Opened : Llantrisant - Cowbridge 1865, Cowbridge - Aberthaw 1892
Closed - Llantrisant - Cowbridge 1951, dismantled 1977, Cowbridge - Aberthaw 1932, dismantled 1947.
Engineering Code: ATW, Length 11m 69c
The Cowbridge Railway Company was incorporated by the Cowbridge
Railway Act 29th July 1862. The Line was leased to Taff Vale Railway
for 999 years as from 1st January 1876 and was amalgamated with latter
company by Taff Vale Railway Act 26th August 1889. The Cowbridge
and Aberthaw Railway Company was incorporated under the Cowbridge and
Aberthaw Railway Act 12th August 1889.
The company was amalgamated with the Taff Vale Railway Company as from
1st January 1895 by Taff Vale Railway Act of 17th August 1894.
This line linked up with the TVR Llantrisant branch and Barry Railway Company's Cardiff to Bridgend line via Barry at Aberthaw. More details on the dates of construction and abandonment can be found here (RAILSCOT website). This was an early line to be closed. The main purpose of this page is to show what is left of this route about 60 years after abandonment. Due to the time elapsed since closure, virtually all of the land has been sold off and is private. Very little can be walked, and access is only possible form footpath and road crossings. The table on the right of the map details the current state of the line. There is a photogallery at the bottom of the page.
 |
Llantrisant/Pontyclun station has been remodelled since the closure of the two branch lines. The southern of these, the Aberthaw branch has been built over at the station. The bridge over the River Ely has been partially removed, while the trackbed disappears beneath a small industrial estate. |
| The remains of a backfilled overbridge near the site of
Llanharry station are visible, but the trackbed is not followable in
the area. |
|
| The trackbed can be viewed sporadiclly from former crossings
between Llanharry and Cowbridge, however a number of bridges have been
demiloshed. Additionally, it is not possible to walk the route. The
route is most obvious as forming field boundaries. |
|
| Two backfilled bridges are present in Cowbridge. Little
else remains and the former station site has been redeveloped. |
|
| The line can be followed, albeit across private land from the
south of Cowbridge as far as Beaupre for about a mile and a half.
|
|
| The trackbed to the south of Beaupre as far as Aberthaw
station site is not accessible. Many bridges remain intact
however. The site of St Mary's Road Station is now a smallholding and
the original buildings remain. Nothing remains of
Llanbedderi Road station. The station Building at St Athan Road
remains, located within the yard of a construction company. |
|
| The former low bridge over the B4265 has been 'topped'.
However the embankment to the south of the road is visible as far as
the cement works. |
|
| A short section of trackbed is accessible at Aberthaw,
between the site of the former station and the limeworks. A very
rickety bridge crosses over the trackbed at Aberthaw. More photos
of the limeworks can be found here ** Coming soon ** |
Home
