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Near the bottom of the list
of "Rail Diary" pages is
South
Wales Steam, a record of a trip made to some of the pits then using
steam locomotives. I was able to take one or two quite pleasing pictures
of "Nora", a Barclay 0-4-0ST, as she returned to the shed.
Thirty years later, I made a return visit to a somewhat changed Blaenavon.
We were on the way home from Cardiff - "let's go and have a
look".
 The mine is perhaps more
generally known today as "Big Pit", open to the public as an
outpost of the National Museum of Wales, complete with a trip underground
- miners lamps and no contraband - great fun! As well as a fascinating and
well-led trip to the workings 300 feet below the surface, we were able to
take on essential supplies (cup of tea and a bite to eat...)
  A few hundred yards from
the pit, the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway is gradually taking shape -
we paid a visit and took a ride on the BR blue-and-grey DMU, along the
short but scenic line to Whistle Inn. Ride duly completed, a quick
inspection of the "work in progress" was in order. A number
of ex-Barry "long termers" stand in the compound, along with
sundry other items of motive power. A pair of class 50 diesels stand in
extremely faded NSE livery, while numerous items of coaching and
multiple unit stock are in various states of repair and renovation. Two
steam locos are subject to considerable attention - No 8, the
"Austerity" from Mountain Ash, appears to be very close to the
re-assembly stage, while a friendly group of enthusiasts worked on
pannier tank 9629 - the one that once stood outside the Holiday Inn in
Cardiff. And there, parked behind the 50s, and looking very pleased to
have survived into preservation, was "Nora" - my friend from
30 years ago.
The Pontypool and
Blaenavon is gathering momentum, and its proximity to Big Pit must be a
major "plus point". Hopefully a longer run soon will start to
bring in much-needed funds - it's a long way to Pontypool...
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Back to index page |
; "Big Pit")
; "Big pit - tub tracks")
; "Hunslet flameproof diesel no 6049 of 1961")
; "DMU at Blaenavon station")
; "The other end of the line - Whistle Inn")
; "Ready to depart from Whistle Inn")
; "The end of the line")
; "50 030 \"Repulse\" - looks more like Nelson to me....")
; "\"Long-termers\" at Blaenavon")
; "An ex-GWR clerestory undergoing restoration")
; "\"looking very pleased\" - Nora, AB 1680 of 1920, ex NCB Blaenavon")