Cwmbargoed Coal Trains

[ffesti]

News comes this week from the Heritage Railway community that Ffos y Fran colliery has sold it’s remaining stock to Tata Steel.

This presumably brings and end to coal workings from Cwmbargoed?

I wonder if anyone knows where Breedon Hope Cement will be getting their coal from now and whether it will continue to be supplied by rail

 

[Oxfordblues]

Meanwhile over at Aberpergwm authority has been given for the extraction of a further 40 million tonnes, loading at Cwmgwrach for Tata Steel at Port Talbot (and presumably Breeden at Hope). There is a dreadful irony in the valleys: many have vivid memories of the Miners' Strike of 1984-85, but there is now a vigorous campaign against mining for coal!

 

[stantheman]

Noted there is a rail tour to Cwmbargoed today as well as the Sat coal . Is this just a coincidence ?
Good news anyway that coal is continuing from Cwmgrach . Reminds me of a great few days when I hired a car and chased coal to Cwmbargoed , Pontycymer ( line from Tondu ) Cwmgrach and Onllywn ..spelling May not be right . Is Onllywn a washery ? It seems to send out a weekly train to Immingham (export ? )

 

[JonathanH]

Noted there is a rail tour to Cwmbargoed today as well as the Sat coal . Is this just a coincidence ?

Intentional - eg the tour has been organised because of the expectation that the line will close once there is no reason for it to remain.

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

Is Onllywn a washery ? It seems to send out a weekly train to Immingham (export ? )

Yes it is. The line has a new future. When the washery closes it wil become part of the new railway testing centre promoted by the Welsh and UK governments and the Dulais valley line will be used to transfer rolling stock.

The population of the Dulais valley (the community featured in the film 'Pride') is around 5,000 so it's unlikely the line will ever again see regular passenger services.

 

[nanstallon]

News comes this week from the Heritage Railway community that Ffos y Fran colliery has sold it’s remaining stock to Tata Steel.

This presumably brings and end to coal workings from Cwmbargoed?

I wonder if anyone knows where Breedon Hope Cement will be getting their coal from now and whether it will continue to be supplied by rail

Won't the coal still need to be transported to serve the needs of Tata Steel?