The Brecon and Merthyr

[rkk01]

... or more cruelly - The "Breakneck and Murder"!

For those that have seen my posts complaining (enquiring?) about the up hill performance of certain GW tank engines - here is my BIG HILL

So far I have track down from Talybont on Usk to Dolygaer, with most work so far having been on the "Seven Mile Bank" from Talybont to Torpantau - the highest tunnel on the (former) BR network. The intention is to extend to Ponsticill Junction, then up to Pant / Dowlais and down to Cefn Coed and Merthyr.

At the northern end it would be nice to extend to Brecon, but I can't see that happening for a while

Anyway - this is for the challenge. Of building and driving what must have been one of the most difficult routes of the steam era.
I will try to select the most appropriate of the available assets, but I'm not planning to create the custom assets that would really be required to do the spectacular setting and route justice

Will update on progress as and when it happens...!

[rkk01]

So I haven't used the site's photo album before, so let's see how this works...



ex GW Pannier Tank No. 5747 waits for a Churchward mogul to clear the single line off the seven mile bank. The train of vans must have been important to allow a blue dot loco on the light load limit route...!


The fireman heaps on the coal to prepare the little 0-6-0 for almost seven miles of 1:38


A busy day at Talybont, with both a 2MT and small Prairie awaiting duties. The line in the background crosses the Usk before climbing to Talyllyn Junction (well not yet...)


Storming the 1:38 with a B-Set. 5747 pulls level with the dam at Talybont Reservoir...


... and slogs onwards to the loop at Pentir Rhiw


Pentir Rhiw, with 10 years worth of passengers...! and a crossing service coasting down the bank


A Collett Goods 0-6-0 enters the loop with a Newport to Brecon service


A well earned rest at Torpantau


As the crew takes a breather, another 57xx arrives from Dowlais with a train of ICI tanks


Almost at the top of the climb from Ponsticill - just better keep control of the block chemical working on the steep run down to Talybont...

[tialho]

Looking good - can't wait to drive this one!

I've been staying at the Danywenallt Youth Hostel (adjacent to the route by Talybont reservoir dam) for the last 20 years, and have walked most of the countryside around (including the old track bed) - the terrain looks spot on (minus a few million conifers!).

We've decided that if the Brecon Mountain Railway ever gets down to Talybont, we'll ask the Youth Hostel to provide a 2ft pump trolley to get down to the pub for the evening!

Cheers

Tim

[michaelhendle]

Hi it definitely has the feel of the Brecon Beacons,would any of the 2-8-0\2-8-2T tank locomotives have been used on the route?and would have a Manor or Grange been used,or was it only the line from Swansea to Shrewsbury that they were used on.
This is on my to get list.
Mike

[karma99]

Nice start!

[rkk01]

Thanks all, for your kind words and encouragment!

We've decided that if the Brecon Mountain Railway ever gets down to Talybont, we'll ask the Youth Hostel to provide a 2ft pump trolley to get down to the pub for the evening!

Wouldn't fancy the journey back!!!
I've cycled and walked lots of the route. The Taff Trail (i.e. The old BMR trackbed) isn't too bad a gradient on a mountain bike. The older Brinore Tramroad is a far sterner test.

Hi it definitely has the feel of the Brecon Beacons,would any of the 2-8-0\2-8-2T tank locomotives have been used...

Historically I doubt that they would have. I have found it quite difficult to confirm the axle load limit for the route. Certainly the 43xx and Manor were a common site on the Cambrian route northwards from Brecon, but I have found very little evidence of circa 17ton+ axle load locos on the BMR section

Oddly, the heaviest axle load I have seen a photo of is an EE Type 3 / Class 37...! Given that these were brand new when the route closed, I suspect it may have been a track lifting train

Anyway, I will certainly be using the existing 43xx and 56xx despite their axle limit, and look forward to giving any forthcoming 2800, 4200, 5205 and 7200 class locos a run for their money

[theorganist]

Wow this is looking lovely and will be a good challenge to drive I suspect.

Nice work.

Peter

[dalmahoyhill2]

Nice one, you beat me to it, it was considering this as my next route. I like mountain route with honking gradients.

Are you going to take it down to merthyr as there are some nice viaducts down that part of the line.

Might have to do the Swansea Brecon line. Wanlockhead line, Alston line, blaneau/ trawsfennedd to llangollen or maybe Dartmoor line instead.

[rkk01]

If you like stunning scenary, steep gradients and tight curves, then South Wales is perfect!!! Huge amount of choice...

As well as Swansea - Brecon, there's also Merthyr to Abergavenny on the LNWR (Clydach gorge almost looks alpine) the TVR to Merthyr, PCN and the lines up Nantgarw, the remaining freight line through Nelson to Ffos y Fran, extension of Maerdy from Porth to Treherbert (and on to Port Talbot ), Quakers Yard to Aberdare...

If a route adjacent to / connected to the BMR takes your fancy then it may be worth sharing route origin data to allow the routes to be merged in future???

Clydach Gorge - LNWR Merther to Abergavenny http://d294upe59e38bq.cloudfront.net/br ... -23-81.jpg
http://www.railwayramblers.org.uk/news/ ... hgorge.jpg

[rkk01]

So, both frustration and satisfaction from this weekend's route building..,

Purchase of the WCML Trent Valley route provided some useful canal building assets for the Talybont area. The BMR crosses the main road through the village and the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.

BUT, first FRUSTRATION: the railway crosses the road and canal on a rising (1:38), curving skew. Trying to use existing assets just looks tatty because the available bridge abutments are square ended to the railway, whereas the actual skews are between, say, 20-40 degrees...

Second frustration was with the signalling. Made a start with the EK signals (despite reservations). And, yes, immediately apparent that the distants don't work as intended. The distant seems to be set based on whether the next section is occupied, rather than mirroring the setting of the next home signal

Will try replacing with CCFE LQ signals

And the satisfying bits?
- Getting some nice looking canal sections in place
- Getting Pontsticill dam in and setting the water levels for Pontsticill and Pentwyn reservoirs
- Laying almost all of the track at Pontsticill Junction (bar a few sidings) and testing that it all works
- Absolutely flogging the life out of a Class 37 trying to drag 11 loaded Seacows over Torpantau.

[rkk01]

Track now laid down the Taf Fechan valley to Morlais Junction, along with the LNWR joint line through the Morlais Tunnel.

Next stop on the Merthyr Branch will be Cefn Coed. Next stop on the "main" line will be Pant Junction.


I have a LOT of trees to plant...

[dorlan]

Historically I doubt that they would have. I have found it quite difficult to confirm the axle load limit for the route. Certainly the 43xx and Manor were a common site on the Cambrian route northwards from Brecon, but I have found very little evidence of circa 17ton+ axle load locos on the BMR section

There's a 1931 route availability map at http://www.michaelclemensrailways.co.uk ... cester/634 which shows that the line was classed as a yellow route.
There's also a 1963 route availability document on that page.

[rkk01]

Yes, there's some really great info on that site - the 1931 map, plus WTTs, load books etc...!

However, still leaves some uncertainty (licence...!) on what "might have" had reason to run on the BMR...

Can't argue with yellow for 1931, and the route was probably still worked you pre-grouping BMR tanks built for the line.
Move forward to WW2 and after and the route was predominantly run by Collett 2251s and 57xx PTs. The Panniers had a 17t axle load, although research indicates they were reclassified from blue to yellow.

A 17t axle load offers some tantalising "possibilities" - some of the heavy 8-coupled (& 10) freight tender engines would be within load limit. The tanks would be too heavy by a long way

[dorlan]

LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 engines built at Swindon were also used on Newport to Brecon trains.
Photos in the books that I have only show class 2251 and 57xx engines, plus one Ivatt engine, seen near Fochriw on the way to Brecon.

[RobertM]

Purchase of the WCML Trent Valley route provided some useful canal building assets for the Talybont area. The BMR crosses the main road through the village and the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.

Skyhook games/DTG released some scenery items on there market place of canal pieces, lofts, locks, boats ect for £2.99, that is worth a look instead of WCML TV

http://store.steampowered.com/app/326040/