NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 32
Nelson & Llancaiach Station April 1964
Michael L. Roach
Four miles north of Pontypridd and a little to the east is the village of Nelson, Glamorgan; not to be confused with the town of the same name in Lancashire. The village in Wales was named after The Lord Nelson public house about 200 years ago, and today has a population of about 4,250. It once had a station called Nelson (Glam) at the end of a former Taff Vale Railway Branch some six miles long from Pontypridd with a single platform located between Ashgrove Terrace and Dynevor Street, just off Commercial Street which passed over the railway. The last timetable shows six trains each way with an extra one late on a Saturday evening to and from Pontypridd; with none on Sundays. The last passenger trains ran on Saturday 11 September 1932. The residents of Nelson were not too inconvenienced by the withdrawal of passenger trains as the village would have had a direct bus service to Pontypridd and had another railway station half a mile to the north called Nelson & Llancaiach, dating from 1912, which replaced an earlier station 15 chains to the east called Llancaiach which would have served Llancaiach Colliery.
In Part 26 I described an early morning visit to Crumlin Viaduct where I walked east to resume my train travel at Hafodyrynys Platform, which was alongside a colliery of the same name. Here I picked up the second train of the day westwards from Pontypool Road which turned up behind Hawksworth pannier 9488 which were relatively rare on passenger trains. I travelled eight miles behind 9488 to alight at Nelson & Llancaiach Station at 9.25am. This was one of the larger stations on the line with three platforms and avoiding lines to the north of the station for freight trains coming from Dowlais CH and Cwmbargoed. There was a junction to the south-east of the station, where the Dowlais line joined the Vale of Neath and a mile further on another line went off to join the Rhymney main line at Ystrad Mynach.
I had two spells at Nelson & Llancaiach Station with a trip to Dowlais Cae Harris in between. It was a very easy station to take photographs with opportunities at many different places in the area. Attached are scans of the last passenger timetable dated 9 September 1963 to 14 June 1964 for one direction only. This shows that 16 trains started, terminated or passed through in this direction between 6.17am and 9.40pm Monday to Friday. This was an interesting area at the time of my visit with much to see railway-wise. It is worth looking at old maps and consulting the website: treharrisdistrict.co.uk. There was no Sunday service and the last passenger trains ran on Saturday 13 June 1964.
The weather recently in Cornwall has been a mixture of rain and some sunshine, but earlier in February 2025 a high pressure area was stuck over Britain for about a fortnight. It was mostly dry and cold with Cornwall receiving strong easterly winds coming around the south side of the high pressure area gusting to gale force at times. It was much worse 70 years earlier in February 1955 with Britain in the grip of a brutal freeze and snowdrifts up to 30 feet (9 metres) deep in places. At 4.20am on 24 February 1955 BR Class 2 2-6-0 no. 78018 set out from Kirkby Stephen to travel over the Pennines to Barnard Castle on the Stainmore route with a mineral train, but the train soon became stuck in a snowdrift at 5.00am just north of Barras Station and west of Stainmore Summit.
In 1949 British Transport Films was formed to make documentaries about British transport in all its forms. The resulting films were and are highly regarded as records of the time. At the end of February 1955 a team was dispatched north to capture the heroic efforts of the British Railways workers rescuing 78018 and its wagons from the snowdrift. The resulting film “Snowdrift at Bleath Gill” only lasted ten minutes but was one of the most interesting of the 700 films made by BTF. Snowdrift at Bleath Gill can be viewed online and it will be seen that one of the engines operating the snowplough was sister engine 78017. Both engines were based at 51H Kirkby Stephen Shed.
In Part 26 I described an early morning visit to Crumlin Viaduct where I walked east to resume my train travel at Hafodyrynys Platform, which was alongside a colliery of the same name. Here I picked up the second train of the day westwards from Pontypool Road which turned up behind Hawksworth pannier 9488 which were relatively rare on passenger trains. I travelled eight miles behind 9488 to alight at Nelson & Llancaiach Station at 9.25am. This was one of the larger stations on the line with three platforms and avoiding lines to the north of the station for freight trains coming from Dowlais CH and Cwmbargoed. There was a junction to the south-east of the station, where the Dowlais line joined the Vale of Neath and a mile further on another line went off to join the Rhymney main line at Ystrad Mynach.
I had two spells at Nelson & Llancaiach Station with a trip to Dowlais Cae Harris in between. It was a very easy station to take photographs with opportunities at many different places in the area. Attached are scans of the last passenger timetable dated 9 September 1963 to 14 June 1964 for one direction only. This shows that 16 trains started, terminated or passed through in this direction between 6.17am and 9.40pm Monday to Friday. This was an interesting area at the time of my visit with much to see railway-wise. It is worth looking at old maps and consulting the website: treharrisdistrict.co.uk. There was no Sunday service and the last passenger trains ran on Saturday 13 June 1964.
The weather recently in Cornwall has been a mixture of rain and some sunshine, but earlier in February 2025 a high pressure area was stuck over Britain for about a fortnight. It was mostly dry and cold with Cornwall receiving strong easterly winds coming around the south side of the high pressure area gusting to gale force at times. It was much worse 70 years earlier in February 1955 with Britain in the grip of a brutal freeze and snowdrifts up to 30 feet (9 metres) deep in places. At 4.20am on 24 February 1955 BR Class 2 2-6-0 no. 78018 set out from Kirkby Stephen to travel over the Pennines to Barnard Castle on the Stainmore route with a mineral train, but the train soon became stuck in a snowdrift at 5.00am just north of Barras Station and west of Stainmore Summit.
In 1949 British Transport Films was formed to make documentaries about British transport in all its forms. The resulting films were and are highly regarded as records of the time. At the end of February 1955 a team was dispatched north to capture the heroic efforts of the British Railways workers rescuing 78018 and its wagons from the snowdrift. The resulting film “Snowdrift at Bleath Gill” only lasted ten minutes but was one of the most interesting of the 700 films made by BTF. Snowdrift at Bleath Gill can be viewed online and it will be seen that one of the engines operating the snowplough was sister engine 78017. Both engines were based at 51H Kirkby Stephen Shed.
5677 stands at Nelson & Llancaiach with the 9.35am to Dowlais Cae Harris on Saturday 11 April 1964. The train had started back at Hengoed High Level which gave connections from Cardiff. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Two and a half hours later 5677 has arrived back at N&L Station with the 11.32am from Dowlais CH to Ystrad Mynach. The coaches were non-corridor suburban. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Looking the other way it can be seen that there was a maze of pointwork just to the east of the station as 5677 departed for Ystrad. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Fifteen minutes later and 5605 has followed 5677 down from the Dowlais line with 20 wagons of coal from Cwmbargoed. These are all the larger mineral wagons with two doors each side and a capacity of 20 tons. The last wagonload of coal left Cwmbargoed in 2024. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
6612 passes through Nelson with a short coal train bound for the Quakers Yard direction. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The last passenger timetable – that for Winter 1963 – 1964. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The last passenger timetable – that for Winter 1963 – 1964. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks as always, Michael - another very interesting article to add to your collection.
For more of Michaels work, please click here.
For more of Michaels work, please click here.
Laira's latest 175
Dennis Clarke
I travelled to Whittlesea today to photograph the latest Class 175 heading for a new lease of life in the West Country.
37901 was the lead loco with 37423 on the rear. 175007 was the unit in the consist. The picture shows the train, 7Q84 11:03 Ely Papworth to Laira, passing the iconic signal box.
Sadly, the semaphores are to be replaced by colour light led signals on the last weekend in March.
I know it is out of your area but thought the readers would like to see it.
I also took a picture of 170101 at March station today sporting the new Cross Country livery. This was only its second day in service. I understand that the Cross Country Voyagers will also be getting this livery, so more red heading to Cornwall !
37901 was the lead loco with 37423 on the rear. 175007 was the unit in the consist. The picture shows the train, 7Q84 11:03 Ely Papworth to Laira, passing the iconic signal box.
Sadly, the semaphores are to be replaced by colour light led signals on the last weekend in March.
I know it is out of your area but thought the readers would like to see it.
I also took a picture of 170101 at March station today sporting the new Cross Country livery. This was only its second day in service. I understand that the Cross Country Voyagers will also be getting this livery, so more red heading to Cornwall !
37901 and 37423 sandwich 175007 - an ex-Transport for Wales unit now taken on by GWR. 27.02.2025, copyright Dennis Clarke.
A first peek at Crosscountry Trains new eyecatching livery on 170101. This livery will be carried over to the 'Voyager' fleet - hopefully something a little brighter for us to photograph in Cornwall! 27.02.2025, copyright Dennis Clarke.
Many thanks, Dennis
Winter sunshine at Restormel
Jon Hird
43093 and 43004 pass Restormel in some winter sunshine with 2P16, the 1315 Penzance - Plymouth. 27.02.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
A few minutes later came 66152 with 6C10, clay from Par Harbour for Cliffe Vale. The loco is wearing some clay itself! 27.02.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Afternoon freight at Westbury
Guy Vincent
Thursday afternoon (with the bonus of some sunshine) and another class 70 at the head of the 4O57 Wentloog - Southampton 'liner. Today 70016 was caught on the approach to Westbury station passing under the 1899 built road overbridge. This was shortly followed by 59103 with the 6C48 1249 Appleford - Whatley empties.
70016 at the head of the 4O57 Wentloog - Southampton 'liner. 27.02.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
59103 with the 6C48 1249 Appleford - Whatley empties. 27.02.2025, copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks, Guy - great to see.
'Wasson' this weekend?
As another working week draws to a close, again there are some railway-related going's on which you may choose to check out!
Saturday 01.03.2025
Saturday sees the opportunity to photograph two loco-hauled trains, in daylight, on the Cornish Mainline.
On the passenger front, GWR have a plan in place to run the 57/6 and sleeper stock from Long Rock - Plymouth, in preparation for Sundays line block:
5P50 1430 Penzance T.& R.S.M.D. to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. (click for times)
For those who prefer trains with wagons, there's a daytime engineers working booked to Goonbarrow Jn.:
6C20 1135 Westbury Down T.C. to Goonbarrow Jn (click for times)
There are further after-dark engineers trains too - times available on Real Time Trains.
These workings, complemented by the regular GWR 'Castle Class' HST diagrams, on what is booked to be a sunny day, should provide plenty of photographic opportunities!
On the passenger front, GWR have a plan in place to run the 57/6 and sleeper stock from Long Rock - Plymouth, in preparation for Sundays line block:
5P50 1430 Penzance T.& R.S.M.D. to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. (click for times)
For those who prefer trains with wagons, there's a daytime engineers working booked to Goonbarrow Jn.:
6C20 1135 Westbury Down T.C. to Goonbarrow Jn (click for times)
There are further after-dark engineers trains too - times available on Real Time Trains.
These workings, complemented by the regular GWR 'Castle Class' HST diagrams, on what is booked to be a sunny day, should provide plenty of photographic opportunities!
Sunday 02.03.2025
Sunday is for those who prefer their railways in miniature - the Plymouth Model Railway Show, organised by the Plym Valley Railway, boasts a number of model railways on display. Click here for info.
We wish you a great weekend, and if you're out and about with your camera, don't forget to send in your photos! [email protected]