South Wales Valleys - Railways and Industry on the Brecon & Merthyr

"A helpful contribution to Welsh railway history . . . definitely one for those with an interest in South Wales railways and industrial history." —Welsh Railways Research Circle Newsletter This book, as part of the South Wales Valleys series, deals with the former Brecon & Merthyr Railway line which ran from Bassaleg (north of Newport) to Brecon and Rhymney B&M, the latter line being closed north of New Tredegar in 1930 due to a landslide, one of several in that area. The most important and lucrative traffic was of course coal from the many collieries on the line, much bound for Newport Docks, though there was a regular passenger service both to Brecon and New Tredegar which ran to Rhymney B&M before 1930. At Machen the line diverted to Caerphilly and Pontypridd again with coal and passenger services, mostly covered by auto trains. Each location along all lines in the area is covered in detail with copious photographs to illustrate, and an OS Map from the start of the 20th C. to present a detailed coverage of the area around each location. The line is still open from Bassaleg to Machen Quarry for occasional trains of stone traffic using modern traction and wagons. "Packed with historical information and nostalgic views of a railway now lost to us." —West Somerset Railway Association "A worthy depiction of a now largely vanished railway for those with a special local interest in the area." —Journal of the Railway & Canal Historical Society