WITH the final days of Welsh mined coal trains drawing to a close, Pathfinder Tours is planning to run a farewell special to Cwmbargoed on March 9.
This new tour was confirmed in mid-December and runs over one of the longest nonpassenger branches on the network. High altitude and remote location makes future rail use unlikely, so if this is a line on your‘to do’list, this is likely to be your last chance.
Starting at Burton-on-Trent, the‘Cwm and Glo’(valley and coal) will pick up at Birmingham New St, Worcestershire Parkway, Cheltenham Spa, Bristol Parkway and Severn Tunnel Junction then running via East Usk Yard Up/Down, Alexandra Dock Jn Up/Down Goods, Pengam Sidings, Cardiff Central, the Down Miskin Loop, Pontyclun, Bridgend and finally Margam Knuckle yard where the train will reverse. Going forward, the route is via the Miskin loop and Ystrad Mynach South Jct to take the freight line towards the now closed Fros-y-Fran opencast as far as the 19 mile 35 chain marker.