29th May 1954

Stephenson Locomotive Society (Midland Area)
Port Talbot Railway Tour

Locos Used 3680, 5734 & 8740
Stock Used 2 LMS corridor coaches [TO+BTO]

Route :

Loco Route
8740 (2) Bridgend - Cowbridge Road Jn
8740 reversal over trailing crossover on station lines
8740 (2) back onto running lines [beyond Jn towards Barry]
8740 Cowbridge Road Jn - Coity Jn - Tondu - Tondu Middle
3680 Tondu Middle - Tondu - Cefn Jn - Waterhall Jn - Margam Yard - Duffryn Jn - Bryn - Maesteg Neath Road - Cwmdu
3680 Cwmdu - Maesteg (Neath Road) - Bryn - Duffryn Jn
5734 Duffryn Jn - Ton-y-Groes Jn - Aberavon Town
5734 Aberavon Town - Cwmavon - Oakwood GF - Blaenavon Jn - Tonwawr Junction - Tonmawr Jn East GF
5734 Tonmawr Jn East GF - (reverse of outward route) - Aberavon Town - Port Talbot General - Pyle - Bridgend

Notes :
(1) The tour itinerary (which referred to the train as the 'South Wales Rail Tour') carried the statement: 'It will be noted that to now reach Tonmawr it is necessary to travel by the new junction installed on May 9th at Oakwood. This deprives members of travelling over 2½ miles of the lower end of the Duffryn Yard - Tonmawr ex P.T.R. branch. The most urgent representations were made in an endeavour to ensure that the rail tour covered this part of the branch - to no avail. Any member who feels aggrieved at this change of the tour and who does not now desire to participate should return his ticket without delay and his fare will be refunded.'
(2) Loco propelling.

Sources : Peter Darke & Peter Greenough courtesy of Ian Clark (SLS)

Photo Review


8740 on the tour (photo: WA Camwell, © Stephenson Locomotive Society)


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Peter Greenough courtesy of Ian Clark (SLS))

Miles Location Booked Actual
0 Bridgend 13.06d 13.13½ [Barry Bay]
¾ Cowbridge Road Jn 13.11 ~ 13/16
¾ Cowbridge Road Jn - 13.17 ~ 13.17½
[reverse over trailing crossover
on station lines]
¾ Cowbridge Road Jn - 13.18½ ~ 13.19
[back on to running lines to
Barry, beyond junction]
¾ Cowbridge Road Jn  ~ 13.16 13.20½ ~ 13.21
[over mineral lines]
2½ Coity Jn 13/21 13/28½
4¼ Tondu 13.26 ~ 13/32½
? Tondu Middle - 13/33
? Tondu Middle - 13L33 ~ 13L39
[loco change point]
? Tondu Middle - 13/43
4¼ Tondu ~ 13.36 13/43½
6¼ Cefn Jn 13/45 13/52
8¾ Waterhall Jn 13/52 13/57
? Newlands Colliery 14/00 14/02½
13¾ Margam Abbey Works East 14/05 14/06
? Margam Yard 14w13 ~ 14w20 14.13 ~ 14.26
15¼ Duffryn Yard (P.T.) 14/26 14/31½
17 Tyn-y-Ffran ? 14.37 ~ 14.46½
18½ Bryn 14/40 14/51½
21¾ Maesteg Neath Road 14/53 15w01½ ~ 15w05½
23¼ Cwmdu 14.59 ~ 15.07 15.10 ~ 15.17
24¾ Maesteg Neath Road 15.14 ~ 15.20 15/21½
28 Bryn 15/33 15/28½
31½ Duffryn Jn 15/48 15L41 ~ 15L50
31½ Duffryn No.1 15/48 15/50
31¾ Ton-y-Groes Jn 15/51 15.52½ ~ 15.55½
32¼ Aberavon Town 15.55 ~ 16.05 15.57½ ~ 16.07½
34 Cwmavon 16/12 16/12
35 Oakwood GF 16.15 ~ 16.23 16.15 ~ 16.18½
38 Tonmawr ? 16.24½ ~ 16.25
38¼ Tonmawr Jn East GF 16.30 ~ 16.37 16.26½ ~ 16.44
41½ Oakwood GF 16.57 ~ 17.05 16.51½ ~ 16.55½
16.56½ ~ 16.59½
42½ Cwmavon 17/08 17/02½
44¼ Aberavon Town 17.15 ~ 17.20 17.11½ ~ 17.12
44¾ Port Talbot General 17.25 ~ 17.30 17.23 ~ ??.??
? Bridgend 17.50a ?


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