Taffs Well to Ponty 261120 2531
Taffs Well to Pontypridd Walk. Less than half a mile from Taffs Well there are cottages on both sides of the line and which were very close to the track.
This Rhymney Railway line was opened throughout from Rhymney for freight on 25 February 1858 and to passengers on 31 March. It joined the Taff Vale Railway at Walnut Tree Junction, Taffs Well, with the RR having running powers onwards to Cardiff. As cordial relations between the RR and TVR began to sour, the former decided to build a direct line into Cardiff, the route via Caerphilly Tunnel being opened on 1 April 1871.
From then on the old route became freight only, mostly with coal trains from the Rhymney Valley. The first two miles or so to Penrhos Junction became known as the 'Big Hill' due to the continuous 1 in 47 grade, although fortunately most of the trains facing the climb were of empty coal wagons being returned to collieries in the Rhymney Valley.
By the early 1980s traffic was well on the decline and it was considered that all could be handled via Heath Junction, and little traffic had passed via Taffs Well for some time before the section to Penrhos Junction and on to Aber Junction was taken out of use on 21 June 1982. That was not quite the end as a railtour, the Monmouthshire Railway Society's Rod Mill Rattler, made a trip up the 'Big Hill' on 23 October that year. After that, the track was left in place for some time in case there were problems via Heath, so lifting did not start until 1984.
Taffs Well to Ponty 261120 2531
Taffs Well to Pontypridd Walk. Less than half a mile from Taffs Well there are cottages on both sides of the line and which were very close to the track.
This Rhymney Railway line was opened throughout from Rhymney for freight on 25 February 1858 and to passengers on 31 March. It joined the Taff Vale Railway at Walnut Tree Junction, Taffs Well, with the RR having running powers onwards to Cardiff. As cordial relations between the RR and TVR began to sour, the former decided to build a direct line into Cardiff, the route via Caerphilly Tunnel being opened on 1 April 1871.
From then on the old route became freight only, mostly with coal trains from the Rhymney Valley. The first two miles or so to Penrhos Junction became known as the 'Big Hill' due to the continuous 1 in 47 grade, although fortunately most of the trains facing the climb were of empty coal wagons being returned to collieries in the Rhymney Valley.
By the early 1980s traffic was well on the decline and it was considered that all could be handled via Heath Junction, and little traffic had passed via Taffs Well for some time before the section to Penrhos Junction and on to Aber Junction was taken out of use on 21 June 1982. That was not quite the end as a railtour, the Monmouthshire Railway Society's Rod Mill Rattler, made a trip up the 'Big Hill' on 23 October that year. After that, the track was left in place for some time in case there were problems via Heath, so lifting did not start until 1984.