Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway

Saw 72 at Llangollen, looked real nice and smart! Should be a nice and apt stablemate for Mech Navvies.

 

The ex-Devonport Dockyard 0-4-0ST no. 19 has, I believe, returned to Bodmin for overhaul, but I don't know whether or when she will go back to Wales. Anyway, the new arrival NCB no. 72 looks good, and the September steam gala with the Super D and the Coal Tank is pretty well compulsory!

John

 

Quick question, is there any news on Class 31 D5627 since her derailment?

 

It went to Nemesis Rail some time back for repairs to be carried out, is all I know. I'm a steam man myself!

Alex.

 

Thanks for the info! I'm a steam guy as well but it did look great on the line. Do you think it will be coming back?

 

I read an old article (about 18 months old) which says the land North of Whislte Inn is order by some opencast mining company? They planned to outcast mine the area, but to date nothing has happened, but they retain the rights.

Any news on whether they plan to mine the area, and whether relevant permissions can be granted, the local councils sound very supportive of both North and South extensions.

Can't wait to get my hands dirty soon.

Great Western

 

Hello Great Western,

Get yourself along on any Sunday (initially). There is/are a shed load of things going on at the moment. Best place & time is the old tea room, between 09:30-10:00. That way, you can sound out the railway, and the railway staff can sound you out, as well.

Ian

 

I heard on the Welsh news that the open cast mining scheme for the land to the north of Whistle Inn has been rejected (again), does this rejection lend itself to a Northern extension to the railway ?

Great Western

 

Varteg Hill is to the South of Blaenavon and not North of the Whistle Inn. I don't believe there are any current plans to open cast North of the Whistle although part of the land is currently owned by a mining company.

Alex.

 

Andrew Barclay Rosyth No. 1 is now in service at the railway, having operated successfully both days last weekend. Below is the planned loco roster for the next few weekends if you fancy coming along and sampling a ride behind Rosyth.

Loco Roster
June 21 71515 on vintage trains daytime, evening murder mystery special with MK1's.
June 22, 28, 29, July 5 & 6 Rosyth on vintage trains full line.
July 12 & 13 1940's Weekend 71515 with Mk1's on main line and Rosyth on vintage train shuttles to Big Pit and Whistle Inn.

Alex

 

The latest SR magazine says the railway is clearing the track left in situ South of High Level station.

What are the plans for this section ?

GW

 

We plan to relay it all in concrete sleepers we have recently purchased enough to do this. This is only a short section of about 1/4 of a mile, but the intention is to show the council that we have gone as far as we can and would like to go further.

Alex G.

 

It'll be interesting operationally, as I guess at either end of the line you will have a single track, with two stations with passing loops in the middle. In normal service, does the loco run round after descending from whistle inn halt or before the climb up to that point? And would that be a similar situation at the south end?

 

We currently run round before the clime to the Whistle Inn, running round at Furnace Sidings is not simple either because of the gradient in the station all passengers have to get off the train while the loco runs round. The South section will only see used on special events etc. once complete. there is no real time frame for completion at the moment.

We would like to extend North to Waenavon so we could run trains Blaenavon High Level - Furnace Sidings - Whistle Inn - Weanavon so the operation would be simpler with run round loops on the flat at each end. There are some issues with land ownership on part of the Whistle to Weanavon section of the line to resolve first though.

Alex.

 

I like that attitude. I'll put your line on my list for my next round Britain tour. Off to find your website

 

Destination Talywain? One day, I hope.....

 

That is the intention.

 

24 photos of working steam taken in 1974 at Blaenavon, Mountain Ash and other collieries in south Wales may be of interest. Several of the locos photographed have since been preserved including Blaenavon Nos 5 & 6, Sir Gomer and ex-GWR 7754:

http://andrewstransport.smugmug.com...steam/46266705_p8K3tc#!i=3753299488&k=MStdM24

Cheers

Andrew N

 

Is that where the track bed goes across the B4248. That will be a better site for a main station as it is next to a main road.

 

I cycled up the cutting to where the B4248 crosses last year, quite a hard climb. It seemed generally to be in reasonable shape in places, but drainage and quite a lot of re-grading would be needed. That would be an interesting place for a station as GWR Man suggests, but I bet it can be a bit bleak up there some days due to the topography. It can't be far from the site of the original Waunavon station which I think was once the highest station in England and Wales. There is a modern'ish looking house there which looks like it might be on the site of the original station, perhaps someone local can confirm?