LOST RAILWAYS.Taffs Well Walnut Tree Jct / Aber Jct. Wales (1)

[@MrReakes]

Thanks for the memories. I was a fireman and guard in Radyr 1962-1977 and ended it at Walnut Tree as bank guard and spent many an hour with Ken Jones signalman in the box.

[@robmasterman]

Superb collection of images John, I've walked every inch of this line in the early sixties photographing steam haled trains tackling the Big Bank....sad to see the dereliction, but it's good you were able to record it....Bob

[@grumbeast]

Lovely video, I remember spending a few hours in Aber box with signalman when I was a boy, wish I'd paid more attention!

[@Johnfwake]

Yes, Walnut Tree Junction was Taffs Well. Up at Aber junction it is now a trading estate. Drive into the estate and on the right will be the Caerphilly Aber line. The Rhymney Railway banking shed is still there. Go to Taffs Well Station and just as you drive in to the Park and Ride look to your left. It is the single story one entry brick built shed now being used by an engineering firm. Hope this ok for you. JFW

[@rogerdavid3297]

i was born in taffs well 1950,remember it well

[@MrJames27011]

Nicely done,but i found the text on top of the pictures obscured them! it would have been better to put the text before the picture came up so we can enjoy the details in the pictures still nice memories though.

[@saltleywsc]

Even the loco shed is gone now !

[@Johnfwake]

Hi John, Is the Walnut Tree Junction the same spot as Taffs Well Station. If so I never new it was once called that. Also, where about in Abertridwr was the Aber junction. I know the area reasonably well. Did the line used to go through the housing estate in Nantgarw, to Abertridwr. As you know there's a steep hill from Taffs Well to Nantgarw. One more question, where is the Rhumney railway banking shed. Thanks in anticipation of a reply.

[@djburland]

So sad

[@Cardiffians]

Thank you so much for posting this collection of images. I wish I had found this sooner! You may be interested to know that the signal on the right of the picture of the Rhymney Cottages, is still standing! I cycled past it today on the way up the Taff Trail. I'm curious - do you still have the original negatives?

[@krantzcke]

I bought the signal off BR as a present for my husband when we lived in Rhymney Cottages - however when they started to lift the track they also started to dismantle the signal. I managed to stop them but not before they removed the finial. It was too heavy to lift back on and is now in our garden in West Wales!!

[@Johnfwake]

Correction. Look to your right to see the shed.

[@meirionwilliams9908]

WHATS THIS MUSIC?

[@Johnfwake]

Lorraine King sings it.

[@Johnfwake]

@MrJames27011 Thanks. Noted your comments JFW

[@Johnfwake]

@valleyrail HI STEVE, You still on the Brecon Mountain Railway? It was a great season there for me a couple of years ago. Drop me an e.mail see how you're going. Hope all ok. On way to Bardsey Island tomorrow, a sort of pilgrimage!

[@nmarks]

Capitalism. When it scents there's money to be made, it piles in all the resources necessary to extract profit, hence these railways - and a crust or two for the local population. When there's no more returns to be made, or better returns to be made elsewhere, capitalism departs, leaving the local population with nothing but memories and wondering what it is they are meant to do now. The fire came and went. What else might the region have to offer, if anything, that might bring back the titans with money to burn?

[@turquoisecat761]

* senses