Coal Wagons

[Newport_rod]

An alternative approach Rhobat would be to look at pics of coal wagons at Barry Docks (I think there are one or two about) and identify the Rhondda amongst them. I'm sure you will soon come up with a list of wagons to model (and letter !) to keep you busy for a few years even if you can't tie down some/many of them to an originating valley.

[Rhobat Bryn]

Good point, Rod. I'll follow that up.

[andrewnummelin]

Rhobat,

Partly to start doing a similar exercise for my layout project I dug out Coalfield maps published by the Glamorgan Record Office - reproductions of items originally put out by the Business Statistics Company.
Moving down the Rhondda Fawr as far as Pontypridd the 1923 map shows firms working the properties (Title of Property if different):-
Fernhill Collieries Ltd
Cory Bros & Co Ltd (Tydraw)
United National (Bute Merthyr)
Troedyrhiw (Ynysfaio)
Nantdyrus Colly Co
Burnyeat Brown & Co (Abergorki)
Ocean Coal Co
Cory Bros & C (Pentre Gelli & Bwllfaddu)
Blaenclydach Colliery Co
Glamorgan Coal (Hoods Merthyr)
Insoles Ltd (Cymmer)
Cambrian Coal
Lewis Merthyr Consolidated Collieries Ltd
Great Western Colliery Co

Down the Rhondda Fach:
Lockets Merthyr Colly Ltd
D. Davis & Sons (Ferndale)
United National (National & Standard Merthyr)


The 1927 map is very similar but
Troedrhiw, Abergorky (spelling!)
Hoods Merthyr is now called Glamorgan
Blaenclydach is now Cambrian Colls Ltd
Lewis Merthyr is now Powell Duffryn


The 1911 map shows the names of the collieries rather than owner or working organisation so not really so useful for modelling purposes.

Next task should be going through photographic records...

[Rhobat Bryn]

Thanks Andrew. There's enough there to keep me going for several lifetimes.

In terms of photographs, would I be right in thinking that the Keith Turton Private Owner Wagons series is the best place to start? I have a copy of the fourth collection which has a Cory Bros wagon picture included.

[wokmad]

If you want a list of coal wagon photos, the best place to look is Joe Greaves index, available via a link on the PO wagon page on the Lightmoor Press website. It is complete up to Turton 14, i.e. all but the latest one.
Robin Simmonds

[andrewnummelin]

Excellent suggestions from Noel & Robin.
My favourite sources are the books by Montague, Tavender & Watts.
Also the photo collection of the HMRS is worth a browse.
https://hmrs.org.uk/photographs.html
A couple of examples of a prominent place name on a wagon not referring to the place of operation:
https://hmrs.org.uk/photographs/lewis-a ... 13979.html
https://hmrs.org.uk/llest-no-3-rhondda- ... 13986.html