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. But in 1860 it merged with other railways to form the West Midland railway which was in turn taken over by the Great Western Railway in 1863.
On nationalisation post-World War II became part of the Western Region of British Railways. Surviving the Beeching Axe, it now forms the southern section of Network Rails Welsh Marches Line.
History
Incorporation
Incorporated on 3 August 1846, in 1847, the Act was passed for the Taff Vale Extension, from Coedygric North Junction, Pontypool westwards to the Taff Vale Railway at Quakers Yard. The railway company was formed by the amalgamation of the Hereford Railway, the Llanfihangel Railway and the Grosmont Railway.
Survey
Surveyed and designed by Chief Engineer Charles Liddell, he noted that at its northern end, the terminus at Hereford Barton was not big enough to take the five railways converging on the major market town. So it was agreed by the joint GWR/LNWR Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway and the broad gauge GWR sponsored Hereford, Ross and Gloucester Railway, the construction of Hereford Barrs Court. A joint opening of both stations took place on 6 December 1853.
Natural barriers
Liddell faced the problem of bridging two key natural geographic barriers to connect with the Taff Vale Railway at Quakers Yard, the Ebbw Valley and the Rhymney Valley. After agreeing a tendering process with the board, the winner was agreed to be Thomas W. Kennard. While Liddell was the key architect of both the Crumlin Viaduct (built from wrought iron due to its projected height), and the Hengoed Viaduct (built from stone, on a curve), Kennard acted as designer and engineer for both projects, and supplier for the Crumlin, where his father Robert Kennard's company Falkirk Iron Co supplied the innovative Warren trusses.
Opening
On 2 January 1854, the line opened from Hereford to Coedygric, Pontypool on the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company line. The station at Abergavenny was opened.
Merger
In 1860, the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway merged with the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway and Worcester and Hereford Railway to form the West Midland Railway.
Abergavenny Jct
On 1 October 1862, Abergavenny Junction was opened to the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway. Abergavenny Junction closed in 1958.
Closure
On 9 June 1958, the majority of stations on the line were closed to goods traffic.
Chronology
- 1846 - Tramroads the Llanvihangel Railway, Grosmont Railway and Hereford Railway purchased.
- 1847 - Act for Taff Vale Extension passed from Coedygric North Junction to the Taff Vale Railway at Quakers Yard.
- 1852 - Construction work commences on Crumlin Viaduct.
- 1853 - Construction on Hengoed Viaduct (Maesycwmmer Viaduct) begins.
- 1854 - Line to Abergavenny opened.
- 1854 - Section opened from Hereford (Barton) to Coedygric on the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company. Line is operated by the London and North Western Railway.
- 1854 - Railway becomes fully independent.
- 1860 - Newport Abergavenny and Hereford Railway, Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway and Worcester and Hereford Railway merged to form the West Midland Railway.
- 1862 - Abergavenny Junction station opened.
- 1863 - West Midland Railway builds platforms north of the south facing junction with the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway.
- 1864 - Traffic serves the newer Abergavenny railway station.
- 1870 - Abergavenny Junction station re-built further north from original site.
- 1871 - Abergavenny Junction station re-built at London and North Western Railway expense.
- 1884 - Private coal and stores siding laid to Joint Counties Lunatic Asylum from south junction at triangle. London and North Western Railway acquire running powers.
- 1928 - Double-track across Crumlin Viaduct downscaled to a single track.
- 1950 - Abergavenny renamed "Abergavenny Monmouth Road".
- 1958 - Abergavenny Junction station closes, and all stations between Pontypool Road and Hereford (excluding Abergavenny Monmouth Road) all close to goods traffic.
- 1964 - Passenger services between Pontypool Road and Neath withdrawn and the line over Crumlin viaduct closes to all traffic.
- 1965 - Pontypool Road engine shed closes.
- 1965 - Crumlin Viaduct demolished.
- 1967 - Pontypool Road engine shed is demolished. Sidings in Pontypool and at Coedygric are largely removed during Beeching Axe.
- 1968 - "Abergavenny Monmouth Road" station is renamed Abergavenny again.
- 1972 - With the closures of Crane Street and Pontypool Clarence Street, Pontypool Road station is renamed "Pontypool".
- 2000 - The disused Hengoed Viaduct is opened for public access.
- 2004 - The Heritage Lottery Fund provides refurbishment grant for Hengoed Viaduct and remains of Hengoed High Level railway station which becomes part of the Celtic cycle trail.