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Neath and Brecon Railway

Neath and Brecon Railway (and related lines)

Introduction

Incorporated as the Dulais valley railway in 1862, the Neath &Brecon was established to build a standard gauge railway between collieries in the Dulais valley and a junction with the broad gauge Vale of Neath Railway at Cadoxton (Neath), from where a third rail would be laid to gain access to Neath and Swanse Docks. The Neath & Brecon was expensive to operate, and aspirations to expand and develop were effectively ended by the collapse of the bankers Overend and Gurney in 1866, and by the early 1870's the finacial situation was serious. On 1 September 1874, the Midland Railway leased the Swansea Valley Railway, having already reached Brecon from Hereford via the Hereford, Hay & Brecon Railway, and intimated that they intended to run trains over the N&B using the running powers of the Swansea Valley Railway. The N&B was in no position to contest the issue and reluctantly agreed to the Midland working all mainline services between Brecon, Colbren and Ynysgeinon and to pay the N&B one third of the net receipts.

Sennybridge StationThe Midland agreement remained in force until 1889, when an attempt to renegotiate resulted in the Midland Railway withdrawing all its services on 20 June 1889. Following arbitration, through trains resumed a month later but the N&B gained an annual payment and compensation for the inconvenience caused. The situation improved in the 1890's as traffic improved and the passenger service consisted over five trains a day (six on Saturday) between Neath riverside and Colbren Junction. By 1913, the N&B was conveying over 1.2 million tons of coal.

In 1878, the renowned opera singer and celebrity Madame Adelina Patti purchased the Craig-y-nos estate in the valley below Penwyllt. The N&B rebuilt Penwyllt station in stone with a private waiting room for Madame Patti, and both the GWR and Midland provided saloons for her use, and special trains were laid on to allow her to attend singing engagements. In addition private stations existed at Penpont and Abercamlais in the Usk valley

The Neath & Brecon Railway was absorbed by the  GWR as part of the Grouping on 24 July 1922, but it was not until the LMS withdrew its through Hereford-Swansea trains on 31 December 1930 that the GWR introduced Brecon to Neath trains. The northern section of the line was closed, along with all other lines to Brecon, in December 1962, although the section from Neath to Onllwyn remains open to serve the washery.

N&B Map

Important Dates



29 July 1862
   Incorporated by Act of Parliament as the Dulais Valley Railway
13 July 1863
   Obtained Act to change name to Neath & Brecon Railway
29 July 1864
Obtained Act to construct a branch line from Devynock to Llangammarch Wells
2 September 1864
Opened to traffic Neath to Drim Colliery Onllwyn
1865
The first Fairlie's Patent double-ended locomotive runs on N&B
1866
Work on Llangammarch branch abandoned
8 June1867
Opened to traffic Onllwyn to Brecon Mount Street
26 July 1869
Absorbed Swansea Vale & Neath & Brecon Junction Railway (Colbren Jct to Ynysgeinon Jct)
1 March 1871
Brecon Free Street (Joint) Station opened
1874
N&B agree terms to use Brecon Free Street station.
1 July 1877
Midland Railway operate all traffic north of Colbren Junction
20 June 1889
   Midland Railway withdraw through trains
22 July 1889
Midland Railway trains resume following arbitration
1 July 1903
N&B take over coal traffic between Colbren and Ynysgeinion - purchases two 0-6-2T's from Port Talbot Railway
1906 -1908
   Three 0-6-2T's purchased - the last new locomotives the N&B acquired
24 July 1922
   Absorbed by GWR
31 December1930
GWR introduce Brecon to Neath trains after LMS withdraw Hereford-Swansea trains
December 1962
   Craig-y-nos to Brecon closed
1970
Colbren to Craig-y-nos section used for filming "Young Winston" with GWR 1466 disguised as an armoured locomotive
1981
   Onllwyn to Craig-y-nos closed


Selected Reading