Opened : 1905

Closed - 1963

Engineering Code: CTD (Cadoxton - Tyn y caeau), PRS (Tyn y caeau - Barry Junction)

Length 9m 40c

	The section of track between Barry J and Penrhos J has generally been lost. The Llanbradach viaduct (abandoned in the early 1930's was dismantled for scrap in 1937, as was the Penyrheol viaduct. A single brick arch at the west end of the Llanbradach viaduct remains, although the bridge over the RVR mainline has been partly demolished. A short section of trackbed near Energlyn remains, as does the south facing spur toAber Junction. The rest of the length of the trackbed has been absorbed into the A468 Caerphilly bypass road.
	From Penrhos Viaduct, which has had the gantry removed, although the piers and abutments are still there, the line is open through to Ty Rhiw. The upper route, from Penrhos Viaduct to Lower Junction (about 300m) is heavily overgrown. Roughly paralleling this, the lower route, via Upper Junction (with the TVR spur)is clear and a concrete surface. At Lower Junction, what was probably a small marshalling yard, about 600m long by 100m wide has been given a smooth concrete surface, probably foundation for an industrual complex that never happened. Towards Ty Rhiw, the route is clear and joins the Taff Trail at Bwlch. THe line forms part of the Taff Trail between Bwlch (the bridge here has been partly demolishced) and Ty Rhiw. A redundant overbridge for a small lane is extant half way between the two. Ty Rhgiw lane bridge is a stone and brick arch. There is a partly infilled bridge to the south of Ty Rhiw, that marks the end of where the Taff Trail follows the line. The cutting between Ty Rhiw south and Walnut Tree viaduct seems to be inaccessible and overgrown.
	Walnut Tree Viaduct was largely removed in 1969The Walnut Tree Viaduct was one of the more imposing structures in the Taff valley in the early 20th century. Built with the Garth tunnel for the Barry railwy's Cadoxton to Llanbraddach route, the viaduct served to make the incline between the Taff and Caerphilly easier for heavily laden goods trains. There were no dedicated passenger stops on this route. The closure of the route in 1958 with the destruction of the Ty'n'y Caeau signal box heralded the loss of the viaduct in 1965. Only the Garth abutment, the angled pillar and Taff Bank pier remaun. The Taff Bank pier has been used recently for displaying royal Jubilee goodwill messages. At least two other piers have been lost, one on the site of the Viaduct industrial estate and the other to the construction of the A470. Access to the northern side is difficult from along the Taff Trail as where the trail leaves the trackbed, a short section of the trackbed has been overbuilt with a new housing development. Therefore I do not have details of the north abutment.
	Trackbed between the viaduct and the north portal of the Garth Tunnel is open with the remains of two structures on the south side of the trackbed. These were probably for controlling the points for the spur to the dolomite quarry and as a ganger's hut relating to the tunnel. Only brickwork foundations are visible.
	Garth Tunnel has been breached and blocked by development of the Taff's Well quarry. The trackbed is open from the south portal to Coed Pant-tawel. The concrete footbridge just to the south of the tunnel is extant (2005) and the trackbed forms the terrace along the south side of the fields.
	Between Pant Tawel and St Bride's road the trackbed is on private propery and heavily overgrown. The imposing arch over the A4119 at Rhydlafr remains, as do the high approach embankments. To the south, the bridge over the TVR Waterhall Branch has been partly demolished. The trackbed is open, but muddy between this bridge and the Crofft y genay road overbridge, which is intact. A latticework girder supporting a water pipe runs next to the bridge to the east. A and long embankment with a stone arch over a farm lane carries the line past Stockland farm to wards the St Bride's Road bridge, formerly a steel girder type bridge which has been removed. Stone abutments remain.
	The section of track between St Brides Road and the North Portal of Wenvoe tunnel has been generally lost to A4232 Cardiff western bypass. This included the demolition of two 4-arch stone viaducts over the Ely river and the GWR mainline.
	Wenvoe tunnel was accessible from its north portal only (mid 2005, but now the frence has been fixed)
	Trackbed between Wenvoe Tunnel south portal and Palmerstown is on private property and heavily overgrown. The southern approach cutting is flooded, at least as far as Greave lane bridge. Wenvoe Station, just to the south of an arch bridge is now a private dwelling. The main station building, a goods-related building and platforms remain. The space between the platforms appears to be flooded.
	The trackbed around St Andrew's Lane bridge is muddy and used as an unofficial tip. There seems to be no through access along the southern section of the line, which, running mainly in a cutting is muddy.
	The Gilbert Lane bridge, formerly a brick arch has been removed since 2002
	The section of trackbed between Palmerstown and Cadoxton junction has been lost beneath a new housing estate. This section of the track lay within a large marshalling yard.

Home

Quarries and Railways