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3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Swansea Vale Railway? Wrong! If the Swansea Vale Railway is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Swansea Vale Railway then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
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6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Swansea Vale Railway wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Swansea Vale Railway then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Swansea Vale Railway site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Swansea Vale Railway, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Swansea Vale Railway, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
{| |-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->|}|}The
Swansea Vale Railway was a heritage railway following a section of the old
Midland Railway line between Swansea and
Brecon, which formerly made up part of the network associated with the Mid Wales Railway
History
Built in
1815 as a tramroad, the route was expanded as a feeder railway for several Swansea mines, and by 1874 was carrying passengers between Swansea St Thomas station (now closed),
Llansamlet, Glais, Pontardawe,
Ystalyfera, Gwys, Ystradgynlais and
Brynamman. The railway was bought in 1876 by the Midland railway company in order to bypass rival railway companies and gain access to Swansea docks. In
1923, Railways Act 1921 into the "Big Four" companies and many of these alternative routes were run down and closed. Passenger services via Brecon ceased in
1930. Between the
1930s and
1960s as the importance of Swansea port and industry dropped most of the line was closed. By
1970 nothing was left but rusting rails and earthworks.
Preservation
With the assistance of Swansea city council the Swansea Valley Railway Society, based in
Pentrechwyth, was able to purchase the last remaining section of intact track between Upper Bank (close to Morfa industrial estate) and Six Pit (now renamed Nantyffin Road). It is an indication of the scale of change in Swansea that a former industrial railway now runs between a large shopping centre and the main sports stadium for the city.
In
2007 Swansea council took the decision to redevelop the area and declined to renew the lease on the railway. In part this decision was reached because the state of the railway and the costs to put it right were considerable. In addition the value of the land in question had risen from almost worthless industrial land to prime development as the city expanded. At this point in time it is not clear what will happen to the many important pieces of heritage such as Kings Dock signal box or whether they will simply be flattened and sold to developers.
Gallery
Image:Swansea Vale Railway1.jpg|Locomotive stock awaiting restorationImage:Swansea Vale Railway2.jpg|Much cleanup work needed!Image:Swansea Vale Railway3.jpg|Rolling stock and tracks prior to restoration in 1989Image:Discarded locomotive boiler.jpg]
External links
- Swansea Vale Railway
- Map Of The Original Railway Route
{| |-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->-->|}|}The
Swansea Vale Railway was a heritage railway following a section of the old
Midland Railway line between Swansea and Brecon, which formerly made up part of the network associated with the Mid Wales Railway
History
Built in 1815 as a tramroad, the route was expanded as a feeder railway for several Swansea mines, and by 1874 was carrying passengers between Swansea St Thomas station (now closed),
Llansamlet,
Glais, Pontardawe, Ystalyfera,
Gwys, Ystradgynlais and Brynamman. The railway was bought in
1876 by the Midland railway company in order to bypass rival railway companies and gain access to
Swansea docks. In
1923,
Railways Act 1921 into the "Big Four" companies and many of these alternative routes were run down and closed. Passenger services via
Brecon ceased in 1930. Between the 1930s and 1960s as the importance of Swansea port and industry dropped most of the line was closed. By 1970 nothing was left but rusting rails and earthworks.
Preservation
With the assistance of Swansea city council the Swansea Valley Railway Society, based in Pentrechwyth, was able to purchase the last remaining section of intact track between Upper Bank (close to Morfa industrial estate) and Six Pit (now renamed Nantyffin Road). It is an indication of the scale of change in Swansea that a former industrial railway now runs between a large shopping centre and the main sports stadium for the city.
In
2007 Swansea council took the decision to redevelop the area and declined to renew the lease on the railway. In part this decision was reached because the state of the railway and the costs to put it right were considerable. In addition the value of the land in question had risen from almost worthless industrial land to prime development as the city expanded. At this point in time it is not clear what will happen to the many important pieces of heritage such as Kings Dock signal box or whether they will simply be flattened and sold to developers.
Gallery
Image:Swansea Vale Railway1.jpg|Locomotive stock awaiting restorationImage:Swansea Vale Railway2.jpg|Much cleanup work needed!Image:Swansea Vale Railway3.jpg|
Rolling stock and tracks prior to restoration in
1989Image:Discarded locomotive boiler.jpg]
External links
- Swansea Vale Railway
- Map Of The Original Railway Route
