Four Hidden Tunnels on a Mountain side. Hill's Tramroad.

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Whilst in South Wales filming a few #EveryDisusedStaion videos we decided to check out The Hill's Tramroad and its Tunnels. We had done a small amount of reading and thought it may make an interesting little video.
Forgive the wind as we headed towards the third tunnel. High up on the hills the temp dropped and the wind came in!
The tunnels we visited are:
1) Llanfoist Incline Tunnel
2) Blorenge Tunnel
3) Garnddyrys Forge Tunnel
4) Pwll Du Tunnel
Next week we are back with another Every Disused Station.
Thanks to: www.railmaponline.com/
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@pwhitewick

[@ucprof2008]

Rebecca is such a good trooper. I’ve never heard even a whisper of discomfort or complaint.

[@bjrn-steinarhanssen2102]

Maybe she's doing the editing work ;)

[@patrickrose1221]

Where you stood by the fourth entrance, if you did but realise it, there's a cave system directly under your feet contain cathedral sized caves and caverns that run all the way down the valley. In the pub on Pwll Du ( Lamb & Fox), next to the bar are a couple of photos of said caves.

[@laszlofyre845]

Tramroads. Check. Mineral lines. Check. Industrial lines. Check. Whitewicks. Check and double check. So much to go at in South Wales, maybe you should be scared, haha. Such tramroads made by men driven by profit, with little regard to those who would later perish upon them. But hard, practical men with foresight none the less. Surprising so much remains isn't it? Dead interesting stuff. IIRC there were some spectacular runaways down to that canl basin, regularly and often, by the Lord Harry, that made the hills rattle, I would love to have a time machine. Another cracking vid folks, I'm saving a lot of them up for a binge with beer! So keep 'em coming please! Cheers!!! Appendix one- some notes on Welsh pronunctiation that may help (or get you shot at the border)- Most 'u's are pronounced as 'e'. 'W' is usually pronounced as the short 'u' as in 'pub'. E.G. Cwmbran. Au , as in Waunfawr, as short 'I' as in window, the 'fawr' like 'vire', therefor waunfawr= 'Winvire'. Single 'f' usually as 'v', may be different if on the beginning or end of a word?? 'Oe' usually as 'oi'. Hence ''Oe you p==s off back to England!'' Lol. So much for 'Croeso y Cymru' ! ( I jest). There is no 'K' in the Welsh alphabet. So now you _now. 'Ll' you already get. Don't know about on the end of a word tho'. Feel free to put me right, Taff. Mines 'a pint y cwrl' please. I have met some wonderful people in Wales, no mistake. I spend most of my time away there now.

[@huw3851]

The first tunnel was the parish road under the canal. The tramway went over the canal on a little bridge then down a further incline to the foot of the hill. The long building we saw on the other side of the canal was a warehouse for the iron. There was a very nice drawing on the information board that shows this. The final, very long tunnel may have originally been a coal mining level that was extended as a tramway tunnel. The tramway was built to get to the canal because it was cheaper if you began porting your coal and iron on the Brecon canal than on the Monmouth canal - even though that made for a longer journey to Newport.

[@jayburgh]

16.04 "That's Rebecca," (Rebecca's Wave of Insanity) ... I'm so dead 😂😂

[@MartinZero]

Wow those tunnels are fab !!!

[@pwhitewick]

Here is the follow up we did exactly a year later.... same place. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYbdkoOaa71sfZI

[@Lichfeldian--Suttonian]

Didn't see this one before. Great video. I am loving the music!

[@mikego18753]

It,s got the lot,views,moody tunnels and heavy breathing. Love it,cheers.

[@pwhitewick]

Lots..... Of heavy breathing!

[@mikego18753]

@@pwhitewick Thanks for reply,appretiated.

[@PodgyAsthmatic]

You're a life saver, I'm stuck in a trampoline park with the kids for two hours. Fortunately I've got my noise cancelling headphones with me, huzaaaah!!

[@pwhitewick]

Hahaha.... Enjoy! You're welcome.

[@PodgyAsthmatic]

@@pwhitewick are you doing pencader tunnel carmarthenshire? Take your wellies. It's a beautiful walk, but Southern entrance is a tad wet.

[@pwhitewick]

yup. @@PodgyAsthmaticworking with someone that knows the local farmers and can get a key to one of the locked tunnels in the area too! Probably a month or two away.

[@PodgyAsthmatic]

@@pwhitewick brilliant, the gate was open when we did it. It's about an hour and 30 from me, I must get up there again with the Nikon and shoot RAW.

[@pwhitewick]

@@PodgyAsthmatic indeed do. I might be thinking of a different tunnel to be honest. But that area yes.

[@terryansell6641]

You two must so fit with all the walking and climbing you do. It’s so good to watch your videos in New Zealand always so enjoyable thank you

[@pwhitewick]

I'm not so sure!

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

Yet another great adventure.. I'm addicted to your presentations

[@pwhitewick]

Brilliant. Really pleased you are enjoying our adventures. 👍👍

[@HenrysAdventures]

Another great video! I love the first tunnel and the wagons displayed there. I'll look forward to seeing the other videos from that area.

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Henry. A very beautiful area.

[@Leonard_Smith]

Poor planning re the wellies, but the fringe is back, so I'm happy. Keep on trekking!

[@illumencouk]

"Right then, tunnel no.4 - see the two white houses?" Stuart asks. Oh, you mean below the glowing red cloud thingy? Yes, I see it now. I get it.

[@greatbritishentertainmentl5636]

Excellent adventure into the Welsh mountains of mysterious tunnels.

[@EandEFC]

Great video some great little tunnels

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers. A fun and somewhat shattering little explore.

[@allisontyler-howells5239]

Another great video

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you. We did this again more recently kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYbdkoOaa71sfZI

[@TheSkiathosLover]

Love it - I get exhausted watching you

[@pwhitewick]

Hahaha.... The next few videos get worse as our colds developed over the coming days!!

[@elzorroman1]

Another superb feature thank you also been listening to the backing music 10/10

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Greg. The backing music wasn't received well by all lol

[@michaelpilling9659]

What historical gems! Built in 1820s? Superb video.

[@mikebrown3772]

The tramroad didn't go through the Llanfoist tunnel but crossed to he canal by a bridge. The tunnel belonged to the canal company allowing access to its wharves from the village below.

[@gussmedways]

Great video. Only one thing missing. A bobble hat wobble as per a previous vid. Stay safe in them hills!

[@pwhitewick]

We need to add that to an outtake video! Cheers Russ 👍👍

[@andrewschmitz9707]

Tunnel 4 reminds me of Hoosic Tunnel in Massachusetts, 5 miles that took many years to complete .Sadly about 300 men died building it.

[@pwhitewick]

That's a hefty tool!

[@john3Lee]

I always enjoy your adventures.... I live near the end of the abandoned Strawbury Line in Somerset, which incidentally has a cycle track tunnel and several stations in ruins !!

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers John. Sounds like one we should cover soon!

[@john3Lee]

@@pwhitewick Yes, its well worth a look, its mostly a cycle way and nature trail... It runs from Yatton to Cheddar, and used to carry the strawberry harvest for onward distribution in the area... Yatton station is full of period features, and has a nice platform cafe too.... Although, im not sure of the cafe opening times !!

[@pwhitewick]

@@john3Lee we will most certainly check it out

[@chrisandteresabartley438]

Great video, glad you explored the area, which is full of facinating history. The site of the Garnddyrys forge was the inspiraration for Alexander Cordell to write 'The Rape of the Fair Country, the first of a trilogy of books about a fictional family during the time of Industial Revolution in various parts of south Wales

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks for sharing Christopher.

[@bigladjonnyboy397]

Fascinating stuff really enjoyable video thanks guys

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Johnny

[@oliverjames4032]

A deeper dive in to the history of the places you visit would make your channel more compelling. More facts, more context please.

[@gregruthen3844]

Forgot to leave a comment , explored the tram roads some years back on a canal holiday fascinating, looks like our boat company has gone!

[@geofflewis6914]

Love your videos - so glad you did this route 👍🏻👏🏼 ps Pwllddu pronounced Pull-Dee ! Great place for e-MTB !

[@ninjagoggles]

Missed this before! (Maybe before I subscribed?) Love it!! I'd love for you to always show stills of info boards, like, always. Also, I wonder if they ("they") closed up Tunnel #3 entrances for safety reasons. Like, too dangerous even for grates & gates. Would this tram have been horse draw in the 1820s? Also, the last one looks like a Hobbit house! 😄

[@acrobaticcripple8176]

I live in the area. I had no idea that Llanfoist wharf had become so derelict. I always thought this was an aquaduct. Oh well.

[@lindamccaughey8800]

Wow loved it thanks

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Linda.

[@davidhaereorajerry9369]

Breath my friends carry plenty water your doing well

[@caseybirdy1]

Very interesting set of four tunnels on the mountain side, very old railways, what are these tunnels for !!!

[@pwhitewick]

Indeed. I would suggest that three of the four tunnels are not needed. I guess Labour was cheap back then.

[@barrie5852]

Really like choice of music on this video 👍

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Barrie

[@Roblilley999]

Those tunnels are very Moist, I find myself ducking my head when your walking through the low tunnels

[@pwhitewick]

The second one we would have had to have crawled!

[@deanj6969]

Hi guys if your ever back in Merthyr maybe you need to have a look at the first ever train line 20 years before Stevenson some of the Stone sleepers are still there if you look. Any help let me know

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Dean. I have a feeling we looked at some signs for that. Might have been an old tunnel there too?

[@celticwanderer6407]

awesome video there is a old railway that went from swansea leisure centre the rails went down towards mumbles the at blackpill the line crossed the mumbles road and went up though clynne valley

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers. Loved making this video. Nearly killed us but good fun.

[@neiljenkins2011]

Another great video. Thanks!! Being an ex-caver/mine explorer, I'm naturally drawn to the tunnels you two visit. Anything in the vicinity of North Wiltshire worth pointing me to?

[@antmerritt]

Thanks for the gratuitous shot of Rebecca’s behind at 9:17 👍😁 but I would have preferred it if you had looked at the metal object you briefly filmed! Turned it over at least. Oh god I am so sad I can’t believe I’ve said that! I love your content and style and am a recent convert after you’re second collaboration with the brilliant Martin zero. 👍👊 my you tube feed is now at a happy capacity. The telly is dead. Long live you tube. All hail the whitewicks ! 😁 P.s could have a video called puffing along perhaps?! 🤔🤣👍👊

[@pwhitewick]

😂😂.... I don't recall seeing a metal object to be fair. Twas a long day for sure.

[@jambarreturns9060]

Yes the Bum Shot is Gorgeous, and so is the view of the Beautiful rugged Countryside.

[@allthebeesaredead188]

I've hiked that area many times, my friends climbed into the one flooded tunnel, we did wonder what is was for

[@dickdastardly5534]

So much wasted heritage, when you think of the effort that went into building these structures, it saddens my heart but its good that you have made this clip by means of some justice.

[@tstar2001uk]

Mark Williams did an episode of Industrial Revelations about this area...

[@pwhitewick]

Not seen that. Thanks

[@tstar2001uk]

@@pwhitewick season 1 episode 8

[@nov3019892008]

Blaenavon is my hometown. I was only able to find one of the tunnels

[@pwhitewick]

Which one was that Richard?

[@nov3019892008]

@@pwhitewick the last one you found. There are meant to be another 1 or two tunnels from that side to Brynmawr road on the other side of the mountain. Very interestimg history up there. Also found the tramroad that used to exist over the top of the mountain before the tunnels

[@pwhitewick]

@@nov3019892008 I wish we had more time, so much to explore here.

[@carolinegray3150]

Good video

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Caroline. Glad you enjoyed it. 👍

[@nickrosier2043]

just found your videos, as a retired GWR man, HSTs and the like based at Temple Meads i find your videos brilliant ..would like to explore the old Titfield thunderbolt line from limpley stoke to radstock, part of the smelly and dirty [ S & D ] as known. i know you have done it but intend to walk it as i live close by.your lovely wife seems to cope with the hills better than you. ha ha

[@jackthelad612]

Time Team did a programme about uncovering the 4th tunnel entrance which as you said, they covered over again.

[@pwhitewick]

Yup. That really confused me.

[@jackthelad612]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIuXeJmhp9l2hc0 Here's a link to the programme.@@pwhitewick

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you.

[@TIMMEH19991]

Great vid again guys! Just one point.....electricity poles, not telegraph ones!

[@pwhitewick]

Ah cheers Tim. Either way, I think they stuck it in the tunnel!

[@craiglogistics2092]

You should've taken Martin Zero with you, he likes tunnels, lol

[@pwhitewick]

I don't think we had met Martin by this point.

[@mistywolf312]

Sadly a life was cheap when theese were built, but the builders would have probably been miners and being the crews on a railway build was safer and better paid than mining, though not bringing your wellies to Wales was a major error in judgement I dont think you would have made it up to the holes in tunnel 3 with them on. Wales is pretty much allways wet underfoot but unlike Scotland, its going to be loose rocks and stoney streams as opposed to boggy ground which is much easier to turn or break an ankle on, stick to the walking boots when your doing the mountains, better traction.

[@pwhitewick]

Very good point. Wellies would have been useful in the tunnel but I don't think the video conveys how much walking we did (at least in our heads), and yes the walking boots made that a lot easier than wellies. 😁👍

[@ROBERTSCOIN]

do this one The Carnarvon and Llanberis Railway, built under the Caernarvon and Llanberis Railway Act 1864

[@geoffreystevens663]

Local historian, Chris Barber's latest book, 'Hill's Tramroad' was published just last week.

[@pwhitewick]

Yup, I just saw that on Waterstones list. I'll be purchasing shortly.

[@geoffreystevens663]

@@pwhitewick It's a good read, good pictures. The whole area is totally fascinating. Blaenavon was the site of the first multi-furnace iron-making operation. The pig-iron being too brittle to do much with was then transported up to the forge to be transformed into wrought iron. The tramway then took the product up and down the side of the charmingly-named hill/mountain, the BLORENGE to the canal at Llanfoist and on to Newport and the wider world. Blaenavin is a UN World Heritage site. I loved your video, it brought that journey to life for me, many thanks

[@pwhitewick]

@@geoffreystevens663 we found it by complete accident. Wondered why there was a record of all these random tunnels on the hill. When we looked a little deeper into we read some of the history. I'm still not sure of the need for two of the tunnels though. Hopefully the book will enlighten us.

[@minisareus]

Welcome to my area of Wales when did you film?

[@pwhitewick]

Two weeks ago. Thankfully the weather held mainly and we were able to get a couple of #EveryDisusedStation vids done too. 👍

[@mib001]

What maps do you use for researching, I want to trace an old railway route out of my town and am not sure where is the best place to start.

[@stephenlawley8852]

Hi wonderful films is this tunnel the buried viaduct Time Team dug a few years back ?

[@pwhitewick]

Yup I have watched that time team a few times now. Very enjoyable.

[@jeffdonovan8639]

Another interesting video. I'm from South Wales which makes it all the more interesting for me.

[@pwhitewick]

You are lucky, you have some much history there. We are always keen to come back and explore.

[@stephencurwood9469]

Are the tunnels designed to be low? Spose less spoil to dig out originally.

[@pwhitewick]

Mainly because these were designed to take a cart and a few blokes pushing we think.

[@jeremygreenwood8501]

Tunnel 2 is an odd one. The tramway could have just followed the contours round the bend but instead jags to the uphill side. I have a suspicion that the level route would have infringed on someone else's land and they were a bit NIMBYish.

[@saltleywsc]

another cracking video thanks guys ! not bad pronunciation either !Still no coffee quaffed tho will be selling my shares in Costa at this rate !..............

[@pwhitewick]

Haha... Give it a video or two and your shares will be back in the game..... 😬😁😂

[@dickiedollop]

Are the local council/Cadew talking about restoring tunnel 2 - I’m sure I saw something about it on KZbin.

[@pwhitewick]

Hi Richard. Yes it was probably our video as we came back a year later and explored again. We mentioned in the video we had a chat to them and it's definitely on their radar

[@B-Mozzer]

let me know when you doing the disused station Seven sisters south wales as i live around 300 yards from it

[@pwhitewick]

What line is that on bmozzer?

[@B-Mozzer]

@@pwhitewick its on the Neath & Brecon Rly from Neath up to Onllwyn still a working railway but no stations open

[@pwhitewick]

@@B-Mozzer great. Cheers 👍👍

[@nathanlucas6465]

I visited Pwll Du a while back as part of my family history research, as both sides of my family lives there in the early part of the 1900s. If the pub is open, call in for a drink and speak to the landlord, he was happy to chat to me for an hour or so about the former village. Afterwards it seemed silly to not try and find the tunnel, but with failing light and a flat phone battery, gave it up as a bad job. Apparently the folk who lived there would walk through the tunnel to go to the shops! For those who haven't already found it, there's a video of the last days of Pwll Du from the ITV Cymru archive on KZbin, I think shot in the mid 60s kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqOyZqhopr-Mla8

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Nathan. Have you see our latest video from here too?

[@nathanlucas6465]

@@pwhitewick no, I haven't seen it yet. What's it called? I'll look it up this evening

[@pwhitewick]

@@nathanlucas6465 it was about three or four weeks ago. Abandoned tunnel on a mountain

[@nathanlucas6465]

@@pwhitewick found it :) thanks!

[@bobingram6912]

Five tunnels!!!! What about the tunnel in the tunnel @ 2.40! Sorry, getting picky!!! Amazing all that effort to get stuff over the hill and all built to quite high standard by the look off them. The last one would surely have qualified for the longest tunnel award?!!!!

[@pwhitewick]

Haha, yes the first one was a tad small for my liking! Yes pretty sure at the time and for a while it would definitely have been the longest in the world.

[@themistocleszammit]

Horse tramway so horses pulled carts the mile and quarter though that last tunnel. I'm not sure how you persuaded them to do that.

[@pwhitewick]

Yup. I'm guessing a large stick

[@furryanimal8776]

This is not that far from me.And I have learnt about things I did not know.

[@pwhitewick]

A pleasure. We LOVE Wales.

[@illumencouk]

I think I know what a tram is, + I think I know what a train is, but I'll admit I am struggling to interpret what was running through those tunnels. Can anyone enlighten me a little please on this?

[@MrOlgrumpy]

The Puffalott Mountain Railway .

[@pwhitewick]

Oh we puffed and we puffed.

[@theowinters6314]

Remember, always read the plaque.

[@phu010]

Hmm! Archaeologists digging a big hole into a tunnel near Blaenavon. Rings a bell. Time Team Series 8 - Episode 5 www.channel4.com/programmes/time-team/on-demand/29766-005 Doesn't appear to be in the right place though. Must have been someone else.

[@pwhitewick]

Ahhhh wow. Yes I recall that episode but certainly didn't put two and two together! Can't have been far away though??

[@thhseeking]

That's the one where they put the digger into the excavation and JUST breached the tunnel? It was amazing how much spoil was dropped on top of everything to bury it that deep.

[@tomstickland]

What about the other end of the fourth tunnel?

[@pwhitewick]

Good question. Sadly we ran out of time!

[@chrisandteresabartley438]

@@pwhitewick When I visited the Blaenavon end about 25 years ago it was very similar to the end you visited, but since then the stonework around the portal has been restored I believe.

[@pwhitewick]

@@chrisandteresabartley438 yup that rings a bell. We sadly ran out of light and time otherwise we would have gone over to it.

[@who9387]

Am I the only one wanting to hear more from Rebecca ? she says "tunnel No 3" and that's it - FREE Rebecca !

[@pwhitewick]

What if she doesn't want to be Free?

[@who9387]

@@pwhitewick - erm ........ well I, for one, would like to hear more from her, perhaps a cameo feature. Great stuff, very interesting and informative

[@ronmarson9987]

Music can be a nice in the background, but that is too loud and annoying. I enjoy your explorations. Well done.

[@Cedillallidec]

Thr mst b trrble shrtge of vwls in Wls.

[@pwhitewick]

ndd

[@steveandthedogs]

Interesting content but please turn the bloody music off.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks for the feedback, I can only apologise that the music is not to your taste.

[@hang-on-wa.1037]

The background music is irritating and distracting.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks for the feedback, we always try and experiment with the tunnel videos, sorry its not to your liking.

[@pwhitewick]

@@RussellNelson I think you are probably right. Still a lot to learn with this editing malarkey... 👍👍

[@christhepharmacist]

I quite like your b roll ♡

[@pwhitewick]

@@christhepharmacist well thanks. 👍

[@brentwightman9367]

@@pwhitewick ive come to your videos through martin zeros and i think the music is great and not too loud you cant please everyone so please yourself and if the old farts dont like it well who cares? keep up the great work

[@femcymoedd535]

I'm sorry to say that although I enjoyed the video (who doesn't love a tunnel?) the intrusive background 'music' completely spoiled it for me. I found it very difficult to concentrate on your very interesting commentary because I had to keep adjusting the volume. It's a shame, because I live in the south Wales valleys and knew nothing about the tramway.

[@pwhitewick]

Alas.... 4 years ago I was a bit pants at making videos.

[@geraldfischer6049]

Music too loud

[@redbank493]

Don’t like the music sorry. Got on my nerves

[@pwhitewick]

No need to apologise. Thanks for the feedback.

[@ronniesimpson3665]

Awful music

[@pwhitewick]

Excellent comment.