Relics of five railways at Taffs Well

A look at the five railways and one canal which pass through, by and over Taffs Well. and yes I know, I said Taffs Wells at least once !!!
Videos mentioned:
The Barry Railway and Walnut Tree Viaduct
• Walnut Tree Viaduct
Mellingrifith and Pentyrch Railway
• Mellingriffiths and Pe...
Rhymney Railway - The Big Hill
• Rhymney Railway - The ...
Glamorganshire Canal
• Finding relics on the ...
Cardiff Railway at Coryton
• Exploring the Cardiff ...
Is there a well in Taffs Well?
• Is there a well at Taf...
Music
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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License code: RPIEAKZEG3GE1GZL
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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License code: AU7XOUFGAIWC4DDP

[@grumbeast]

Another excellent video Bob, Taffs Well is just so rich in railway history. I also had no idea they were going to be using Trams all the way up the valleys! What a time of change

[@rogerdavid3297]

i was born in taffs well 1950, i used to wave at the trains going over the viaduct when i was a child

[@markhuckercelticcrossbows7887]

the abandoned level, ties up with taffs well quarry. iron ore was mined from taffs, for shot, during in the naplionic wars. around the rim of taffs well quarry, are the original drillings from around 1790 onwards,

[@peterlewis1121]

Thank you, Bob. I found it very interesting.

[@nigelsproston7654]

Looking at the side by side of a modern map and old I would say you are 100% right about that bridge going over the canal

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Bob, what an amazing place that is, so many different railways, canals and tramways. Great video, well done!!

[@bobsrailrelics]

Thank you. Possibly unique in the South Wales area.

[@michaelholcombe9628]

I think that the tunnel that you feature at 4minutes and 6 seconds is the tunnel that the canal passed through, but a good informative video.

[@bobsrailrelics]

Thanks, I had a quick double check on the maps and the canal was slightly up from there where the A470 is. This showing on the maps as a link between two fields. Certainly no fields there now.

[@MrReakes]

thanks for the video bob you are right the bridge over the a470 is a replacement for the original bridge and was bullt in the early 70s.m.reakes taffs well bank guard.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for the informative video today. Always look forward to them. Enjoy your weekend ahead Bob. See you on the next! Cheers Bob! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🙂👍🇺🇸

[@bobsrailrelics]

Thanks Martin

[@MervynPartin]

Another enjoyable video, Bob. That is a really fascinating area. I used to commute through there during my apprenticeship, but never saw as much as you have found although the magnificent Walnut Tree Viaduct was still standing. The valley never looked as quite as good after its removal.

[@turquoisecat761]

An enjoyable video. I went to Taffs Well tunnel / viaduct remains last October after seeing your video on Walnut Tree Viaduct, it's quite peaceful up there! Was in the Swan pub in the beer garden about 3 weeks ago, you can see where they are installing the electrical apparatus (pylons?) for the Metro; I didn't realise the line crosses over and you effectively drive over it when going through Taffs Well.

[@nmarks]

Taffs Well was indeed very much a bottle neck between the South Wales's coal fields and the docks at Cardiff, hence the extraordinary concentration of transport links through it. I'm orginally from Cardiff, and one of my aunts lived in Caerphilly. Whenever we visited her we would pass through Taffs Well on the away. As Walnut Tree Viaduct viaduct was closed the same year I was born, the track and girders had been removed before I was old enough to take in interest in the view through the car window. I do however remember the industrial buildings clinging to the west side of the valley (the Garth side) - and how utterly terrifying they looked. Last time I passed through Taffs Well, one or two of the Walnut Tree Viaduct piers were still standing. Don't know it they're still there now.

[@bobsrailrelics]

Thanks you for sharing your memories. The two piers are still there, one right by the A470 and the other on the side of the hill rapidly being engulfed by trees and undergrowth.

[@andrewmerriman7133]

Hi Bob, an excellent video thank you very much for doing it. You are correct the Canal did have a bridge where the A470 is now. I think there is another place where at least five different companies had lines that is Merthyr Tydfil . Regards, Andrew.

[@turquoisecat761]

I'm from Merthyr and grew up in Dowlais, which itself had a few stations back in the day, I think Central, Caeharris and Dowlais Top were three, maybe more.

[@andrewmerriman7133]

@@turquoisecat761 Hi there, Thank you for your reply to my comment, I am not that familiar with Dowlais but I think there may be two more stations in the area, Pantysgallog and Pontywaen. On the Brecon & Merthyr line from Pontsticill you had Pontsarn, Cefn Coed and Hoelgarrig Halt. There was also Pant on the Newport Line. The main stations in Dowlais are the three you quite rightly mentioned. Regards, Andrew.

[@fhwolthuis]

Great story and great video, very interesting, Bob. Thank you!

[@bobsrailrelics]

Thank you Frank.

[@ioeffgwincein]

Excellent video. There is a photo of the original bridge where the Rhymney railway crossed the canal on p127 of vol2 of The Glamorganshire and Aberdare canals which shows the original abutments.

[@bobsrailrelics]

That is on my Amazon wish list though I may pop up to Cathays library and take a look. Thanks for the heads up.

[@paulhouston-jones9198]

Another really interesting video Bob. Thanks. The OLE lines are all energised and they've this week started testing some of the 398's between Taffs Well and Radyr overnight.

[@bobsrailrelics]

I've seen some images, it looks impressive and an exciting time for that part of the railways. Thanks for the comment

[@Sim0nTrains]

Brilliant video Bob. Also as you mentioned towards the end it be interesting to see the Welsh Valleys once those trams are in operation.

[@bobsrailrelics]

Thanks Simon, it's a very interesting place.

[@markhuckercelticcrossbows7887]

dont forget the Roman hot springs in taffs as well :) like the one in Bath

[@bobsrailrelics]

Thanks, there is an 'Off the Tracks' vidoe which covers them. It came about bracuse I used to say Taffs Wells a lot and, of course, there is only one well in Taffs Well.

[@LillianRose]

hi bob could you please do a video of the history on splott railway between splott and adamsdown please.

[@bobsrailrelics]

I think that may be the line I covered with the TVR Roath Branch. Is that the one that go by the Hwb?

[@LillianRose]

@@bobsrailrelics it goe.s under the blackbridge in splott and adamsdown yeah i think u did a video on it but it would be fab to see an imdeapth video on it.

[@mattgeldart519]

Ben Salter has done a wonderful Train Simulator video which is interesting to compare and contrast with this tour - and I think it is worth including here kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWGzp4lmr9d5i6c&ab_channel=BenSalter

[@bobsrailrelics]

Absolutely. Ben's work is first rate and really brings the lines to life. Thanks.

[@charlottelewis909]

Why can people not access the thermal spring? Surely this is a travesty

[@bobsrailrelics]

@@charlottelewis909 There was a flood a few years ago that did a lot of damage. It is being repaired, not sure how far it is being fixed.

[@michaelread4987]

Merthyr did

[@bobsrailrelics]

I will have a closer look. Thanks.