Locale Merthyr Tydfil, Wales Length 8,047 m Termini Pant, Merthyr Tydfil | Terminus Pant Phone +44 1685 722988 | |
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Name Brecon Mountain Railway Built by Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway Original gauge 4 ft 8 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Owned by Brecon Mountain Railway Ltd Address Pant Station, Merthyr Tydfil CF48 2UP, UK Hours Open today · 8AM–9PMFriday8AM–9PMSaturday9AM–3:30PMSunday2–6PMMonday8AM–9PMTuesday8AM–9PMWednesday8AM–9PMThursday8AM–9PM Similar Torpantau railway station, Pontsticill Reservoir, Vale of Rheidol Railway, Avon Valley Railway, Welshpool and Llanfair Li | ||
A short trip on the brecon mountain railway
The Brecon Mountain Railway (Welsh: Rheilffordd Mynydd Brycheiniog) is a 1 ft 11 3⁄4 in (603 mm) narrow gauge tourist railway that runs through the Brecon Beacons along the full length of the Pontsticill Reservoir and uphill passing the nearby upper (Pentwyn) reservoir to Torpantau.
Contents
- A short trip on the brecon mountain railway
- A baldwin in the brecon beacons the brecon mountain railway 10 07 15
- Route of the BMR
- History
- Stations of the BMR
- Locomotives
- References
The BMR, is located three miles (4.8 km) north of the town of Merthyr Tydfil, Mid-Glamorganshire, South-East Wales.
A baldwin in the brecon beacons the brecon mountain railway 10 07 15
Route of the BMR
The line runs along part of the trackbed of the northern section of the former 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Brecon and Merthyr Railway from Pant to a new station at Torpantau, via Pontsticill and Dolygaer Loop, A total of approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) in length.
With this, it has taken the BMR just short of the southern entrance to the 667yd long Torpantau tunnel, the highest railway tunnel in Great Britain, that carried the original line through the hills along the side of Glyn Collwn to Brecon.
One of the benefits of the line, and a condition of the planning permission, is that tourists can access and experience remote parts of the Brecon Beacons National Park without driving their cars through it. Car parking for railway passengers is only available at Pant Station, outside the National Park.
The Brecon Mountain Railway is a fellow member of the Great Little Trains of Wales.
History
Construction of the BMR started in 1978, with the grant of a Light Railway Order in 1980. Track laying between Pant and Pontsticill took place in 1979-80. At Pontsticill the station house was renovated, the old waiting room was converted into a small workshop and a storage shed was built. 7 bridges were repaired or replaced. The railway opened to passengers in June 1980 using the engine Sybil and one carriage.
Between 1982 and 1996 a large station and workshop was built at Pant. This provides passenger facilities including toilets, cafe, shop and booking office as well as the extensive workshop used to build and maintain the railway locomotives, carriages and wagons.
The railway was extended from Pontsticill a further 1 1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) to Dol-y-Gaer which opened in 1995. The railway was further extended to Torpantau, just short of the southern entrance to the Torpantau Tunnel with passenger services commencing 1 April 2014.
Stations of the BMR
Locomotives
Full list of steam locomotives at the site: