The Taff Vale Extension line formed a the eastern half of a main
cut-though running east-west between Pontypool and Neath, Due to
the fact that the route ran across the grain of the north - south
trending valleys, gradients were severe and significant engineering was
required. Between Pontypool and Quaker's Yard (where it met the
Aberdare Valley extension of the Vale of Neath Railway) it traversed
three major viaducts (the 2 sections of the Crumlin Viaduct and a
viaduct at Hengoed) and two tunnels, one at Brym, the other at
Hafodyrynys (also known as the Glyn tunnel). Both railways were
taken over by the GWR on 1865 and operated as a through route.
The Vale of Neath Railway was opened from Neath to Aberdare in 1851,
and extended to Quakers Yard in 1857. This section of the line
included a viaduct across the Taff at Quakers Yard and two tunnels, one
at Cefn Glas, to the west of the Taff viaduct and one near Rhigos.
I have not walked all of this route. This gallery covers areas
near the Crumlin Viaduct, Hengoed Viaduct, Ystrad Mynach and Quaker's
Yard. A gallery of pictures of the Cefn
Glas tunnel is here.
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The former railway embankment is visible from the A472 along
the Cwm Y Glyn valley, between Pontypool and Hafodyrynys. Some sections
of the line, especially within Pontypool, have been overbuilt with
improvements to the A472. One structure at Crumlin Colliery remains, the circular coal washer. This structure is listed due to its unique design. The cutting and tunnel at Hafodyrynys (called the Glyn Tunnel) has been backfilled. The section of trackbed immediately to the south Swffryd village from the A472 as far as the eastern abutment of the Crumlin viaduct remains accessable and is used as an access track to some allotments. A terrace in the hillside follows the slope to the north. This terrace is the former loop down to the Ebbw Vale Branch. The southern end of this loop is heavily overgrown and not passable. |
| The Crumlin Viaduct, once the highest railway viaduct in the
UK, was demolished in 1967. The stone abutments remain, however
nothing is left of the former steel structure. Some excellent picures
of the viaduct can be found at www.crunlinviaduct.co.uk
(page has sound effects) and on this
page on architecture.com. The Crumlin Viaduct was in fact two separate viaducts. A second smaller viaduct was located across the Kendon valley, to the west of the main viaduct that crossed the Ebbw Valley. The only abutment that is easily accessible is to the east of the Ebbw section. A short embankment with abutmnents at each end is located on the ridge between the two valleys, however this now lies in someone's garden. Although the western abutment can be seen from the road running below, it is not accessible at the top level. |
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| I have not visited the trackbed between Treowen and
Pentwynmawr, although from mapse, it appears that the trackbed has not
suffered considerably from being built upon. To the west of Pentwynmawr, the A472 again takes over the route of the railway as far as Bryn Tunnel, which has been infilled. The cutting to the west of Bryn Tunnel remains , the railway emerging onto an embankment as the land drops down into the Rhymney valley. |
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| The Hengoed Viaduct is open, having recently been
restored. At the western end of the viaduct lie the remains of
the platforms of Hengoed High-level Station. Here the line
crosses over the Rhymney Vale mainline. The trackbed is generally
accessible from here as far as Nelson and Llancaiach. A couple of
buildings are present on the trackbed in the Ystrad area, however there
is access around these. Additionally, the new Panallta Link road
crosses the trackbed at a skew angle. The remaining track on the
route between Penalta and Treharris only uses part of the former
trackbed width and thus the rest is accessible. At Nelson and
Llancaiach Station, the platforms remain, albeit overgrown. |
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| Fragmented sections of the route are accessible as far as Treharris. . | |
| The line through Quakers Yard has been extensively built on,
including the former station site. |
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| The eastern abutment of the demolished Quaker's Yard viaduct
is accessible, however no remains of the western abutment can be found.
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| The line continues westward into the Cynon Valley, via a tunel under Cefn Glas. The eastern approach cutting and portal can be seen from the A470. A gallery of pictures of the Cefn Glas tunnel is here. |
