The Clydach Gorge

[@billsykes11]

I’ve just returned from Abergavenny in my campervan. I only cycled this a couple of days ago. What a fantastic, scenic route . You’ve got it spot on, as I recognise all of it. Brilliant animation!

[@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL]

Thanks. I always try and research my routes as much as possible 😁

[@welshpete12]

My grandfather was a driver on that line . The winter of 1947 there was very bad winter in Wales . With snow in some places five feet deep, in the valley, but much deeper in the hills. With drifts in railway cuttings much deeper still . He took a rake of coal wagons wagons from Merthyr Tydfil, heading for Abergavenny . But in a cutting ran into a deep drift , with the snow higher than the engine . He , the fireman and the guard were stick there for three days . Without any food. A farmer seeing their plight . With the help of a farm laborer dug a way through the snow , taking a day to reach them . He offered to shelter in the farm house . But my grandfather refused to leave the engine . So the farmer supplied them food, until help could arrive .

[@welshpete12]

The railway line is now a walking and cycling route, in places the old platforms are still there .

[@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL]

Great story! I saw some old black and white film of a train snowed in on this line. It must have been pretty bleak up there most winters. There was even an experiment carried out, using a jet engine mounted on a flat wagon pushed ahead of a loco, to try and clear snow from the track. Not a great success, as ballast was also blown away.

[@dereksaunders6466]

Ben, I do so enjoy your wonderful films , thank you. I do hope that there will be more to enjoy.

[@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL]

Thanks. I hope to make many more in the future 👍

[@richardbennett5108]

Brilliantly done. You feel as if you were actually there.

[@barrie5852]

Just downloaded this and have thoroughly enjoyed driving the route. Thank you for making it available.

[@robmasterman]

I've not been a great fan of these Simulator productions Ben, but this production is absolutely outstanding. The visuals, the sounds and the background music made it a very enjoyable watch....Many thanks...Bob

[@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL]

Glad you enjoyed it. Maybe I've converted you 😁

[@welshpete12]

IM know many of thee places , they have not changed much .

[@stephenbennett1989]

payware class route and very stylish video thank you

[@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL]

Cheers 👍

[@peterbrabham9145]

Fantastic stuff Ben great route. Pete B

[@nigelwilliams7403]

Another great re-creation of Valleys Lines. Well done Ben

[@pwllglobach3913]

This Video / Route is great. Living in the area and having walked through the tunnels this is good reference for Pwll Glo Bach.

[@stevieb125]

Thanks Ben another fantastic relive of a railway that shouldn't have closed. Would you be producing a section from Brynmawr to Blaenavon, Pontypool and Newport? I just thought id ask as this was once my local line which closed a year after i was born and never got to see a train there.

[@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL]

Thanks. I have modelled the line from Brynmawr to Blaenavon High Level, but not sure if I'll be extending beyond that?

[@r0g3r5m1th]

Once again a great piece of work.Thank you Ben (P.S. Did the boat hit the Bridge ? LOL)

[@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL]

Emergency stop 😅

[@kenstrachan1607]

Very nice Ben, but the two bridges just East of Brynmawr station were actually road over rail. When I moved to Wales in October 1985, the road decks were still there, and you could see the girders either side. They have since been removed and the road smoothed out, Ken Strachan

[@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL]

Are you sure? The model is based on old photos and this map maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16.3906992578001&lat=51.79590&lon=-3.17264&layers=168&b=1

[@kenstrachan1607]

@@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL Agreed in the context of the two bridges immediately to the East of the station (of which no trace remains). The girders I saw were the road bridge over the HoV line shown at 8:16 of your film, and the bridge over the Blaenavon line which passed over the line in the cutting on the right at 8:16.

[@saltleywsc]

great video Ben !

[@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL]

Thanks 😊

[@Meengineer100]

Brilliant work and a very good film to show off the route. It's certainly a challenge to drive! I'll have a go at making some scenarios over the next few weeks which I could possibly put into a pack for people to download. Do you plan to extend the route to Abergavenny Junction in the future? It would be great to see the carriage sheds and the unusual water tower in game! Once again, thank you for making the route.

[@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL]

Thanks, yes some scenarios would be good, I did create a few, but they got messed up when I decided to change the track type at the last minute! I was going to extend south to Blaenavon High Level next, but I think I may go East to Abergavenny Junction first? Watch this space!

[@Meengineer100]

@@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL What's the track you changed to? I have a bit of an issue with the track, I'm missing buffer stops and all the speed signs show 0. The only requirement I don't have is the modern Riviera Line.

[@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL]

@@Meengineer100I thought the track is Riviera Line in the '50's. It shows up in the editor as RL Wooden, which I presume means Riviera Line but maybe the track is from the more modern version?

[@Meengineer100]

@@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL I've sorted it now. I just needed the Riviera Line, bought it on sale. I'll start making some scenarios now. :)

[@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL]

@@Meengineer100 Excellent! I've just started on Abergavenny Junction :-)

[@michaellewis510]

A great film - a real shame that the voice-over artist couldn't pronounce the Welsh names.

[@BaracudaTutorialGaming]

Wow does the steam train come with it 😟

[@BaracudaTutorialGaming]

Maybe just one of them 😟