Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway
Encyclopedia
The Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway (HH&BR) was an early railway linking Hereford
in England with Brecon
in Wales
.
but actually linked to the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway
at Barton, Hereford. The HH&BR acquired the Hay Railway
on 6 August 1860, but the Hay line was immediately divided between the Mid-Wales Railway (MWR) and the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway (B&MTJR).
following on 30 June 1863. Further extensions of the line reached Hay-on-Wye
on 11 July 1864 and Three Cocks Junction on 1 September 1864. Passenger train service from the HH&BR's Moorfields station in Hereford to Eardisley commenced on 30 June 1863 and passenger traffic to Hay began on 11 July 1864. The line extension to Brecon
was opened for goods traffic on 1 September 1864 and for passenger trains on 21 September 1864.
Company (MR) took over the HH&BR from 1 October 1869, leasing the line by an Act of 30 July 1874 and absorbing the HH&BR in 1876. The MR closed Hereford Moorfields station on 1 April 1874, thereafter trains used Hereford Barr's Court railway station (Hereford railway station
from 1893). The MR was absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
(LMSR) on 1 January 1923.
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
in England with Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
in Wales
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...
.
Incorporation and early history
The HH&BR was incorporated on 8 August 1859. The company planned to link its line with the Shrewsbury and Hereford RailwayShrewsbury and Hereford Railway
The Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway was an independently developed English railway, the first to run train services in Herefordshire.Built between 1850 and 1853, it crossed a number of services by both the Great Western Railway and London and North Western Railway companies, became a joint...
but actually linked to the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway
Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway
The Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway was a railway line connecting the Welsh port city of Newport via Abergavenny, to the major English market town of Hereford.Sponsored by the LNWR, it opened on 6 December 1853...
at Barton, Hereford. The HH&BR acquired the Hay Railway
Hay Railway
The Hay Railway was an early Welsh narrow gauge horse tramwaythat connected Eardisley Hay-on-Wye with Watton Wharf on the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal.-Parliamentary authorisation, construction and opening:...
on 6 August 1860, but the Hay line was immediately divided between the Mid-Wales Railway (MWR) and the Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway (B&MTJR).
Construction and early operations
The section of line between Hereford and Moorhampton opened for goods traffic on 24 October 1862, with the section to EardisleyEardisley
Eardisley is a village and civil parish in Herefordshire about south of the centre of Kington. Eardisley is in the Wye valley in the northwest of the county, close to the border with Wales....
following on 30 June 1863. Further extensions of the line reached Hay-on-Wye
Hay-on-Wye
Hay-on-Wye , often described as "the town of books", is a small market town and community in Powys, Wales.-Location:The town lies on the east bank of the River Wye and is within the Brecon Beacons National Park, just north of the Black Mountains...
on 11 July 1864 and Three Cocks Junction on 1 September 1864. Passenger train service from the HH&BR's Moorfields station in Hereford to Eardisley commenced on 30 June 1863 and passenger traffic to Hay began on 11 July 1864. The line extension to Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
was opened for goods traffic on 1 September 1864 and for passenger trains on 21 September 1864.
Amalgamation with the Midland Railway
The HH&BR attempted to amalgamate with the B&MTJR, but the Act of 5 July 1865 was ruled to be improperly processed and therefore illegal. The MWR therefore worked the line from 1 October 1868. The Midland RailwayMidland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
Company (MR) took over the HH&BR from 1 October 1869, leasing the line by an Act of 30 July 1874 and absorbing the HH&BR in 1876. The MR closed Hereford Moorfields station on 1 April 1874, thereafter trains used Hereford Barr's Court railway station (Hereford railway station
Hereford railway station
Hereford railway station serves the city of Hereford, England. Managed by Arriva Trains Wales, it lies on the Welsh Marches Line between Leominster and Abergavenny and is the western terminus of the Cotswold Line.The station has four platforms...
from 1893). The MR was absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
(LMSR) on 1 January 1923.