The Brecon Mountain Railway
The Railway Today
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| Pontsticill station is set amidst the hills |
The Brecon Mountain Railway is a 2' gauge line of 3.5 miles length running
through part of the spectacular Brecon Beacons National Park, although perhaps
not as rugged as the mountains of Snowdonia this area is rightly known for its
natural beauty.
The Railways headquarters (and the only station with car parking facilities) is
at Pant, just North of Merthyr Tydfil and outside the National Park. Pant
Station has a large souvenir shop and cafe and a viewing area where you can
look down into the railway workshops and whatch the 'behind the scenes' work go
on.
The traveller at Pant boards the spacious and comfortable coaches via end
balconies (wild west style!) for the journey to the temporary halt just beyond
Pontsticill. Unusually the journey into the mountains is predominantly down
hill, which seems almost unnatural to veterans of the Tallylyn, Rheidol and
Ffestiniog lines. The descent takes the traveller along a valley of scenic
splendour, surrounded by the rounded, but impressive outlines of the Brecon
Beacons.
Eventually the Artificial, but none the less beautiful, Taff Fechan Reserviour
is reached and soon thereafter Pontsticill station where the traveller can
enjoy a break amidst the delightful scenery, the station has facilities for
refreshments and even holiday accommodation in the converted signal box. The
train travels on beside the picturesque lake to the temporary terminus, this is
the end of the line at present but as plans exist to extend the line further
there is no platform or station here and the passenger must remain on the train
while the loco runs around for the return journey.
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| The spectacular Baldwin Loco |
Motive power on the Brecon Mountain Railway is interesting and varied. A return
visit in the same season usually sees the same loco heading the train but most
years the management seem able to provide something different in the way of steam haulage.
History and Origins
The Railway was built on the track bed of the former Brecon and Merthyr Railway
as a tourist railway. Road access is limited to Pant station by the terms of
the planning consent the, idea being to keep cars out of the National Park
whilst taking visitors in.