They were designed as small mixed traffic locomotives, mainly used on branch lines. The first Locomotives of the Great Western Railway (GWR) were specified by Isambard Kingdom Brunel but Daniel Gooch was soon appointed as the railway's Locomotive Superintendent. Two 0-6-0ST locomotives were acquired by the GWR on 1 January 1923. The Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway. 1894. 33 was not returned until January 1914, when it was renumbered 4506.[6][9]. 4 million tons annually of coal raised in Aberdare valley. Four of the class were nevertheless quickly sold, two to the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway in 1901; and two more to the Neath and Brecon in 1903. This was built as a … The Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway connected the coal mines of the Rhondda Valley to the Swansea Bay ports.. 4555 was bought in working order from British Railways by Patrick Whitehouse and fellow Talyllyn Railway member Pat Garland, so has never had to be restored. GWR absorbed locos 1922 on gives details of Great Western Railway absorbed locomotives which do not yet have individual pages. The skyline is filled by the steam from the cooling towers at Baglan Bay. After the 1923 grouping, Swindon inherited a large and variable collection of locomotives from historic Welsh railway companies, which did not fit into their standardisation programme. Five locomotives were sold to the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway: 1660 became R&SBR 2 in 1919 and returned to the Great Western Railway in 1922 1652 became R&SBR 31 in 1912 and returned to the Great Western Railway in 1922 Under the terms of the Railways Act 1921, the Great Western Railway (GWR) amalgamated with six companies – the "constituent companies" - and absorbed a large number of others – the "subsidiary companies". [6] The Port Talbot Railway (PTR) was absorbed by the GWR in 1 January 1908, but its locomotive fleet remained separate until 1 January 1922. Connecting with the Taff Vale Railway at Treherbert, it had branches to Aberavon and Port Talbot docks. The former Rhondda & Swansea Bay Railway Danygraig Depot at Swansea Docks was unique for its strange locomotives. In 1906 agreement was reached by which the GWR took over the management of the R&SBR system in return for generous financial guarantees. Originally working on the Dart Valley Railway, she later moved to the Dartmouth Steam Railway. South Wales Echo, 10th April 1886 Directors visit the works. The final two batches built were nos. 1893. [12] It is on display inside the Engine House at Highly until its turn to overhaul comes again. The passenger line used to terminate at Swansea … The 4575 Class was a later de­vel­op­ment with larger side tanks. [1] All of the constituent companies and ten of the subsidiary companies owned locomotives,[1] ranging from the Taff Vale Railway which had 275 locomotives (one of which was not taken into GWR stock), to the Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway and the Gwendraeth Valleys Railway, with just two each. Andrew James. These two were returned to the GWR in 1912, being renumbered 4504 and 4505 in December that year. It was built on the broad gauge and had steep gradients, including a rope worked incline near Briton Ferry.. The continuing growth in coal traffic meant that other than a brief hiatus the Rhondda … This gave them extra speed — capable of 60 mph (97 km/h) in service. The passenger service ceased on 3rd December 1962 and goods traffic (Duffryn Rhondda to Briton ferry) on 2nd November 1964. 1st January. 4555-4574 in 1924. Other Absorbed Locomotives Railway Correspondence and Travel Society RCTS. One was given the GWR number 26, but the second (Margret) was sold in 1923 without being allocated a GWR number. 17:13, 4 JAN 2015. This locomotive left Woodham Brothers in September 1975. Alexandra (Newport & South Wales) Docks & Railway. There was great competition between the different railway companies in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Rhondda moreover to Swansea Bay Railway was the Welsh railway company formed to connect the upper end of the Rhondda Fawr with Swansea, with a chief objective of transporting coal & other minerals to Swansea docks.It was incorporated in 1882, but at number one the link to Swansea from Briton Ferry was refused.. Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway links to TVR at Treherbert via Rhondda Tunnel. Opening of the tunnel was much delayed: the line was opened from Cymmer to Blaengwynfi, short of the tunnel, on 2 June 1890, and through the tunnel to Blaenrhondda on 2 July 1890. Locomotives were supplied by Treherbert, Duffryn Yard and Danygraig sheds with 56xx's and 57xx's the mainstay although Taff Vale O4's and A's were also regulars with two of the latter shedded at Danygraig. Swansea had seven stations in 1895, owned by five different railway companies: High Street (GWR), St Thomas (Midland Railway), East Dock (GWR), Riverside (Rhondda & Swansea Bay Railway, by which it was called simply Swansea; renamed Swansea Docks by the GWR in 1924 and … Part Ten: Absorbed Engines 1922 - 1947. She returned to steam in 2020 after having been under a major overhaul since 2014. It was later extended to Swansea and a branch to Neath was added, bringing the total length to 31 miles. The South Wales Mineral Railway was a railway built to serve collieries in the upper Afan Valley, and bring their output to a dock at Briton Ferry, in South Wales.It opened in stages, in 1861 and 1863. This left seven to be absorbed into the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1922.. No. [3] Two more undertakings, not mentioned in the Act, which were responsible for shunting at Swansea Docks, sold their locomotives to the GWR soon afterwards.[1]. This is a 3,443 yd single track tunnel of the former Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway between Treherbert ( Rhondda and Swansea Bay Junction) and Blaengwynfi. The Great Western Railway (GWR) 4500 Class or Small Prairie is a class of 2-6-2T steam locomotives. The R&SBR was a possible means of getting this access if another railway could get control, or running powers, and this motivated the GWR to negotiate with the R&SBR for control. [2] Of this batch 2168 (as 4507) was the last Wolverhampton-built loco to remain in service with BR, not being withdrawn until 1963. The Cog two thirds of the way into the tunnel. The Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway was incorporated in 1882 but was not completed until 1900, the original plans having been extensively modified. The colliery activity in th… 1895 Engines were originally coal-powered steam engines. This article relating to steam locomotives operated in the United Kingdom is a stub. Updated 17:36, 2 JUL 2015. Home; RHONDDA & SWANSEA BAY RAILWAY; Rhondda Tunnel Society; Neath Brecon Railway [7][4][8] In March 1909, R&SBR nos. Nid yw statws neu berchnogaeth hawlfraint yr adnodd hwn yn hysbys. The Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway opened from Aberavon to Cymmer was opened on 2 November 1885, and the R&SBR opened a station there alongside the L&OR (GWR) station. The Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway was a Welsh railway company formed to connect the upper end of the Rhondda Fawr with Swansea, with the chief objective of transporting coal and other minerals to Swansea docks. Held by: 31 and 32 were transferred to the PTR, regaining their GWR numbers 2165 and 2166. 4530-4554 in 1913-15 and nos. Pontypridd Chronicle, 17th December 1881 Rhondda and SwanseaBay Railway Public meeting at … Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles. The final two batches built were nos. In April 1907, the GWR sent three new locomotives of the first batch, nos. It also carried passenger trains. Of this batch 2168 (as 4507) was the last Wolver­hamp­ton-built loco to re­main in ser­vice with BR, not being with­drawn until 1963. The East Dock branch line was once parallel to a passenger route which is the track bed between the branch and main road but it closed to passenger traffic as far back as 1933. The design was based on the earlier 4400 Class, but with larger driving wheels and altered wheel spacing. Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway. Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway Tunnel. Barry trains run through to Riverside GWR. This trail follows the course of the former Rhondda and Swansea Bay (R&SB) railway on a largely level course along this spectacular valley. The Rhondda Valley was a breadbasket for the TVR until the Barry, stole much traffic from the TVR, as well as the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway which tunnelled through to Treherbert in 1890. The Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway (R&SBR) had been worked by the GWR since 1 July 1906, although it was not absorbed until 1 January 1922. Over recent decades the once heavily industrialised landscapes of the Afan Valley have been transformed to an area which – reclaimed by forestry and nature – has become a paradise for walkers, cyclists and bird watchers. At Pontypridd the Rhondda branch diverges and follows the course of the Rhondda Valley. The surviving Neath railway station is one of four railway stations originally in Neath, and to distinguish it from the others was at one time named Neath General, the suffix being applied before Nationalisation. 4530-4554 in 1913-15 and nos. 2165–7, to the R&SBR; these were given R&SBR numbers 31–33. Cardiff Times, 4th October 1882 Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway The works to be proceeded with. TfW replaced the previous franchise, Arriva Trains Wales in October 2018. [10]Currently on a 3 year loan to the East Somerset Railway from March 2020. By. 4555-4574 in 1924. Rhondda & Swansea Bay Railway 17 - 21 Former Rhondda & Swansea Bay Railway Locomotives 166 - 167 - 170 - 171 - 175 - 182 - 802 - 806 - 1310 In consideration of your giving up, cancelled, the un- dertaking signed by the Promoters of the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway, dated the 11th day of January, 1882, We the undersigned hereby undertake to repay you the sum advanced by you to make the parlia- mentary deposit for the above railway, with interest on demand." They were designed by C.B Collett for the Great Western Railway (GWR), and were introduced into traffic in 1924. 2165–7, to the R&SBR; these were given R&SBR numbers 31–33. No. [1] A total of 75 were built; 55 were built in four batches between 1906 and 1915 and a fifth batch of 20 locos was built in 1924, during Collett's tenure at Swindon. They were successful designs ideally suited to hauling coal trains a relatively short distance. The bridge was built 1892-4 with a swing portion of 52 metres and a gross weight of 1422 tonnes. It was incorporated in 1882, but at first the connection to Swansea … Rhondda Tunnel. It is currently undergoing an extensive overhaul on the West Somerset Railway, having been out of service since 1998.[11]. The first Locomotives of the Great Western Railway (GWR) were specified by Isambard Kingdom Brunel but Daniel Gooch was soon appointed as the railway's Locomotive Superintendent. Condemned rolling stock and locomotive and rolling stock parts taken over from Alexandra Dock railway, Barry railway, Brecon & Merthyr railway, Cambrian railways, Llanelly & Mynydd Mawr railway, Neath & Brecon railway, Rhondda & Swansea Bay railway, Rhymney railway, Swansea Harbour Trust, Taff Vale railway: volume of photographs. All of them have run in preservation. Eight locomotives acquired by the GWR on 1 January 1923, Thirty-seven locomotives acquired by the GWR on 1 January 1922, Five locomotives acquired by the GWR on 1 January 1923, Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway, Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway, Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway, Midland and South Western Junction Railway, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=GWR_absorbed_locos_1922_on&oldid=978763541, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 16 September 2020, at 20:16. It was withdrawn from service in January 2017 following the expiry of her boiler certificate. 1893. Swansea had seven stations in 1895, owned by five different railway companies: High Street (GWR), St Thomas (Midland Railway), East Dock (GWR), Riverside (Rhondda & Swansea Bay Railway, by which it was called simply Swansea; renamed Swansea Docks by the GWR in 1924 and … You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. The 4575 Class was a later development with larger side tanks. The GWR 5600 Class is a class of 0-6-2T steam locomotive built between 1924 and 1928. [2] The constituent companies were amalgamated on 1 January 1922, some of the subsidiary companies being absorbed on the same date, the rest following at intervals until July 1923. Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway and Port Talbot Railway, List of GWR standard classes with two outside cylinders, "South Devon Railway | Locomotives | Gone but not forgotten | GWR 2-6-2T No 4555", Experimental locomotives (1, 7, 9, 10, 13), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=GWR_4500_Class&oldid=1009054657, Standard gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Originally: 3 long tons 0 cwt (6,700 lb or 3 t), This page was last edited on 26 February 2021, at 13:46. TRAINS (South Wales) Past, present and future. Introduced free, non-contributory pensions for all servants retiring after 25 years or more service. The Locomotives of the Great Western Railway. The first batch (2161–2180) is significant in that it was the last batch of locos built at Stafford Road Works, Wolverhampton. This background of crippling congestion spurred the merchant folk of Swansea - where new coal shipping facilities had opened - to develop plans for the Rhondda & Swansea Bay Railway (R&SBR). There was great competition between the different railway companies in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. [3][4][5] In April 1907, the GWR sent three new locomotives of the first batch, nos. The Swansea Bay line, operated by the Great Western Railway (GWR), transported coal from the Rhondda Valley and upper Afan Valley. It returned to service in late 2006 following an overhaul and after several years painted in Great Western green, was repainted into BR unlined black with the early crest for the first time in preservation. The line opened in 1890 and closed in 1968 as a result of a partial bridge collapse. The first section of the line, as far as Pontypridd, is historically part of the Taff Vale Railway, from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil. The Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway (R&SBR) had been worked by the GWR since 1 July 1906, although it was not absorbed until 1 January 1922. Neath Canalside served the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway services until they ended in 1963. Thirty-nine locomotives acquired by the GWR on 1 January 1922. Three of the class still exist, two of them survivors from Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. Thirty-seven locomotives acquired by the GWR on 1 January 1922 164 - 179, 181 Kitson 0-6-2T; 180, 182 Robert Stephenson and Company 0-6-2T ex Port Talbot Railway; 728, 1167, 1652, 1660 ex-GWR 1076 Class 0-6-0ST; 789, 801, 802, 805, 806 Beyer Peacock 0-6-0T; 1307, 1309, 1310 Kitson 2-4-2T; 1710, 1756 ex-GWR 1701 Class 0-6-0ST 942 was an 0-4-0T taken over by the GWR in 1924: it was built by Hawthorn, Leslie in 1903, renumbered 1153 by BR/WR and withdrawn in 10/55. Currently stored out of service on the Severn Valley Railway awaiting an overhaul, this locomotive left Woodham Brothers in August 1970. At the turn of the century new railways were proposed which were likely to enable the Barry Railway to encroach on the GWR area of dominance at Swansea. The Gelli tunnel carried the Swansea Bay line from the Rhondda Valley, to the Afan Valley, and on to Swansea via Aberafan. Ninety-nine locomotives were acquired by the GWR on 1 January 1922, including five narrow gauge: three on the Vale of Rheidol Railway, and two on the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway, Two locomotives were acquired by the GWR on 1 January 1922. The first two batches were originally numbered 2161–2190 but were renumbered 4500–4529 during 1912. 14th August. The line between Neath and Swansea, crossing the River Neath, was authorised in 1892.