Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - The Penarth Harbour Dock and Railway - Railway World Article - 1964 . . .

They took over the Barry line trains from the 2-4-2T's and worked them until the interval services started in 1953 when B.R. standard Class 3, 82XXX and W.R. 41XX, 2-6-2T's took charge until the diesel multiple-units appeared. The A's also worked on the Penarth line and into the Valleys, but 56's predominated on ex-Taff Vale services until the 2-6-2T's came.

In the March 1962 issue of Railway World I outlined the assortment of main-line steam locomotive that has passed Grangetown on Sunday excursions, excursions and specials. In spite of the introduction of diesel power the scene from my Cardiff house is still very interesting. When I was in my "den" there a few weeks ago looking up some old notes, an iron ore train from Barry Docks to the Spencer steelworks passed hauled by two English electric Type 3 diesels. In the down direction a minutes later a W.R. "Hall" and L.M. Class 5, 4-6-0 passed coupled together running tender-first towards Barry to pick up banana specials. The E.E. Type 3s now appear to be replacing the 56's on Cardiff Valleys freight duties.

The Penarth line is not scheduled for closure under the Beeching Plan. The recent closure of the former Barry Railway main line following a fire at Tynycaeau Junction signal box has brought more traffic to the line. All Sunday trains that formerly worked from the Valleys to Barry Island direct via Tynycaeau Junction are now routed via Radyr, Waterhall Junction and Grangetown, as also are freight trains that formerly used the Tynycaeau route, including frequent coal trains to the new Leys power station on the Barry-Bridgend line.

Revisiting the are recently I notice that W.R. has considerably simplified the track layout at Grangetown and on the Harbour branch. Most of the sidings have been removed, leaving only two running lines on the Harbour branch, which converge to single track at Grangetown Junction and make connection with the down relief line only, the up relief line being reached by a crossover.

The crossover from the down main to down relief lines and the Harbour line shunting spur have both been removed, with considerable simplification of signalling. Sloper Road Coal Yard is still in full use, but Fairwater Road (Ely) Yard is now closed and the tracks and signalbox have been removed. Penarth Dock is now closed and all stored vessels have been removed to Cardiff.