passenger services between Pontypridd, Machen and Newport

[andrewnummelin]

According to Kidner The Rhymney Rly, p.40 there was a GWR service from 21st August 1920 Newport, Penrhos, Pontypridd, Carmarthen, etc. running over 6 railway companies lines in addition to their own.

In WRA vol.III,p.38 also mentions this train. P.72 discusses what happened in 1920. It also has ‘Through tourist service ‘ via the same route.

This morning I was going though Colin Chapman's notes on the B&MR and noted the following on page 129 of file CN.pdf that is attributed to the Directors' Minute Book 1912-1922 PRO RAIL 65.10

CNpage129.jpg

So it appears the service was not a success.
I regret that I do not have the WRA's you refer to, only Harold Morgan's "THROUGH COACH WORKING FROM SOUTH WALES TO ABERYSTWYTH.doc". I'll try to look at the WRA's on Tuesday.

Interestingly Colin's notes on the B&MR record the start of the RR motor services between Caerphilly and Machen but I didn't spot anything on the intermediate halts nor any changes to the service. Perhaps there's something in Colin's notes on the Rhymney Railway that I hope to start reading tomorrow. The B&MR directors' minutes did record the extension of the ADR service to Machen in 1917.

[Penrhos1920]

I think that the GWR services were summer only. Generally late July to late September.

PS I’ve added some dates to my previous post that I forgot to include.
Richard

[Penrhos1920]

In 1910 the Rhymney operated 1 autotrailer that ran Caerphilly-Machen & Caerphilly-Senghenydd. The ANDR ran 2 autotrailers that were required to operate Pontypridd-Caerphilly. This information comes from a questionnaire by T Hurry Riches that he submitted to the International Railway Congress Association in 1910. The ANDR also stated that ‘we run supplementary trains worked by locomotives when specially needed’. The RR wrote ‘On bank holidays, fete days etc, when there a great rush of passengers, the motor cars are put aside, replacing them by trains handed by locomotives.’

[Newport_rod]

Andrew, Noel and Richard

Thank you for all your contributions. They are much appreciated

Rod

[andrewnummelin]

Andrew, Noel and Richard

Thank you for all your contributions. They are much appreciated

Rod

A pleasure - all good fun.
Next time I have a free day in London it will be a trip to Kew to go through all the relevant Bradshaws.

[Penrhos1920]

Andrew, have you seen this photo of 'Treforest' which actually shows Glyntaff station? It appears to show a pair of ex B&B coaches flanked by a pair of ex Mersey coaches. There is a published photo that is similar to this view, but taken at a different date as the wagons in the foreground are different, which crops the left hand side and only shows 1 ex Mersey.

ADR Coaches at Treforest.jpg

[andrewnummelin]

Andrew, have you seen this photo of 'Treforest' which actually shows Glyntaff station? It appears to show a pair of ex B&B coaches flanked by a pair of ex Mersey coaches. There is a published photo that is similar to this view, but taken at a different date as the wagons in the foreground are different, which crops the left hand side and only shows 1 ex Mersey.

ADR Coaches at Treforest.jpg

Many thanks - I do have a copy of this but mine is not as clear.
Apart from the coaches, there are many questions that come to mind but they are not really to do with the passenger services.

[Penrhos1920]

To prove I get Christmas presents I’ll quote from the reprint of the summer 1932 GWR public timetable. There were 9 rail motors weekdays only between Caerphilly and Pontypridd, with an additional afternoon service on Thursday and Saturday. The service started at Pontypridd at 7:35, took 20 minutes each way, with about 15 minutes turnaround at each end and only required 1 rail motor to complete the duty. 5 were extended to Machen. The last one of the day was also extended to Machen on Saturdays.

There was also a through service from Newport to Merthyr calling at Rhiwderin Machen, Caerphilly, Pontypridd and 5 more stations to Merthyr. It required 2 sets of coaches; what were they? A b-set, or something longer?

[Newport_rod]

Just to add to this.

In 1897, according to the TVR WTT, the PC&N were operating four passenger trains a day between Newport and Pontypridd and there were 16 daily paths for mineral trains.

[Rhobat Bryn]

So was it only the Cardiff Railway that was prevented from accessing the Taff Vale tracks?