Cymru Rails

GWR 5700 Class No. 7754 visiting from the Llangollen Railway for the gala!

This 0-6-0 pannier tank holds a special place in Welsh industrial history as the very last 5700 class locomotive in commercial industrial service. After her British Railways days, she worked at Talywain and Mountain Ash collieries right up until 1975. Having her back in South Wales for this colliery reunion is a brilliant sight. 🚂✨

Hunslet Austerity No. 3879 'Haulwen' is hard at work today hauling the demonstration goods train!

Built in 1942, she worked for the War Department before moving to South Wales to serve at the NCB Cambrian and Mountain Ash collieries. Her name translates to "Bright Sunlight" in Welsh, named after the Mountain Ash colliery managers granddaughter. Watching a true South Wales industrial veteran pull authentic freight through the valley is a fantastic sight 🚂✨

Andrew Barclay No. 2074 'Llantarnam Abbey' is looking absolutely stunning for today’s gala, my first time seeing her since she was brought to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway.

Built in 1939, this 0-6-0ST spent decades working hard at collieries in Mountain Ash before entering preservation. After a extensive overhaul, seeing her back in steam and looking this pristine is a true highlight of the event and a brilliant tribute to South Wales mining heritage 🚂✨

Andrew Barclay No. 2201 'Victory' has been unveiled in her new livery for the Industrial Steam of South Wales II Gala.

The locomotive has been restored to the exact livery she wore 80 years ago while working at the Stewarts & Lloyds plant in Newport, just 16 miles down the road. Seeing her back in steam and remaining as a resident locomotive at the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway is a fantastic celebration of South Wales industrial heritage. 🚂✨

On This Day: 24th September 1851 – Opening of the Vale of Neath Railway 🚂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

On 24th September 1851, the Vale of Neath Railway line officially opened from Neath to Merthyr Tydfil, opening up vital transport connections across the South Wales coalfield.

Further freight branches were quickly added from Gelli Tarw into the Dare and Amman valleys, featuring the impressive Dare Viaduct—one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's famous timber viaducts. The company also operated the Swansea and Neath Railway, providing crucial direct access to the docks at Swansea, before officially amalgamating with the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1865.

While the route historically moved vast quantities of coal to Swansea Docks and Aberthaw Power Station for over a century, its legacy continues in a different form today. Modern passenger services still run along sections of the line as part of the active Valley Lines network.



Credits: Information for this post was sourced from: Historical Welsh Railway Records and Valley Lines Network Archives.

Image credit: Glynneath History (glynneathhistory.uk)