Railways of South Wales
In just over 200 years, the South Wales Valleys have gone from being the birthplace of railways, through housing one of the most intense freight systems in the world to becoming the home of a suburban commuter railway system. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES takes a look at this fascinating area, which is bristling with modelling possibilities.
Above: The railways of South Wales were dominated by coal traffic. On May 1 1965, this is the view from Walnut Tree Viaduct looking up Taff Vale. An unidentified Class 37 passes Taffs Well as it heads a loaded coal service for Nantgarw Coking plant. GWR ’56XX’ 0-6-2T 5692 provides rear end assistance for the climb up the valley. Another Class 37 with a coal train waits at signals on the line from Rhymney, on May 13 1965. Hugh Ballantyne/Railphotoprints.uk
