Numerous horse-drawn tramroads were constructed in South Wales during the Industrial Revolution, chiefly between the years 1790 and 1830 and connected with the iron and coal-mining industries.
The earliest tramroads were "edge-railways", where the wagons were guided by having flanged wheels running on plain rails, but from around 1800 most tramroads in the area were being made according to the principles of Benjamin Outram, with unflanged wheels running on L-section tracks fixed to stone-block sleepers; and many earlier lines were also rebuilt to these specifications.[1] Track gauges were not standardised, but most were between 3 ft. 4 in and 4 ft. 4 in.
Overall, the early railways in South Wales covered about 400 miles, but between the 1840s and the 1860s most of the main lines were replaced by standard-gauge steam railways.
The list of tramroads in South Wales can be split into a number of regions:
Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal network
editThe canals converging on Newport Docks originally comprised two independent canals: the Monmouthshire Canal between Newport and Pontymoile Basin (as well as the Crumlin Arm, and the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal between Pontymoile and Brecon. Numerous tramroads, some built by the canal companies themselves, converged on these canals, as well as forming cross-country routes not directly linked to the canals:
| Name of Line | Opened | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberbeeg Tramroad | 1828 | Nantyglo and Coalbrookvale Ironworks to Aberbeeg (junction with Beaufort Tramroad) | Rebuilt as a GWR standard-gauge line |
| Abersychan Limestone Railway | 1827 | Cwm Lasgarn quarry to the British Ironworks, Abersychan via the Blaenavon Railroad | |
| Bailey's Tramroad | 1821 | Nantyglo Ironworks to Govilon canal wharf; later extended to Beaufort Ironworks | |
| Beaufort Tramroad | 1795 | Beaufort Ironworks through Brynmawr to Gilwern canal basin, and through Ebbw Vale to Aberbeeg and Crumlin | Became part of the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway and the Ebbw Valley Railway |
| Benjamin Hall's Tramroad | 1814 | Hafod Trislog, Waterloo and Cefn Coch collieries to Abercarn and North Risca (junction with Sirhowy Tramroad) | |
| Blaenavon Railroad | 1796 | Blaenavon Ironworks to Pontnewynydd canal terminus | Converted to a railway by the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company |
| Brinore Tramroad | 1815 | Rhymney Ironworks, Bryn-oer colliery, Trefil quarries to Talybont-on-Usk canal wharf | |
| Caerleon Tramroad | c.1794 | Cwmbran forges to Ponthir tinplate works and Caerleon quay[2] | Line reused by the GWR |
| Clydach Railroad | 1794 | Waun-dew colliery, Beaufort to Clydach Ironworks, Gilwern canal wharf and Glangrwney Forge | |
| Crumlin Tramroad | 1826 | Crumlin canal basin (connection with Beaufort Tramroad) to Risca (junction with Sirhowy Tramroad) | |
| Cwm Cuffin Tramroad | c.1810 | Blaencuffin Colliery to Crumlin (junction with Beaufort Tramroad) | |
| Cwm Ffrwd Rail Road | c.1819 | Varteg Hill collieries and furnaces to Blaenavon Tramroad at Abersychan | |
| Darren Disgwylfa tram road | 1818 | Darren Disgwylfa limestone quarries to Nantyglo Ironworks | |
| Grosmont Railway | 1819 | Llanvihangel Crucorney via Grosmont to Monmouth Cap (continued as Hereford Railway to Hereford) | Became part of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway |
| Harford's Tramroad | 1835 | Sirhowy Iron Works through tunnel to Ebbw Vale furnaces and rolling mills | |
| Hay Railway | 1816 | Watton wharf, Brecon to Hay-on-Wye & Eardisley (connection with Kington Tramway) | Line later used by the Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway |
| Hill's Tramroad | 1818 | Blaenavon Ironworks to Garnddyrys forge and Llanfoist canal wharf; branch to Tyla Quarries | |
| Kington Tramway | 1820 | Burlingjobb limestone quarries to Kington and Eardisley (connection with Hay Railway) | Line later used by the Kington and Eardisley Railway |
| Llam-march Tramroad | 1795 | Llam-march Coal & Mine Works to Clydach Ironworks and Gilwern canal wharf | |
| Llanarth Tramroad | 1824 | Rock Colliery, Blackwood to Ynysddu (connection with Penllwyn Tramroad) | |
| Llanvihangel Railway | 1814 | Govilon wharf through Abergavenny to Llanvihangel Crucorney (connection with Grosmont Railway) | Became part of the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway |
| Llangattock Tramroad | c.1816 | Darren Quarries to Llangattock Wharf; later extension to Nantyglo | |
| Penllwyn Tramroad | 1824 | Ynysddu (connection with Llanarth Tramroad) to Nine Mile Point (junction with Sirhowy Tramroad) | |
| Pontypool Tramroad | 1829 | Pontnewynydd (connection with Blaenavon Railroad) to Pontypool (junction with Trosnant Tramroad) | |
| Porthmawr Tramroad | by 1800 | Porthmawr Colliery to the canal and connection with the Caerleon Tramroad at Cwmbran[3] | |
| Rassa Railroad | 1794 | Sirhowy Ironworks to Beaufort Ironworks | |
| Rumney Railway | 1826 | Rhymney Ironworks to Bassaleg (junction with Monmouthshire Canal Co. Tramroad) | Conversion to railway completed by the Brecon and Merthyr Railway |
| Sirhowy Tramroad | 1806 | Sirhowy Ironworks and Tredegar Ironworks to Nine Mile Point (junction with Monmouthshire Canal Co. Tramroad) | Became part of the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway |
| Trevil Rail Road | 1797 | Trefil limestone quarries to Ebbw Vale via junctions with Rassa Railroad | |
| Trosnant Tramroad | 1796 | Trosnant Furnace and Blaendare ironworks to Pontymoile canal wharf | |
| Watton Plateway | 1816 | Watton Wharf to Bold's Wharf, Brecon |
This area encompasses the tramroads associated with the Glamorganshire and Aberdare Canals, which ultimately led to Cardiff Docks:
| Name of Line | Opened | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor's Tramroad | 1809 | Dinas colliery to Treforest and the head of the Doctor's Canal at Glyntaff | |
| Dowlais Railroad | 1791 | Dowlais Ironworks to Merthyr canal basin, plus several branches | |
| Gurnos Tramroad | 1792 | Gurnos Quarry to Cyfarthfa Ironworks and Merthyr canal wharf | |
| Hirwaun-Abernant Tramroad (a.k.a. Tappenden's Tramroad)[4] | 1805 | Hirwaun ponds (Cefn Rhigos tramroad connection) to Abernant Ironworks | Closed in 1900 |
| Llanfabon Tramroad | 1810 | Gelligaer & Llancaiach Collieries to Abercynon canal basin | |
| Llwydcoed Tramroad | 1811 | Aberdare Canal terminus to Llwydcoed (junction with Hirwaun-Abernant Tramoad) | Closed in 1900 |
| Maes-Mawr tramroad | Maes-Mawr collieries to Glamorganshire Canal wharf, Upper Boat | ||
| Merthyr Tramroad (Penydarren Tramroad) | 1802 | Morlais quarries to Merthyr ironworks & Abercynon canal basin | Superseded by the Taff Vale Railway |
| Penderyn Tramroad (a.k.a. Mr Glover's Tramroad) | 1794 | Penderyn limestone quarries to Hirwaun ironworks and Bryngwyn collieries | |
| Pentyrch tramroad | 1815 | Pentyrch Iron Works to Melingriffith Tin Plate Works | Converted to a light steam railway in 1871 |
| Sir William Smith's Tramroad (Llanfabon Tramroad) | 1810 | Nelson to Abercynon canal basin |
Served by the Neath and Tennant Canal, which led to Neath and Port Tennant for the Swansea docks:
| Name of Line | Opened | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cefn Rhigos tramroad | 1805 | Hirwaun Ponds (connection with Hirwaun-Abernant Tramroad) to the Neath Canal, Glynneath | |
| Crown Copper Works tramway | 1809 | Dyffryn Clydach Colliery to Crown Copper Works, Skewen | |
| Dr Bevan's Railway (Dinas Tramroad) | 1807 | Dinas Limestone Quarry to Pont Walby (junction with Cefn Rhigos tramroad); branch to Glyn Neath Gunpowder Works | |
| Glyncorrwg Mineral Railway | 1840 | Blaen Cregan collieries to the Neath Canal basin at Aberdulais | |
| Melyn Works tramroad | c.1698 | Gnoll Colliery to Melyncrythan Pill and copper works | |
| Resolven tramroads | 1837 | Cwm-Clydach Colliery & Tyrau Colliery to canal at Resolven |
Swansea Canal tramroads
editThis canal led up the Tawe valley north-east from Swansea:
| Name of Line | Opened | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alltwen tramroad | Alltwen collieries to Pontardawe canal arm | ||
| Brecon Forest Tramroad | c.1821 | Sennybridge to Penwyllt quarries; extended to Onllwyn Ironworks and Ynysgedwyn Ironworks | |
| Clyne tramroads | Cwm Blaen Pelenna, Upper Twrch Brook & Lower Twrch Brook to Neath Canal near Clyne | ||
| Cribarth Tramroad | 1794 | Cribarth quarries to Swansea Canal at Hen Neuadd | |
| Llansamlet Old Waggonway | 1743 | Along east bank of River Tawe, Llansamlet | Superseded by Llansamlet Canal |
| Palleg Railway or Tramroad | 1797 | Cwm Twrch to Swansea Canal at Ynysgedwyn | |
| Scott's Railway | 1819 | Scott's Colliery, Llansamlet to Foxhole wharf on the River Tawe |
A number of largely unconnected tramroads, some linked to the Kidwelly and Llanelly Canal:
| Name of Line | Opened | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carmarthenshire Railway | 1803 | Gorslas to Llanelli basin | Rebuilt as the Llanelly and Mynydd Mawr Railway |
| Carway tramroad | c.1770 | Carway coal pits to Kymer's Canal at Pwll y Llygod for connection to Kidwelly Quay[5] | |
| Llanelly Railway | 1833 | St David's Colliery and Gelli Gille Farm to Machynis Pool | Converted to GWR Dafen Branch |
| Nant Mwrwg tramway | 1833 | St David's Colliery to Llangennech tin plate works | |
| New Lodge tramroad | New Lodge Colliery to Burry Port; branch to Cwm Capel | ||
| Oystermouth Railway (Swansea and Mumbles Railway) | 1806 | Mumbles limestone quarries & Clyne Valley collieries to Swansea | |
| Penclawdd Canal tramroads | c.1814 | Waunarlwydd coal mines and Llewitha Bridge to Penclawdd Canal basin at Ystrad Isaf | |
| Pencoed tramway | Pencoed Colliery and Genwen Quarry to Machynis | ||
| Pwll tramroad | 1826 | New Lodge Colliery (connection with New Lodge tramroad) to Pwll Colliery and Llanelly Dock | |
| Stanley Pit Tramway | 1819 | New Pit, Pembrey to Pembrey Harbour and Pembrey Canal | |
| Trimsaran tramroad | c.1815 | Trimsaran Colliery to Kidwelly and Llanelli Canal arm at Moat Farm |
Outlying areas
editA number of unconnected tramroads in other parts of South Wales:
| Name of Line | Opened | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blorenge Quarries Tramroad | c.1795 | Blorenge quarries to Blaenavon Ironworks | Fell out of use in 1804 and plateway track removed by 1813.[6] |
| Bridgend Railway | 1830 | Bridgend to Aberkenfig (junction with Duffryn Llynvi and Porthcawl Railway) | Taken over by Llynvi Valley Railway |
| Bryn Tramway | c.1819 | Morfa Newydd to Cwmavon Tinplate Works and Bryn-gyrnos Colliery | |
| Cwmavon Tramway | c.1824 | Pontrhydyfen blast furnace to Cwmavon Works and Aberavon docks[7] | Line later used by the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway |
| Duffryn Llynvi and Porthcawl Railway | 1828 | Dyffryn to Porthcawl[8] | Converted to the Llynvi Valley Railway |
| Monmouth Railway | 1812 | May Hill, Monmouth to Coleford, Gloucestershire. Rebuilt as the Coleford Railway | |
| Saundersfoot Railway | 1829 | Thomas Chapel collieries & Stepaside Ironworks to Saundersfoot Harbour | |
| Taibach waggonway | c.1758 | Mynydd Bychan coal mines to Taibach ironworks[9] | |
| Tondu Brickworks tramroad | Llantwit Colliery to Tondu Brickworks |
References
edit- ^ An unlikely achievement: the development of the edge railway for general freight and passengers; Carolyn Dougherty, 2005[permanent dead link]
- ^ The Caerleon Tramroad
- ^ Porthmawr Colliery Archived 7 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Another Blue Plaque for a tramroad site in South Wales" (PDF). Railway & Canal Historical Society. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ Our Transport Heritage: Kymer's Canal
- ^ http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/85814/details Coflein NPRN 85814
- ^ Afan Valley then & now: Pontrhydyfen background
- ^ The Industrial Railway Society: The Penydarren Tramroad, M J T Lewis
- ^ John Vigurs Wharf at Aberavon Archived 24 July 2012 at archive.today
Bibliography
edit- Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals, Joseph Priestley 1831
- Coflein: National Monuments Record of Wales database
- old-maps.co.uk
- Bertram Baxter: Stone Blocks and Iron Rails, David & Charles, 1966
- James Gilbert: Railways of England and Wales, E Grattan, 1838
- Charles Hadfield: The Canals of South Wales and the Border, University of Wales Press & Phoenix House, 1960