Bryn Oer Tramway
Encyclopedia
The Bryn Oer Tramway was a horse-worked narrow gauge railway built in South Wales
in 1814.
. The Bryn Oer Tramway was built under this act in 1814, opening in 1815. It was a horse-worked plateway
that served the Bryn Oer collieries and the limestone quarries at Trefil
, dropping 330 m (1,082.7 ft) along its route to the canal at Talybont
. An extension was built to serve the Rhymney ironworks in the Rhymney Valley
.
By the 1830s the growth of local railways had begun to complete with the tramway, especially with the introduction of steam locomotives that were too heavy to work on the fragile plateway. By 1860 most of the tramway's traffic was being sent by railways and it closed in 1865.
remain in place in several places.
A Brinore Tramroad Conservation Forum has been established to protect and conserve the remains of this important piece of Wales' industrial archaeology
. The Forum comprises the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, the Forestry Commission
, Tredegar
Town Council, Talybont
and Llangynidr
community councils together with Llangynidr Historical Society and individuals.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 1814.
History
The Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal was built under an Act of Parliament of 1793. The Act allowed the canal company to build feeder railways up to 8 miles (12.9 km) in length to transport freight to the canal for transshipmentTransshipment
Transshipment or Transhipment is the shipment of goods or containers to an intermediate destination, and then from there to yet another destination....
. The Bryn Oer Tramway was built under this act in 1814, opening in 1815. It was a horse-worked plateway
Plateway
A plateway is an early kind of railway or tramway or wagonway, with a cast iron rail. They were mainly used for about 50 years up to 1830, though some continued later....
that served the Bryn Oer collieries and the limestone quarries at Trefil
Trefil
Trefil is a small village in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent, south Wales. It lies at the top of the Sirhowy Valley, three miles northwest of Tredegar...
, dropping 330 m (1,082.7 ft) along its route to the canal at Talybont
Talybont
Talybont is the name of several villages in Wales:*Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion*Tal-y-bont, Conwy*Talybont, Bangor near Bangor in Gwynedd*Talybont, Barmouth near Barmouth in Gwynedd*Talybont-on-Usk, Powys*Talybont Reservoir...
. An extension was built to serve the Rhymney ironworks in the Rhymney Valley
Rhymney Valley
The Rhymney Valley is a valley encompassing the villages of Abertysswg, Fochriw, Pontlottyn, Tirphil, New Tredegar, Aberbargoed, Rhymney, and Ystrad Mynach, and the towns of Bargoed and Caerphilly, in south-east Wales, formerly famous for its coal mining and iron industries.-Geography:Created as a...
.
By the 1830s the growth of local railways had begun to complete with the tramway, especially with the introduction of steam locomotives that were too heavy to work on the fragile plateway. By 1860 most of the tramway's traffic was being sent by railways and it closed in 1865.
The tramway today
In 2006 much of the route of the tramway is in use as a public bridleway for walkers, horseriders and mountain-bikers, and stone sleepersRailroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
remain in place in several places.
A Brinore Tramroad Conservation Forum has been established to protect and conserve the remains of this important piece of Wales' industrial archaeology
Industrial archaeology
Industrial archaeology, like other branches of archaeology, is the study of material culture from the past, but with a focus on industry. Strictly speaking, industrial archaeology includes sites from the earliest times to the most recent...
. The Forum comprises the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
, Tredegar
Tredegar
Tredegar is a town situated on the Sirhowy River in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent, in south-east Wales. Located within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, it became an early centre of the Industrial Revolution in South Wales...
Town Council, Talybont
Talybont
Talybont is the name of several villages in Wales:*Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion*Tal-y-bont, Conwy*Talybont, Bangor near Bangor in Gwynedd*Talybont, Barmouth near Barmouth in Gwynedd*Talybont-on-Usk, Powys*Talybont Reservoir...
and Llangynidr
Llangynidr
Llangynidr is a village in Powys, Wales, about west of Crickhowell and south-east of Brecon. The River Usk flows through the village as does the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal on which there are four locks....
community councils together with Llangynidr Historical Society and individuals.