 | ||
The Penar branch line (also known as the Hall's branch line, the Hall's Tramway and Hall's Road) was a standard gauge freight railway line running between Risca and the Oakdale Colliery in the South Wales coalfield. It finally closed when the colliery closed in 1989 but several sections of the bed, line and footbridges remain, around Crosskeys.
History
The line was originally built between 1808 and 1812 as a private tramway by Benjamin Hall, 1st Baron Llanover to connect mines he owned near Markham and Argoed in the Sirhowy Valley initially to Newbridge where it connected with the Crumlin Arm of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, later probably extended to Risca.
At first the tramway was only 3 ft wide and used horses drawing small wagons for the nine mile journey.
in 1886, the line was acquired by the Great Western Railway on a thousand-year lease.