The swansea and mumbles railway was built in 1804 to move limestone from the quarries of mumbles and coal from the clyne valley to swansea and to the markets beyond. Unfortunately i wasnt around to ever witness swansea when it was amass of railway lines but do wish i was. Swansea and mumbles railway news newspapers books scholar jstor march. In october 1958, 90% of the shares of the mumbles railway ltd. The metallurgical industries in the area are well represented, especially copper, tinplate and steel.
The story that is swansea can be told in many ways, each and every one of which leads to the fact that it is experiencing an everincreasing rate of change. Once the beeching axe struck, the train ran simply from swansea to gowerton and on to llanelli and from llanelli to. The mumbles railway, the worlds first passenger railway, published by the mumbles railway society, c1980. Swansea to mumbles 3 ways to travel via line 14 bus. The electric powered trains were unaffected by petrol rationing. There will also be those who love and those who hate the idea that turned wind street into a cafe quarter. The swansea and mumbles railway the worlds first railway. Over the years it saw the introduction of steam and later electricpowered trains until its final journey in 1960. From a horse drawn train in 1807 to the worlds longest running railway by the time of its closure in 1960, the railway spanned a fascinating 153 year history. The swansea and mumbles railway claims to be the worlds first public passenger railway originally built in 1804 to move limestone from the quarries of mumbles to swansea and to the markets beyond, it carried its first passengers on the day the british parliament abolished the transportation of. The swansea and mumbles railway was the worlds first passenger railway service, located in swansea, wales, united kingdom originally built under an act of parliament of 1804 to move limestone from the quarries of mumbles to swansea and to the markets beyond, it carried the worlds first farepaying railway passengers on 25 march 1807. Twitter seen at the swansea museum the 1800 replica coach built for the 1954 celebrations of the mumbles railway.
Before that it could have been anything from the demise of the mumbles railway to the building of the river tawe barrage. Jan 09, 2015 fantastic wonderful footage of the worlds oldest passenger railways in action. A history of mumbles memories of the mumbles train 1807. Swansea to mumbles 3 ways to travel via line 14 bus, taxi. A history of mumbles the coastal defence guns of mumbles. This is where the railway stations used to be in swansea.
Gerald gabb is the author of the swansea history journal 5. Apr 29, 2017 swansea famously was home to the mumbles railway, the first passenger rail service, which transported travellers along the arch of the bay from town to the village. The swansea and mumbles railway was the worlds first passenger railway service, 1 located in swansea, wales, united kingdom originally built under an act of parliament of 1804 to move limestone from the quarries of mumbles to swansea and to the markets beyond, it carried the worlds first farepaying railway passengers on 25 march 1807 the same day the british parliament abolished the. Lost tramways of wales swansea and mumbles mds books. Originally an independent concern, it was taken over by the midland railway and hence linked through to the rest of the uk via brecon. A history of mumbles memories of the mumbles train 1807 1960. Although nothing of significance remains of it today, the swansea vale railway was a major factor in the life of the swansea valley, cwmtwrch and brynamman for well over 100 years. Family collections include those of the vivian, dillwyn and morris families. Rigorously researched and photoillustrated throughout, the book details the history of swanseas tramway and the city at the time when these services were in regular use, guiding you through. It was originally built following an act of parliament in 1804 to move limestone from the mumbles quarries to swansea canal and. Originally built under an act of parliament of 1804 to move limestone from the quarries of mumbles to swansea and to the markets beyond, it carried the worlds first farepaying railway passengers on 25 march 1807.
It was a very unusual line being one of the worlds first ever passenger railways, and despite being described as a tramway, legally it was a main line railway. Swansea railway station wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. This line ran from swansea victoria to pontardulais, calling at swansea bay, mumbles road, both killay and dunvant at one time, gowerton, gorseinon and grovesend. After entry into the cash book figures woiuld be recorded in a ledger. The swansea and mumbles railway was the venue for the worlds first passenger railway service, located in swansea, wales, united kingdom. Mar 25, 2007 the swansea and mumbles railway began life as a horsedrawn carriage which ran along a line built to transport limestone from mumbles to swansea. This means that it is the first place where transactions would be recorded in double entry form. Swansea and mumbles this title recollects a lost aspect of welsh heritage and the communities the tramway connected during its heyday.
Past times have seen the kingsway, high street and civic centre occupy the spotlight. The mumbles railway has bluntly found where it stands in swanseas culture, by being completely missed as a potential candidate to represent over 50 years of swansea as a city despite being a part of region for over three times that amount. It is worth mentioning, however, that swansea university library houses swt and tramway minute books which give a significant insight into the operation of the railway. The mumbles railways final journey 5th january 1960. Join us for the latest developments, photos, videos and events, as we revive the worlds first passenger railway. The swansea and mumbles railway the worlds first railway service. I would be very interested in seeing the other documents you have about the mumbles railway. Buy swansea and mumbles railway locomotion papers 3rd revised edition by lee, charles edward isbn. Mumbles railway in colour wag welsh area group rmweb.
Swansea central library townhill library swansea council services suspended from 18 march to help the community fight coronavirus include. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It was driven by frank dukin who had worked on the railway since 1907. The swansea and mumbles railway was the worlds first passenger railway service, located in swansea, wales, united kingdom. This is where the railway stations used to be in swansea bay. Originally an independent concern, it was taken over by the midland railway and hence linked through to.
The swansea and mumbles railway is officially recognised as the worlds first passenger service. The station has been renovated and extended several. A history of mumbles the mumbles passenger railway from. The worlds first and the longest surviving railway until 1960 is a worthy candidate of the history books. Swansea and mumbles railway wikipedia republished wiki 2. Swansea and mumbles railway oystermouth railway owner the oystermouth railway or tram road company opened april 1806 goods traffic horse first passenger service 25th march 1807 horse operator benjamin french subsequently joined by messrs rose and llewellyn taken over ownership circa 1820 control of the the ortrco acquired by sir john morris, as mortgagee. Swansea bay rider land train the swansea bay rider is a 72 seater land train, which runs along swansea promenade, from blackpill lido, blackpill, to southend gardens, mumbles, and gives passengers a spectacular view of the beautiful swansea bay.
Susan thomas, the mumbles railway, an unpublished dissertation, 1975. A quaint cafe and snack bar based in a building that was once a station for the historic swansea to mumbles railway. Watch swansea, victoria pontardulais railway, 1964 june. The mumbles railway was built as an industrial horsedrawn tramway in 18045, and became the first railway in the world to regularly carry passengers in 1807. Early days there was a growth of industry along the river tawe during the 18th century and. Mail was transported from swansea to mumbles to james orrins post office at southend on the site of todays carlton hotel on the train each morning and. Originally built under an act of parliament of 1804 to move limestone from the quarries of mumbles to swansea and to the markets beyond, it carried the worlds first farepaying railway passengers under an agreement effective from 25 march 1807. Comments the swansea and mumbles railway opened to coal traffic in 1855, five years earlier than passenger traffic was introduced. Ein newyddion, staff journal of south wales transport co. Rome2rio makes travelling from swansea to mumbles easy. The swansea and mumbles railway was the worlds first passenger railway service, 1 located in swansea, wales originally built under an act of parliament of 1804 to move limestone from the quarries of mumbles to swansea and to the markets beyond, it carried the worlds first farepaying railway passengers on 25 march 1807 the same day the british parliament abolished the transportation of. It is a complex human story of courage, humour and.
Due to an amzing lack of foresight in 1960 it was allowed to be dismantled and replaced by bus despite a huge protest. Included in the collection is a cash book from the very early days of the oystermouth tramroad. Frank dunkin, the longestserving driver on the mumbles railway recalled that i. Nov 10, 2010 this group is for photographs of the historic swansea to mumbles railway in south wales, uk. Once the beeching axe struck, the train ran simply from swansea to gowerton and on to llanelli and from llanelli to pontarddulais via bynea and llangennech. The final train is seen, below, making its way back to swansea and these children are posing as it passes. It was built by the south wales railway, which amalgamated with the great western railway gwr in 1863, but it was not originally on the south wales railway main line, planned to connect london with the port of fishguard, and swansea passengers had to change at landore, two miles to the north until at least 1879. Early days there was a growth of industry along the river tawe during the 18th century and swansea became famous for its copper industry. Engineering timelines oystermouth railway, site of. Ethel ross was a lecturer at the swansea college of education and the author of a number of works of local interest, notably radical adventurer, the diaries of robert morris, 17721774 1971 and letters for swansea 1969.
At this stage the operation was known as the oystermouth railway, only later acquiring the correct name of the swansea and mumbles railway. It later moved from horse power to steam locomotion, and. It carried the worlds first farepaying rail passengers on the day the british parliament abolished the transportation of slaves from africa. It carried the worlds first farepaying rail passengers on the day the british parliament abolished the transportation of. I have most if not all the books of the mumbles railway and these pictures are superb and very worthy of being published into print. The worlds first passenger railway paperback january 1, 1981 see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions price. These collections are particularly varied and include the records of many local businesses, such as the mumbles railway. Find all the transport options for your trip from swansea to mumbles right here. The oystermouth railway was constructed as a tramway to transport coal from the clyne valley and limestone from the mumbles to the swansea canal, commencing in 1806. Media in category swansea and mumbles railway the following 7 files are in this category, out of 7 total. There will also be those who love and those who hate the idea. The swansea and mumbles railway claims to be the worlds first public passenger railway originally built in 1804 to move limestone from the quarries of mumbles to swansea and to the markets beyond, it carried its first passengers on the day the british parliament abolished the transportation of slaves from africa. In 1984 the lines 180th anniversary the royal mail commemorated the swansea and mumbles railway on a book of stamps.
442 445 296 212 1051 834 1415 413 1394 470 1528 1489 730 801 1148 1276 904 1287 478 862 955 918 281 711 1079 80 734 339 1616 304 1396 1520 552 1434 400 82 620 6 517 1167 1208 191 283 1155