Time line
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...........1853
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South Wales Mineral Railway Act, "for making a railway from the South Wales Railway
at Briton Ferry to Glyncorrwg in Glamorganshire …".
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1855
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South Wales Mineral Railway (Lease) Act, "to enable the SWMR to grant a lease of
their undertaking."
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Jan 1856
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SWMR leased to the Glyncorrwg Coal Company.
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1861
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South Wales Mineral Railway Act, "to enable the SWMR to
extend their railway to the Briton ferry Docks; and for other purposes."
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Sept 1861
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Briton Ferry to Tonmawr opened.
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March 1863
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Tonmawr to Glyncorrwg opened. Extension to Briton Ferry Dock completed.
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1864
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South Wales Mineral Railway Act, "to enable the SWMR to extend their undertaking"
from Glyncorrwg to North Rhondda
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Jan 1868
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Lease transferred to Glyncorrwg Coal Co. Ltd.
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Aug 1869
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Glyncorrwg Coal Co. Ltd reformed as the Glyncorrwg Colliery Co. Ltd.
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June 1872
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Line converted to standard gauge.
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Oct 1877
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SWMR Co. and Glyncorrwg Colliery Co. Ltd. into Receivership.
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1880
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Glyncorrwg Colliery Co. Ltd. reformed as the Glyncorrwg Colliery Co. Ltd.
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1907
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South Wales Mineral Railway Act, "to empower the SWMR Company to construct a
deviation railway, to abandon part of their existing railway, to raise money, and for other purposes."
Never put into effect.
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Dec 1907
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Agreement for the SWMR to be worked by the PTR&D as from 1 January 1908.
Receiver discharged. Four interrelated agreements: (1) Col Wright, the PTR&D chairman, and others
to purchase share capital of the SWMR and certain of the rolling stock, (2) the GWR to provide the funds for the
purchase, (3) the SWMR to be worked by the PTR, (4) between the PTR and the Glyncorrwg Colliery Company Ltd as to
rates. The net result of the first two agreements was that the GWR became, through trustees, the owner of nearly all
the tangible assets of the SWMR. The colliery company agreed to bring all coal from its collieries north of Glyncorrwg
to the sidings there using its own engines, and to all traffic originating north of Tonmawr being sent via the PTR to
Port Talbot.
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Jan 1908
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Working agreements with the colliery company terminated.
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Oct 1908
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The GWR granted powers to run over and use the railways of the SWMR.
Deemed to have come into effect on 1 January 1908.
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May 1910
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Ynysmaerdy incline closed to traffic.
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March 1918
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Passenger train service between Cymmer and Glyncorrwg commenced. Withdrawn September 1930.
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Jan 1923
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SWMR absorbed into the GWR.
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July 1947
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Gyfylchi tunnel closed due to landslip.
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May 1951
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Final section of line from incline top to Tonmawr closed.
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May 1961
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Abercregan to Cymmer closed.
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Oct 1964
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Workmen's trains between Glyncorrwg and North Rhondda Halt finally discontinued.
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June 1970
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Cymmer to North Rhondda closed.
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The South Wales Mineral Railway (SWMR) was promoted by a group of English industrialists and local landowners who wished
to exploit the minerals around Tonmawr and Glyncorrwg. The broad gauge line, which included the rope-worked Ynysmaerdy
incline, was laid out by Brunel and finished by Brereton, the total route mileage being about 12 miles. The line was
leased to the Glyncorrwg Coal Co. even before construction started.