PBR bridge lift

For any of you who have visited the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway, or have been following our development plans, will be aware that the any further expansion south is dependant on the replacement/refurbishment of bridge 19 over the Varteg Road just south of Blaenavon High Level. We had planned to do this as part of the extension work but monies allocated to that had to be diverted to bridge 13 when it was found to be in a rather worse state that originally thought. As bridge 19 wasn't essential for the opening of the extension we could do this (although we couldn't lay in a run round loop at High Level as loco's would have had to run onto the bridge to run round).

The good news is that work has now commenced on bridge 19 and this is being undertaken by Torfaen CBC under roadworks plans. Basically they need to increase the head room under the bridge and as it's over 140 years the best option is to put a new, modern shallow deck structure in. There will be two separate structures, one for the railway and one for the cycle track.

The lift took place over the weekend http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/c1936551.html

The bridges will be in place by the end of April.

regards
Alistair

 

Excellent News - does this make a run round and further extension more likely?

 

The PBR in the past few years has really marked its place on the map, and is one to watch for the future. I can't wait to see what happens when it opens its Branch to Big Pit. In the future, a full redevelopment at Furnace Sidings with an interpretive centre, as planned, will really make it an industrial hotspot!

Personally, I'm waiting for the day they get the Super D and the Coal Tank there for a gala

 

Should be both

This give us immediate access to another 400 or so yards of track and track bed which we aim to get up and running asap and a run round loop t BHL should be not to long after.

After the 400 yards we encounter a slight problem with the presence of a cycle track on the track bed, but the council do not see that as a problem. They are sure we can fit both in side by side and it is in their Long Range Plan (LRP) to help the railway get back down the valley.

 

Great news! I was a little lad when my Grandad took me for a walk along the branch just after the last trains ran. I remember the rails were gone and every sleeper was levered out of its hole and left at an angle ready to be picked up. We walked from Big Arch through Talywain, over the viaduct and up as far as Six Bells. It would be fantastic to see trains over Abersychan viaduct again. I can remember pairs of 37's on coal trains snaking round below the British mountain past the old line to Blaenserchan Pit. My grandparents lived in Manor Road, Abersychan and I remember being able to glimpse the trains between the houses from their upstairs front bedroom!....
I found an interesting website on the area: http://philjenkins.fotopic.net/

 

I like the 2011 PBR website. Very nice.

http://www.pontypool-and-blaenavon.co.uk/

 

Thanks guys

Stu - check this gallery out, it should bring back some memories then http://www.arthurspics.fotopic.net/

John Down does a sterling job on the website, the development bit is really good http://www.pontypool-and-blaenavon.co.uk/pages/development-select.html - I use it to keep track of things as well!

 

I was going to comment on that, its very similar to the sort of thing some folks use to monitor projects in industry. Its good to see lots of things moving at one place and regular updates to demonstrate progress. It certainly demonstrstes the vibrancy that you have up there.

 

Thanks Pesmo, it's received a lot of favourable comments and does show just how much is actually going on.

Work is continuing on the Big Pit branch and we should be opening this during the season -

http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/p67924091.html
http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/p67924100.html

All the best
Alistair

 

Hello,

Ive looked on google earth from Furness Sidings right down to Pontypool I think, and the trackbed along with a number of bridges look pretty much intach. Are they any plans to extend down as far as Pontypool in the long term of course?

Also what about North? I know from a visit last year that the trackbed from the present North End is taken over by a water course right under the access bridge to the pub at the North End Station.

Shame really as that ones hell of a bank to climb.

The one think that did disapoint me with site at Furness was all the scrap rolling stock rotting away. Really sad to see former GWR 42xx tank isolated at the bottom of the site and the 56xx and 96xx engines again striped down and rusting away.

Are there any plans to tidy up the stock that isnt going to be restored anytime soon?

Excellent work and really looking forward to becoming a working member later this year.

Kind Regards

Great Western

 

You must have very good eyesight.

Meic

 

Hi Great Western

we'll be pleased to have you on board.

Heading South - we have plans to reach down as far as Wainfelin on the outskirts of Pontypool. Sadly we can't go all the way back in as the bypass and Tesco's now occupy the track bed.

Heading north the track bed is intact and in really good condition, apart from the short section of culvert than can easily be remedied. The problem is that the land immediately north of the Whistle Inn is owned by Glamorgan Power (or similar) with the intention of opencasting it. Licences have been applied for in the past but have been turned down each time, the land is a site of special scientific interest and has not been dug over in the past unlike other local opencast sites. We did suggest in the past that we could lay our rails and run our trains until they got permission to open cast after which we would remove the rails, they would open cast and then we we would relay them afterwards, but they declined. Until the issue with the land is resolved we just have to stop at the Whistle Inn and stare longingly northwards.

A walk along the track bed to Waunavon is here http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/c1589301.html

As for the steam locos in the yard -
4253 is up for sale and has been for some time.
The 56xx is due to move undercover into the new extension to the Top Shed (which is nearly complete) and restoration will start, funded by the sake of the owners other steam loco's including 4253.

The pannier is owned by the Pontypool and Blaenavon Loco Group, and after spending quite a few years collecting parts are now cracking on with the restoration. The problem (and it's a good problem) is that with the railway expanding the members are also working on that as well so restoration is not as fast as could be. The Pannier should be moving under cover as well which will certainly help speed things along. As a member you'll get the railways magazine Top Line and I (being editor) try and get an update from the group for every issue.

Hope this helps
regards
Alistair

 

Thanks for the reply.
I didnt realise how good the trackbed north was. I kind of written it off looking at the waterway under the bridge. Didnt realise how good it was further up.

Good to see thing happening with regards to getting stock undercover.
Is the extension south of High Level funded and if so how far?

Is the railway in reciept of grants from the WAG etc?

Excellent work, really impressed. I remember coming up about 10 years ago there was only a trip up to Whistle Inn, nothing South. The Barry engines were all lined up in the yard, to be honest it looked like a scrap yard!. Glad to see that the centre/railway is going places.

My father remembers coming up with a 37 from Newport area delivery rolling stock before the line was closed !!!

Regards

Great Western.

 

Hello Ali,

I don't see Tescos as a problem... You can pick up your fresh fruit & veg as you pass through aisle 1!!

I'm looking for my coat....

Regards,
Ian.

 

Coats are aisle 3 :0)

We have another 400 yards of track and track bed intact (although it will need gardening and relaying) south of High Level Station so we will be getting to grips with that as soon as the bridge is back. After that there is the slight problem of a cycle track down the track bed, but the council don't see that as an impediment to us extending down the valley. As to funding for that, well - no pun intended - we'll cross that bridge when we come to it!

The extension to High Level was funded by the Heads of Valleys Initiative using money from the European Regional Development Fund. The majority of it going on the bridges as seen here - http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/c1678639.html

We are "blessed" with quite a few bridges in such a short space , I think 3 bridges in a quarter mile is more than enough (bridges 13, 14 and 16 - Br thankfully filling in bridge 15 many years ago).

As far as I am aware there's been no funding from the WAG yet (they've spent it all on the Arriva trains not ours).

I guess your dad would have been on the "Big Pit Special" - it was 37243, and ran on Saturday 30 October 1982 delivering a couple of MK1 coaches and a brake van. Last train up the valley before the track was taken up.

regards
Alistair

 

Sounds about right 1983 !!!.

Its good to see so much work being undertaken and to such a high standard. Really sets the line up for great things in the years to come.

I did see a picture of the 14xx and Autocoach going South I think, but the bank it was on had a rather big fall in it...Are there problems with the formation, baring in mind the extensive mine workings that litter the area?

I would have though that the railway being a world heritage area, that would open up funding oppertunitues?

Seeing a GWR locomotive slogging up the from High Level on some coal opens would be excellent !

Regards

Great Western.

 

Or even better the LNWR Coal Tank!

 

LNWr coal tank paired with the Super D :0)

Don't worry GW the railway is in no danger of becoming an underground attraction at Big Pit. The slip you are on about happened before the extension was open. Due to the nature of the area a large covering of ash and coal dust has built up over the years on top of the normal levels, the slip is due to some of that getting sodden with water and sliding under its own weight, the actual infrastructure (embankment) is solid. A culvert had got blocked, causing water to flow down the track bed and then exiting down the embankment at his point, soaking the ash layer until it gave way. You can see the slip in question here at the rear of the auto coach.

http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/p67334996.htm

We know check all culverts regularly.

regards
Alistair

 

No quite a GWR coal train but it's stil nice

http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/p47781183.html

http://www.aligrieve.fotopic.net/p47781189.html

 

Thanks for the reassuring words. Those pictures are stunning, it really shows how unque the railway is and what an amazing backdrop the railway has.

A Super D on a dozen coal wagons!! woowwwwoooowww....Even better a 42xx!
Its a shame I missed the GWR 175 Gala with CoT and the 14xx.

I did notice you guys dont currently have a signal box or signalling apart from the ground frame at Furness, I'd assume as the railway develops a signal box and signalling would be required for two train operation.

Or can you split the railway in two as it is? One section Furness to Whislte Inn and Furness to Bleanavon High?

Either way really looking forward to coming down very soon !.

Great Western.