Stuart Warr
Margam bound
For a few years now, coal from the washery at Onllwyn has been worked usually only on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays, always invariably with a destination of Immingham, but I noticed a 'Q' path for today (15 January 2022) and was surprised to see on RTT this morning that the working had been activated. The location is very close to where Pantyffordd Halt was situated (opened 1929, closed 1962) and the point of view is one that required no direct sunlight owing to the departure time. DBC liveried Class 66 number 66167 works the 13.54 Onllwyn to Margam, running 124-minutes early. Presumably, the coal will be moved to Immingham at a later date.
Pantyffordd is situated about one mile south of Onllwyn on the former Neath & Brecon Railway, a railway that always had to endure hard financial times. It was opened throughout to freight in 1866 and passengers the following year, services were sparse, in 1948 there were only three return journeys daily in each direction, the 33-miles taking 105-minutes. 1962 saw the end of passenger services with some residual freight (coal and stone) remaining on the southern part of the line. Stone workings finished several years ago and coal workings are anticipated to cease in March 2022. Fortunately, the branch is expected to survive as the land around Onllwyn has planning permission and financial backing for a railway test site with work due to start later this year - so who knows what will be photographable at this location in a few years time, the mind boggles!
Margam bound
For a few years now, coal from the washery at Onllwyn has been worked usually only on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays, always invariably with a destination of Immingham, but I noticed a 'Q' path for today (15 January 2022) and was surprised to see on RTT this morning that the working had been activated. The location is very close to where Pantyffordd Halt was situated (opened 1929, closed 1962) and the point of view is one that required no direct sunlight owing to the departure time. DBC liveried Class 66 number 66167 works the 13.54 Onllwyn to Margam, running 124-minutes early. Presumably, the coal will be moved to Immingham at a later date.
Pantyffordd is situated about one mile south of Onllwyn on the former Neath & Brecon Railway, a railway that always had to endure hard financial times. It was opened throughout to freight in 1866 and passengers the following year, services were sparse, in 1948 there were only three return journeys daily in each direction, the 33-miles taking 105-minutes. 1962 saw the end of passenger services with some residual freight (coal and stone) remaining on the southern part of the line. Stone workings finished several years ago and coal workings are anticipated to cease in March 2022. Fortunately, the branch is expected to survive as the land around Onllwyn has planning permission and financial backing for a railway test site with work due to start later this year - so who knows what will be photographable at this location in a few years time, the mind boggles!