5 December 2025, ‘The Swansea Vale Railway, by Professor John Miles.

Charles Henry Smith and Sterling Benson proposed a railway starting at Swansea travelling northwards. The initial surveys were carried out in 1836 and 1840, the bill passed through parliament in 1855. The railway reached Pontardawe in 1860, Ystalfera in 1864 and Brynamman in 1869. The line was specially to carry coal from various mines to Swansea Docks for shipment to Cornwall and returning with copper ore for smelting, worked by pannier tanks. John showed a map of Swansea where the river Tawe was going to be diverted, introducing a cut to enable ships to dock at any state of the tide.

The Midland Railway absorbed the line in 1874, who had to relay much of the track and improve the signalling. Besides coal, timber, ore and fish were carried. There were six through goods a day. In 1923 the lines were taken over by the LNWR. In 1950 the passenger service ceased. The first locos were second hand consisting of 2-4-0s, 0-6-0sts and a MR 0-6-0 side tank.  Later, ‘Johnson’ 1F and 3F and Jintys were common on the line and in latter years GWR pannier tanks.  We were then taken on a pictorial trip up the SVR.  At various locations there were many sidings completely filled with coal wagons waiting to be shipped out. At Glais there was a large Nickel factory and at Ponterdawe Gilberts chemical works. The presentation ended up at Brynamman where there was an SLS ‘special’ in the station.

John is the author of a book about the Swansea Vale Railway, and his detailed talk was delivered to an appreciative audience of 30, without the need to refer to notes.