Wild Swan Books
The South Wales Main Line
Part Two - Severn Tunnel to Newport
John Hodge
Hardback - 116 pages - £21.95
Contents- Historical Overview
- Severn Tunnel Junction
- Engine Shed
- Passenger Station & Yards
- From Undy to the Usk
- Undy to Llanwern
- Undy Halt & Magor
- Llanwern
- East Usk to Maindee
- Newport High Street
- Passenger Station
- Engine Shed
- High Street Goods
- Hillfield Tunnels
- From Gaer Junction to Ebbw Junction
The GWR's two southernmost routes into South Wales converged at Severn Tunnel Junction, carrying not only traffic to and from the Principality, but also between the North and West of England, which diverged at Maindee Junction in the eastern part of Newport. Between these points ran a huge variety of services, with the main expresses from Paddington to South and West Wales alternating with Plymouth to Manchester and Liverpool trains, whilst a considerable number of goods, mineral and empties intermingled with them, making the section one of the busiest on the system. To the west of Maindee, the South Wales main line continued through Newport (High Street), its twin tunnels, and then skirted the vast marshalling yards serving Newport Docks as it made its way to Ebbw Junction and the outskirts of the town.
In this, his second book of the series, John Hodge continues his survey of the main line in the 1950s and 60s from the western portal of the Severn Tunnel to the crossing of the Ebbw River on the southern limits of Newport. The engine shed, station and yards at Severn Tunnel Junction receive special attention before the book follows the route onwards to the Usk and Newport, illustrating the diversity of traffic to be found on this section. High Street station is covered in considerable depth, with a detailed look at not only the main-line passenger services but also the Western Valleys and main-line goods and mineral traffic that passed through, as well as the Eastern and Western Valleys and Brecon local passenger trains that originated and terminated within its confines. The final sections take the reader beyond the twin bores of Hillfield Tunnel to Gaer Junction before moving down to Ebbw Junction, with a look at the large engine shed, and a glimpse of traffic passing over the Ebbw River on its way to and from Cardiff and beyond.
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