Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - Some newspaper reports from the 1870's

Penarth was a place containing 3,000 and 4,000 inhabitants, and it was high time that some reasonable and convenient mode of communication should exist between the two places. Some of the first supporters of the Penarth Dock resided at Penarth, while a railway communication between Penarth and Cardiff would serve to greatly increase the commercial interests of the former place, the one great drawback being the want of the communication they were now seeking to obtain. He referred to the large amount of tonnage which they as merchants and brokers were enabled to secure to the Penarth Dock, and also adverted to the large expense which the Cardiff merchants and captains were put to in communicating with vessels in Penarth Dock. He expressed an opinion that if convenient and regular means of communication were provided there would be every desire and wish on the part of Cardiff firms to largely increase the number of vessels which they had it in their power to consign to the Penarth Docks. Mention was made of the arrangements which had been made for the importation of timber at Penarth, and to prospects of a large trade being done there. He concluded by proposing "that railway communication between Cardiff and Penarth by passenger train is a public accommodation urgently required."

Captain Vellacott seconded the motion, which was unanimously adopted. Mr. Hacqoil proposed "That the Taff Vale and Great Western Railway Companies be memorialised to provide such accommodation at once." Mr. Nell, surgeon, in seconding the motion, remarked that Penarth contained 3,000 inhabitants, while small places of 1,000 or 1,500 inhabitants had their railway stations. Mr. Aitken, in supporting the resolution, remarked that lately a cargo of timber had been discharged at the Penarth Dock, but if proper means of communication between that place and Cardiff, instead of the timber trade exceeding 1,000 tons annually, there was no reason why it should not increase to 2,000 tons, and this important branch of commerce would very materially add to the income of the dock authorities. It was proposed by Mr. Vachell, seconded by Mr. J. Morgan, and supported by Mr. Fothergill, "That a committee be appointed to draw up such a memorial, and that it consist of Messrs. Parsons, Batchelor, J. Guthrie, Nell, E. Vachell, Holst, A. Danziel, Aitken, Vellacott, Cornwall, Hacquoil, Morgan, R. Fothergill, Riley, Allen, and Richards."

Several other addresses were delivered in favour of the object of the meeting, which was unanimous in its desire for a regular passenger communication between Cardiff and Penarth. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close." Cardiff Times [019] 29th November 1873.