Rhondda & Swansea Bay Railway

[Rhobat Bryn]

I have been studying the maps on the NLS website and it appears to show the main line of the Rh&SB running between the backs of houses between Railway Terrace and Lowther Street in Briton Ferry. Can anyone confirm this and does anyone know of any pictures of this part of the line?

[wokmad]

I only have the OS 6 inch second edition surveyed 1897 to hand, but that appears to be the case.
Robin SImmonds

[Rhobat Bryn]

Many thanks for the confirmation, Robin. Unfortunately I doubt that there are any photographs of that particular section but I'll see what my research manages to dig up.

[TheObserver]

Rhobat,

I am an occasional visitor to the "West Glamorgan Archive Service" at Swansea Civic Centre (previously known as County Hall), they cover the county areas of both Swansea and of Neath Port Talbot.

Next time I make such a visit, I'll ask some questions, but please don't hold your breath, it may take a few weeks.

[Rhobat Bryn]

John

Many thanks for the offer and I look forward to hearing the results of your endeavours in due course. There is no rush on my side either. I'm still putting an article on the rebuilding of Pontypridd Station 1906-1915 for the Archive so until that's finished, it will be a while before I can give my full attention to this.

[Cwmtudu]

This link - http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/imag ... erry&ref=0 - shows the line running between Railway Terrace and Lowther Street. Some of the comments might be of interest.
John

[Rhobat Bryn]

Many thanks, Cwmtudu, for digging this picture out; it's an excellent find. It, along with the comment, clearly validates what can be found on the map and answers the original question. What appears to be visible on the map to the east side of the line, right as you look at the picture, is an elongated white shape that would appear to be the platform. However this is not shown on the map. There is a reference to a station separate from the GWR line to the west but where the platform appears on the photo, the map shows the back gardens or yards of the houses in Lowther Street.

[wokmad]

For details of the platform you really need the 25in OS or, better still, the GWR Property Plan. I believe Alastair Warrington has a full set for Wales, but failing that I could take a look at the copy in the PRO, Kew, for you next time I am there.

I have a copy of the GWR/SWMR Property Plan which covers the stretch from Court Sart to Briton Ferry, but it cuts off the R&SBR just where it runs between the houses alongside the GWR station!

The GWR Swansea Division Station Diagrams ca. 1923 show the R&SBR platform at Briton Ferry to be 397ft long and to the east of the line.

Robin Simmonds

[Rhobat Bryn]

Many thanks, Robin. The image confirms that the platform was on the east side of the line.

Could you say a little more about the GWR Property Plan and what it is?

[wokmad]

GWR Property Plans were based on the 1:2500 OS (about 25in/mile). Their principal purpose was to depict the land the GWR and its predecessors acquired on which to build their railways, and show the areas concerned, from whom it was acquired, the date of the conveyance, and the number of the Title Deed. Their main value to the historian is that they also show all the OS detail within and alongside the companies’ boundary, and are coloured, e.g. waterways blue, roads buff. Some are also overmarked with subsequent amendments and disposals.

The plan for the Tonmawr area is reproduced in full colour at about 40% reduction in size in WRA Vol. II, No. 10, pp. 240-241.

The entire plans for the PTR&D and the SWMR are reproduced in monochrome at a scale of 1:6000 in, dare I mention it, in my History of the PTR&D and SWMR, Vol. 2, Ch. 21.

Robin Simmonds