Stenlake Publishing - The Vale of Glamorgan Railway
The Vale of Glamorgan Railway
Author : Colin Chapman ISBN : 9780853615231 Cover : paperback Price : £11.95
Colin Chapman continues his excellent surveys of railways in South Wales turning his attention this time to the Barry Railway’s route from Barry to Bridgend which runs via Rhoose, Aberthaw and Llantwit Major. Although the passenger service ceased in 1964 a number of proposals have been made to reintroduce passenger trains.
For most of the 19th century the Vale of Glamorgan remained untouched by t he rapid development of the railway system which occurred elsewhere in South Wales.
There was little, apart from its agricultural wealth and the limestone resources, to attract the attention of railway companies or speculators, and there was never sufficient support available for the successful promotion of locally-based schemes. In addition, the terrain of much of the area was not particularly sympathetic to the activities of railway engineers. When railways eventually came to the Vale they were the product of outside forces and influences, with the needs of local communities being very much a secondary concern.