Penar branch line

Train at Oakdale Colliery, 1987

The Penar branch line (also known as the Hall's branch line, the Hall's Tramway and Hall's Road) was a standard gauge freight railway line running between Risca and the Oakdale Colliery in the South Wales coalfield.[1] It finally closed when the colliery closed in 1989 but several sections of the bed, line and footbridges remain, around Crosskeys.

History

Overgrown railway trackbed of Hall's tramway
Viaduct built for Hall's tramway near Crosskeys

The line was originally built between 1808 and 1812 as a private tramway by Benjamin Hall, 1st Baron Llanover to connect mines he owned near Markham and Argoed in the Sirhowy Valley initially to Newbridge where it connected with the Crumlin Arm of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, later probably extended to Risca.[2]

At first the tramway was only 3 ft wide and used horses drawing small wagons for the nine mile journey.[3]

in 1886, the line was acquired by the Great Western Railway[4] on a thousand-year lease.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Hall's Tramway". A History of Britain’s Railways. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  2. ↑ Fraser, M (1963). "Young Mr. and Mrs. Hall, 1823-30". National Library of Wales Journal (Cyf. 13, rh. 1 Haf 1963): 29.
  3. ↑ Cumming, T (1824). Illustrations of the Origin and Progress of Rail and Tram Roads, and Steam Carriages Or Locomotive Engines. Author. pp. 26–.
  4. ↑ "GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY BILL". David Duncan and Sons. South Wales Daily News. 19 June 1876. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  5. ↑ Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. Patrick Stephens Limited. 1990. ISBN 978-1-85260-049-5.
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