WRRC Forum

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I think their may be some confusion over Pentyrch Signal Box. Most people seem to reference the TVR box at Morganstown on the main TVR line. It was called Pentyrch Crossing and controlled the interchange siding and diagonal crossing between the TVR/GWR/BR(W) and the Melingriffith Tramway.

Pentyrch signal box was a block post on the old Barry Railway Penrhos branch between Tyn-Y-Caeau North and Walnut Tree West.

I have read that it was reasonably level and it was a point at which up trains could stop for a breather if required.

There was a trailing crossover between up and down lines and this may very well have been used to switch locos from down to up line after they at come through the Garth tunnel from the dolomite works at WTW. This allowed the loco to get to the front of the train for the drag back up to Penrhos and then Aber junction.

Before his passing, I had quite a bit of correspondence with Brian Miller about the Penrhos branch, including positions of signals and buildings.

Best wishes

Richard

Pentrych (Barry Rlwy) SB location on the GWR Property map of 1929: Actually dead level at this point!

Compare this with a screen grab of the 25" map and current satelite map on the NLS website:

It would appear there is an error with the GWR map!

The late Brian Mills, in his book on the Barry Railway records the location of Pentyrch signal box on the Up side of the line at 8 miles 30 chains, just before the three arched occupation bridge. According to Brian, this was virtually opposite a PW hut.

RA Cooke's Section 45 confirms this location on the up side of the line.

Pentyrch signal box was closed on 11 Feb 55.

I presume the crossover was removed shortly after as there is no evidence of it in the photo on P 197 of Brian's book which was taken on 10 Jul 64.

With the closure of Penrhos South and Pentyrch in the 1950's, the block section ran all the way from Penrhos Junction to Tynycaeau Junction on the Barry Main line. Walnut Tree West box being opened as required for the Dolomite quarry.

I read somewhere that the signalmen at Pentyrch would cover WTW, which I presume would mean a walk through the Garth tunnel to get there. (A more relaxed approach to H&S back in those days.) After Pentyrch closed, the assumption is that a signalman would travel down from Aber junction on the freight train, open the box and then close it again and return the same way after the shunt had been carried out.