Pick-Up Goods Trains

[Rhobat Bryn]

Does anyone know of a good book on the above topic?

[Rhobat Bryn]

Hi Noel

Many thanks for you comments and for your kind offer to help with specific questions.

So here goes:

I'm planning a layout based on Pontypridd (Barry) station together with Pwllgwaun Goods Yard. I was therefore trying to work out how the goods service would have operated. The yard at Pwllgwaun faces Up whereas the yards at Efail Isaf, Creigiau and Wenvoe face Down the line. This led to my thinking the following:

The main pick-up train would have left Barry Goods Shed and run to Pwllgwaun non-stop (see below re Cadoxton). There, it would have reversed into the yard. I have a couple of difficulties at this point. Given that the train would have headed out on the Down line, how would the brake van been put at the other end of the train and how would the locomotive been able to run round?

It then makes sense to me that, at the three stations to the south of Pontypridd, this is the direction in which the drop-off pick-up operation took place. It's also clear that these three stations served centres of low population therefore it is hard to see that there was much traffic on this run, with the exception of Barry - Pontypridd; Pwllgwaun had its own shed which was extended later in its life during Barry days.

There was also a goods yard at Cadoxton which from its location and direction would suggest that it was a stop on the Up run to Pwllgwaun.

I must confess to being a bit lazy as I haven't dug out my working timetable for the Barry Railway as I cannot remember where I left it. It would certainly help with some of the above questions.