Amman Valley Railway
The Amman Valley Railway Society (Welsh: Rheilffordd Dyffryn Aman) is situated near the former Gwaun Cae Gurwen branch line, that runs alongside the River Amman, some 10 miles (16 km) north of Swansea in west Wales. Its primary focus is to construct Swansea 9 Lines. An eco friendly tram system to the heart of Swansea & the surrounding areas. The project was originally based on a heritage railway proposal on a lines that formerly served the various collieries of the area north of Swansea and Llanelli.
As of 2014 the Abernant Branch line is cleared, along with a station platform, track beds & unearthed railway lines. All of which are being restored. The group are currently working on completing their Swansea9Lines project.
The Society
AVRS (Amman Valley Railway Society) was formed in 1992 with 84 founder members, became a registered charity in 2004, incorporated in 2006 and grew to become a Social Enterprise Company in 2008, after opening shops in Brynamman, Ammanford, Pontardawe and in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen.
Swansea9Lines Project
The AVRS project aims to attract tourists, create trade & connect the countryside to the coastal areas of Swansea.
The railway will reintroduce public passenger services using "low carbon footprint" tram services over a 9 routes, spreading throughout the Carmarthenshire, Neath & Port Talbot, and Swansea areas. It's thought the route will link up with the Heart of Wales line to provide services from North Wales and England .
The services would be efficient in both directions from 06:00 to midnight, covering a population in excess of 370,000 and serving 29 destinations. An enhanced, clean, green, affordable public transport system well suited to the 21st century.
Branch Line History
Originally developed by the Llanelly Railway and Dock Company, which by 1840 had reached Pantyffynnon. Here the railway branched, with the Amman Valley developed for commercial purposes to transport extracted coal to North Dock, Llanelli. The eventual plan was to develop the line as far as Clydach on the Morriston Loop, but this never happened.[1]
Taken over by the Great Western Railway on amalgamation in 1923, its stock was converted to standard GWR rural practises. The line was closed to passenger services by British Railways on 18 August 1958, far ahead of the Beeching Axe, although it did stay open as a freight route until the closure of the Abernant Colliery super pitt in 1988.[2]
Former Rolling stock
In mid-2006, a British Rail Class 103 diesel multiple unit (DMU) vehicle was saved from scrapping in Coventry by AVRS, moving it to Swansea for later restoration and possible eventual use on the line, but was passed over to an Essex Museum for resoration in 2008. This was M50397, of the Denbigh & Mold Junction Railway.
The Society once owned 3 tank wagons (ex Swansea Vale Railway) at Cwmgors which were gradually being refurbished ready for use on the heritage line section. They also receive offers of several locomotives from various organizations and patrons, but don't wish to take on any stock at this time.
References
External links
- Website of the Amman Valley Railway Society
- History of the Line
- Amman Valley Railway Society online bric-a-brac store
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