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The programme for outdoor meetings 2023.

IMPORTANT: It is essential to advise Keith Dumelow in advance of your intention to join this walk so that you can be contacted in the event of it being necessary to cancel or amend.

Contact details: Keith Dumelow - e-mail: below or mobile & text 07800 630807.




Tuesday 5th September - Brecon & Merthyr Railway: Rhiwderyn and Machen

Ian Reese will be our leader for a walk-cum-car tour of the ex-Brecon & Merthyr Railway lines in the Rhiwderyn, Machen and Bedwas area on Tuesday 5th September.

The origin of the southern section of the B&MR was the tramway of the Rumney Railway opened in 1826 to link the Rhymney Iron Company's works to a junction with the Monmouthshire Railway at Bassaleg. It sold out to the B&MR in 1863, converting the tramway to a standard-gauge railway and thus providing a route to the Bristol Channel, but a lack of funds resulted in much of the alignment of the tramway being retained causing the route to be characterised by sharp bends and slow speeds.

Machen was the point at which the main line of the B&M joined that Company's line from Caerphilly, the latter being unusual in that the up and down lines were separated by nearly half-a-mile and served uni-directional halts. The reason for this was that the original 1864 single line contained a gradient of 1 in 39 against loaded coal trains to Newport and so a loop line was constructed in 1891 to a lesser gradient with increased trailing loads.

The tour will take in a number of locations such as:

  • Rhiwderyn Station (the neighbouring Community Centre is home of the Circle)
  • Church Road Station and the operating and rail-connected Machen Quarry
  • The B&M main line through Machen
  • The separate up and down B&M Machen to Caerphilly branch lines
  • The site of Bedwas station and a very old Rumney Railway (tramway) bridge there

    • Further details will be sent by e-mail closer to the date and to register your interest, without commitment, please contact Ian at ian.moxham@talktalk.net so that details of the tour can be sent to you.

    Appropriate clothing and footwear is advised and this may include sun cream, water, sunglasses and a sun hat!

    Please let me know if you intend to participate in this walk and provide a contact number on which you can be contacted on the day should the need arise. Please also advise of a request for a lift from Port Talbot to Briton Ferry.


    IMPORTANT: It is essential that I am advised in advance of your intention to join any of these walks so that you can be contacted in the event of it being necessary for me to cancel or amend any walk.

    Contact details: Keith Dumelow - e-mail: below or mobile & text 07800 630807.