanctioned a traffic agreement with the L&NR, O&NR, S&WR, GWR and LNWR.
David Davies and Thomas Savin were the contractors and the construction involved the excavation of the 120ft deep cutting at Talerddig (right). Thomas Savin wished to extend the line to Aberystwyth but Davies was more cautious this disagreement lead to the break up of the partnership 1860. The first contractors train reached Machynlleth on May Day 1862. Following failure of negotiations with the GWR to work the line, the N&MR was leased to the O&NR and the joint committee’s trains were extended to Machynlleth on 3 January 1863
David Davies and Thomas Savin were the contractors and the construction involved the excavation of the 120ft deep cutting at Talerddig (right). Thomas Savin wished to extend the line to Aberystwyth but Davies was more cautious this disagreement lead to the break up of the partnership 1860. The first contractors train reached Machynlleth on May Day 1862. Following failure of negotiations with the GWR to work the line, the N&MR was leased to the O&NR and the joint committee’s trains were extended to Machynlleth on 3 January 1863
Oswestry, Ellesmere & Whitchurch Railway Co. (1861-1864)
On the opening of the Crewe to Shrewsbury line by the LNWR in 1858 the above railways grasped the oppotunity to reach Crewe. The LNWR welcomed the scheme but the GWR opposed it promoting rival Bills of its own which all failed, only the Oswestry Ellesmere & Whitchurch Railway gained Royal Assent on 1 August 1861. Following additional proposals and counter proposals at the western part of the route involving the GWR, the OE&WR was authorised to build a line from Ellesmere to Wem to join the LNWR, but this line was not proceeded with..
The construction of the OE&WR (by T. Savin) involved traversing two peat bogs using timber framed brushwood rafts. The section between Whitchurch and Ellesmere opened on 20 April for goods traffic and 4 May for passenger traffic, and the remaining section to Oswestry was opened to all traffic on 27 July 1864.
The construction of the OE&WR (by T. Savin) involved traversing two peat bogs using timber framed brushwood rafts. The section between Whitchurch and Ellesmere opened on 20 April for goods traffic and 4 May for passenger traffic, and the remaining section to Oswestry was opened to all traffic on 27 July 1864.
Aberystwith & Welch Coast Railway Co. (1861-1865)
The Aberystwith & Welch Coast Railway was incorporated by Act of 22 July 1861, for a line from Aberystwyth through Towyn, Barmouth and Portmadoc to Pwllheli, with a connection south of the Dovey to the N&MR at Machynlleth. The L&NR and O&NR subscribed a quarter of the share capital but the N&MR insisted on a clause permitting them to build the section from Machynlleth to Aberystwyth, failing its prompt construction by the A&WCR. By Act of 29 July 1862 an extension to Porth Dinllaen was authorised (which was not built), and a branch from Barmouth to Dolgellau (which was) to meet pro GWR companies advancing from Ruabon.
The Machynlleth to Aberwystwyth section was opened first on 23 June 1864 to passengers, freight having already begun. The proposed bridge over the Dovey Estuary was not built, the crossing proved too difficult, but construction north thereof had progressed and the line as far as Penmaenpool opened on 3 July 1865. An Act was obtained on 5 July 1865 to connect with the Machynlleth to Aberystwyth line at Morben (Dovey Junction) instead of the bridge, this section from Aberdovey (with the harbour branch) was opened on 14 August 1867. The rest of the A&WCR to Pwllheli was open by 10 October 1867.
The contractor of the A&WCR was Thomas Savin, who had the entire Cambrian Railways system leased to him as payment for works done by Act of 5 July 1865, the same day as the Cambrian and Coast Railways (Amalgamation) Bill was passed. [G.S.]
[A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain Vol. II]
The Machynlleth to Aberwystwyth section was opened first on 23 June 1864 to passengers, freight having already begun. The proposed bridge over the Dovey Estuary was not built, the crossing proved too difficult, but construction north thereof had progressed and the line as far as Penmaenpool opened on 3 July 1865. An Act was obtained on 5 July 1865 to connect with the Machynlleth to Aberystwyth line at Morben (Dovey Junction) instead of the bridge, this section from Aberdovey (with the harbour branch) was opened on 14 August 1867. The rest of the A&WCR to Pwllheli was open by 10 October 1867.
The contractor of the A&WCR was Thomas Savin, who had the entire Cambrian Railways system leased to him as payment for works done by Act of 5 July 1865, the same day as the Cambrian and Coast Railways (Amalgamation) Bill was passed. [G.S.]
[A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain Vol. II]