The Great Western Railway (and related lines)

Of the early railways in South Wales, the first were the lines of the Ironmasters, only one held itself aloof from this trade. The South Wales Railway, godchild of the Great Western was on its way to Ireland and points west; South Wales was merely to be crossed as quickly as possible. It was incorporated in 1845 to construct a broad gauge railway from Gloucester (at that time the nearest railhead for South Wales) to Neyland. As a consequence rather than its principal aim, it provided South Wales with a main line to Neyland and though never conceived to serve the local industrial interests it was ultimately connected to all the major valleys.

The South Wales Railway opened between Chepstow and Swansea in 1850, to Gloucester and Carmarthen in 1852 and finally Haverfordwest (1854) and Neyland (1856).

In 1846 saw the handiwork of Brunel the second time in the South Wales valleys when the broad gauge Vale of Neath was authorised to Aberdare and Merthyr from Neath. At the Neath end it made a junction with the South Wales Railway, Brunel's other major work in the area.

The Great Western had a long and straggling line across the north to Dolgellau, almost on the coast of Cardigan Bay and from Bala into the mountains at Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Before the "Grouping" in 1923, by absorption, amalgamation, purchase or construction, the Great Western within the principality consisted of the following (applicable dates shown).

Important Dates
1861		Ely Valley Railway
1863		South Wales Railway
1864		Newport Abergavenny and Hereford Railway
1865		Vale of Neath Railway
1870		MR&CC (Eastern and Western Valleys)
1881		Carmarthen & Cardigan Railway
1883		Llynvi & Ogmore Railway (Tondu Valleys)
1886		Severn Tunnel and Badminton "cut off"
1889		Llanelly Railway & Dock company
1890		Whitland & Taf Vale (Cardigan Branch)
1895		Newcastle Emlyn branch
1897		Pembroke & Tenby Railway
1899		Narberth Road & Maenclochog Railway
1901		Golden Valley Railway
1906		The Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway
1906		Aberayron Branch
1906		New Sea Terminal at Fishguard and Clarbeston to Letterston
1906		Manchester and Milford Railway
1907		Port Talbot Railway
1912		Swansea & District line opened
1930		Corris Railway purchased

The Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway started construction of the Crumlin Viaduct in October 1853, opened 1st June 1857. It was the highest railway viaduct in the United Kingdom lasting for 109 years of service until being dismantled in 1967.

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Two wholly contained traffic districts existed (Newport and Neath) with a third (Wolverhampton) embracing the north, whilst two more were added (Cardiff Valleys and Central Wales) in 1923.

The Great Western's 56xx (based partly on the Rhymney's "M" class with tanks, cab and bunker from the GWR's own 42xx) epitomised steam traction in South Wales with most of the 200 representatives allocated there.






However to the end, the 42xxs remained dominant in the former GWR territory (Newport, Tondu and Vale of Neath) and the 56xxs in the Cardiff Valley district.







Newport Locomotive District was recognised as the largest under the nationalised regime with over 650 steeds within its allocation. The Cardiff Division freight revenue as recent as 1978 was equal to the rest of the Western Region's total or half that of the LMR. Again in 1978, one sixth of the total BR wagon fleet was based in South Wales.

Torpantau was the highest tunnel on the system, Severn tunnel the longest. The Great Western was the largest UK port owner, Milford Haven the second deepest natural harbour in the world.

WRRC Line Superintendent

• Contact details for the line superintendent are available in the Members Section >>

WRRC Information Resource files

• For the Great Western Railway.
• For the Ely Valley Railway.
• For the Newport, Abergavenny & Hereford Railway.
• For the Whitland & Cardigan Railway.
• For the Vale of Neath Railway.

Selected Reading  

• A Regional History Great Britain Vol 11 North and Mid Wales. Peter E Baughan, David & Charles, 1980. ISBN 0-7153-7850-3
• A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain Vol 12 South Wales. D.S.M. Barrie, David & Charles, 2nd edition 1994. ISBN 0946537-69-0
• A Regional History Of The Railways of Great Britain Vol 13 Thames & Severn. Rex Christiansen, David & Charles, 1981. ISBN 0 7153 8004 4
• History of the Great Western Railway Vol 1 1923-1928, Vol 2 1930=1939 & Vol 3 1939-1945. Peter Semmens, Guild Publishing. 1981, 1985 & 1986 repsectively.
• Great Western Way. J.N.Slinn, HMRS, 1978. ISBN 902835 03 3.
• An Historical survey of selected Great Western stations Vol 1. R.H.Clark, Oxford Publishing. 1976. ISBN 902888 29 3
• An Historical survey of selected Great Western stations Vol 2. R.H.Clark, Oxford Publishing. 1979. ISBN 86093 015 7
• An Historical survey of selected Great Western stations Vol 3. R.H.Clark, Oxford Publishing. 1981. ISBN 86093 111 0
• An Historical survey of selected Great Western stations Vol 4. C.R.Potts, Oxford Publishing. 1985. ISBN 86093 191 9
• A Pictorial record of Great Western signalling. A.Vaughan, Oxford Publishing. 1973. ISBN 0 902888 08 0
• A Pictorial record of Great Western absorbed Engines. J.H.Russell, Oxford Publishing. 1978. ISBN 0 902888 74 9
• A Pictorial record of Great Western Engines Vol 1. J.H.Russell, Oxford Publishing. 1975. ISBN 0 86093 399 7
• A Pictorial record of Great Western Engines Vol 2. J.H.Russell, Oxford Publishing. 1975. ISBN 0 86093 399 7
• An Historical survey of Great Western engine sheds 1947. E.Lyons, Oxford Publishing. 1972. ISBN 902888 16 1
• A Pictorial record of Great Western Coaches Vol 1. J.H.Russell, Oxford Publishing. 1972. ISBN 0 902888 03
• A Pictorial record of Great Western Coaches Vol 2. J.H.Russell, Oxford Publishing. 1973. ISBN 0 902888 04 8
• Great Western Railway Siphons. J.N.Slinn B.K.Clarke, HMRS, 1986. ISBN 0 906899 60 5
• A Pictorial record of Great Western Wagons. J.H.Russell, Oxford Publishing. 1971. ISBN 0 902888 01 3
• Great Western Wagons appendix J.H.Russell, Oxford Publishing. 1974. ISBN 0 902888 27 7
• GWR Freight wagons and loads in service. J.H.Russell, Oxford Publishing. 1989. ISBN 0 86093 155 2
• A History of GWR Goods wagons parts 1 & 2. AG Atkins, W Beard, DJ Hyde, & R Tourret, David & Charles. 1986. ISBN 0715387251
• GWR Iron Minks. J.H.Lewis, M.E.M.Lloyd, R.C.Metcalf, N.R.Miller, HMRS, 1980.
• Railways Of Hereford. G.Wood, Kiddermister Railway Museum, 2003. ISBN 9780953477524
• The Golden Valley Railway. C.L.Mowat, Cardiff University Press, 1964.
• The Golden Valley Railway. W.H.Smith, Wild Swan Publications. 1993. ISBN 1 874103 16
• The New Radnor branch. Nicholas de Courtais, Wild Swan Oublications. 1992. ISBN 1 874103 06 2
• The Facility Of Locomotion: The Kington Railways. J.B.Sinclair & W.D.Fenn, Mid-Border Books. 1971. ISBN 0 9518644 08
• Talerdigg In Great Western Days. G Briwant-Jones, Gomer Press. 1993. ISBN 9781859028094
• The Ely Valley Railway. Colin Chapman, Oakwood Press, 2000. ISBN 9780853615583
• The Ruabon To Barmouth Line. Marin F Williams, Lightmoor, ISBN 9781899889976
• The Aberdare Railway. E Mountford and RW Kinder, Oakwood Press, 1995. ISBN 9780853614746
• The Lampeter, Aberayron & New Quay Light Railway. MRC Price, Oakwood, ISBN 9780853614807
• The Shrewsbury & Welshpool Railway. Bob Yate, Lightmoor Press, 2018, ISBN 9781911038344
• Rails To Bala. DW Southern, HJ Leadbetter, MF Williams and SA Weatherley, Charter Publications, 1987, ISBN 978097157038
• Fishguard & Rosslare Railways and Harbour Company. Ernie Shepherd, Colourpoint Books, 2015, IBSN 978-1-780730677
• Great Western Docks and Marine. Tony Atkins, Noodle Books, 2014, Noodle Books, ISBN 9781909328204
• Great Western Railway Stations 1947 – Part 2 The Wirral, Welsh Borders and Wales. Robin J Smith, 9780956731715
• The Ruabon To Barmouth Line – Reflections of a Welsh Railway. Marin Williams, Lightmoor Press, 2015, ISBN 9781899889976
• Railways and Industry in the Western Valley (Newport to Aberbeeg). John Hodge, Pen & Sword, 2016, ISBN 9781473838079
• Railways and Industry in the Western Valley (Aberbeeg to Brynmawr and Ebbw Vale). John Hodge, Pen & Sword 2017, ISN 9781473838086
• Railways And Industry in the Tondu Valleys Vol 1 Bridgend To Treherbert. J.Hodge & S.Davies, Pen & Sword 2019, ISN 9781522672725
• Railways And Industry in the Tondu Valleys Vol 2 Ogmore, Garw & Porthcawl Branches. J.Hodge & S.Davies, Pen & Sword, 2019, ISN 9781526726599
• The Railways Of West Wales : Llanelly West To Carmarthen. J.Hodge, Pen & Sword, 2020, ISBN 9781526762481
• The Ruabon To Barmouth Line: The Ruabon To Bala Section. Pete Dickinson, Fonthill Media, 2019, ISBN 9781781552148
• The South Wales Main Line Part One. John Hodge, Wild Swan, 2000, ISBN 1 874103B 58 5
• The South Wales Main Line Part Two. John Hodge, Wild Swan, 2002, ISBN 1 874103 76 3
• The South Wales Main Line Part Three. John Hodge, Wild Swan, 2004, ISBN 1 874103 95 x
• The South Wales Main Line Part Four, Bridgend (West) To Swansea. John Hodge, Wild Swan, 2005, ISBN 1 905184 06 9
• The South Wales Main Line Part Five, Swansea To Llanelly. John Hodge, Wild Swan, 2015, ISBN 978-0-953877-13-3
• The North & West Route Volume One Shrewsbury. John Hodge, Wild Swan, 2007, ISBN 978 1 905184361
• The North & West Route Volume Two Shrewsbury & Hereford. John Hodge, Wild Swan, 2008, ISBN 978 1 905184477
• The North & West Route Volume 3A Hereford To Abergavenny Jct. John Hodge, Wild Swan, 2010, ISBN 978 1 905184781
• The North & West Route Volume 3B Abergavenny Brecon Road To Maindee Junction. John Hodge, Wild Swan, 2011, ISBN 978 1 905184927
• Six Railways to Merthyr. John Hodge, WRRC. 2014. ISBN 978-09527267-7-7
• Great Western 0-6-2 Tank Classes. David Maidment, Pen & Sword, 2020, ISBN 9781526752055
• Chester & North Wales Border Railways a View From the Past. Rex Christiansen. Ian Allen, 2001. ISBN 0 7110 2816 8
• Marcher Railways. A. Bodlander and others. Bridge Books, 2008. IBSN 978-1-84494-050-9
• Chester Railways. Merseyside Railway History Group. Bridge Books, 2015 ISBN 978-1-84494-101-8
• Wrexham Railways a collection of pictures. A. Bodlander and others. Bridge Books, 1992. ISBN 1 872424 28 7
• Wrexham Railways a collection of pictures Vol 2. A. Bodlander and others. Bridge Books, 1993. ISBN 1 872424 35 X


• Great Western Railway magazine, October 1907. Industrial Development by Railways - Swansea, L.F. Trickery.
• Great Western Railway magazine, May 1908. The Older Engineering Works Of The GWR - The River Wye Bridge At Chepstow, F.C. Warren.
• Great Western Railway magazine, May 1908. Fishguard Harbour Village, Anon.
• Great Western Railway magazine, October 1909. Fishguard The New Port Of Call For Ocean Liners, H Wheeler.
• Great Western Railway magazine, December 1909. Swansea The Port And Its Docks, W Davis.
• Great Western Railway magazine, September 1911. The Principal Stations Of The Great Western Railway – Cardiff.
• Great Western Railway magazine, March 1912. The Lampeter & Abercynon Railway.
• Great Western Railway magazine, August 1913. The Swansea District Railway, F.C. Warren.
• Great Western Railway magazine, July 1914. The New Railways In The Swansea District.
• Great Western Railway magazine, August 1914. Opening Of The New Dock Extension At Newport, Anon.
• Great Western Railway magazine, January 1924. The Severn Tunnel Pumping Machinery, A.J.L White.
• Great Western Railway magazine, February 1924. The Severn Tunnel Ventilating Plant, F.C. Warren.
• Great Western Railway magazine, April 1924. Reconstruction And Widening Of The Viaduct Over The River Usk At Newport, B.C. Cookson.
• Great Western Railway magazine, June 1924. Sea Protection Works On The Cambrian Coast, R.C Kirkpatrick.
• Great Western Railway magazine, June 1924. New Dry Dock At Swansea, Anon.
• Great Western Railway magazine, September & October 1924 & January 1925. The Severn Tunnel - Its Traffic, A.E.Bryant.
• Great Western Railway magazine, January 1925. Sand Drag Trials - British Rhondda (Vale of Neath Line), Anon.


• Railway Archive, 5(2003) 14-25. The Disgraceful Affair of the Thomas Street Level Crossing (GWR Newport, Mon)
• Railway Archive, 6(2004) 77. The Disgraceful Affair of the Thomas Street Level Crossing (GWR Newport, Mon)
• Railway Magazine, Sept 1939, page 197-202. The GWR In West Wales by T.R.Perkins.
• Railway Magazine, Sept 1939, page 191-196. The Kington Branch Of The GWR by John D Hewitt.
• Railway Magazine, Dec 1938, page 439. The Golden Valley Railway John D Hewitt.
• Railway Magazine, July 1937 page 29-38. The Cambrian Coast H.M. Pearson.
• Railway Magazine, Sept 1939, page 157-165. The Railways Of South Wales by D.S. Barrie.
• Railway Magazine, Feb 1940, page 113-114. The Railways Of South Wales by D.S. Barrie.
• Railway Magazine, September 1938 page 203-208. Railways In The Wye Valley. T.R. Perkins.
• Railway Magazine, November 1938 page 355-360. Railways In The Wye Valley. T.R. Perkins.
• Railway Magazine, December 1938 page 435-438. Railways In The Wye Valley. T.R. Perkins.
• Railway Magazine, December 1937, page 417-420. Demolishing The Rhymney Branch Of The Former Barry Railway.
• Railway Magazine, Jan/Feb 1946, page 52. Demolition Of The Rhydyfelin Viaduct (former Cardiff Railway).
• Railway Magazine, September 1938 page 219. Six Railways In 30 Miles, D.S. Barrie.
• Railway Magazine, December 1938 page 489. Six Railways In 30 Miles, D.S. Barrie.
• Railway Magazine, May/June 1946 page 188. Special Services For The Welsh National Eisteddford Anon (Temporary Reopening Of Wrexham-Rhos Line For Passengers).
• Railway Magazine, Sept 1938, page 189-195. The Bala Festiniog Section of the GWR, L.V Hughes.
• Railway Magazine, Jan 1939, page 71. The Bala Festiniog Section of the GWR, L.V Hughes.
• Railway Magazine, July 1937 page 29-38. The Cambrian Coast, H.M. Pearson.
• Railway Magazine, September 1937 page 217. The Cambrian Coast, H.M. Pearson.
• Railway Magazine, October 1937 page 314. The Cambrian Coast, H.M. Pearson.
• Railway Magazine, February 1938 page 141-145. The Maenclochog Railway.
• Railway Magazine, January 1939 page 391-398. The Modern Railway Steamer (Inc. GWR Fishguard - Rosslare),G.W. Tripp .