Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - Acts and disputes . . .

This piece of land, consisting of about forty-six acres, the railway company had selected for their own use, by virtue of the powers of their Incorporation Act of Parliament; for which he contended, his lordship was fairly entitled to £16,000 and upwards, which he proceeded to demonstrate by the evidence of Mr. Adam Murray, Mr. Wm. Bevan, surveyors, and several other witnesses, who fully deposed to the substance of what the learned gentleman had stated. The court was then addressed by Mr. Morgan, on behalf of the company, who declined calling any witnesses. The deputy sheriff summed up the evidence, and the jury after deliberating upwards of two hours returned a verdict in favour of the claimant of £10,812. It is understood that the formation of the railway will proceed with the utmost dispatch, and that the acquisition of so favourable a point for shipment will be duly appreciated by the company as well as the public.”

1844 - The TVR was granted a lease by the Marquis of Bute for the exclusive use of part of the Bute West Dock but in return they had to abandon the plan to build the railway line to Cogan and for the development of the river Ely tidal harbour.

For the railway from Cardiff Docks to Merthyr, a distance of 24½ miles (38 Km), Mr. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was consulted and he decided upon using standard gauge track since he considered that his preferred broad gauge would be problematic in the construction of a predominantly mineral railway through the narrow valleys, tight curves and inclines of the mountainous regions above Pontypridd. left : The Broad Gauge and the Narrow Gauge - an 1845 cartoon!

1846 - During the “Gauge Commission” enquiry, which was set up to examine the question of which railway gauge to adopt universally, the evidence of one witness stated that the curves “are frightful”. Further; “To carry the seven feet Gauge into valleys where the mines and iron works lie is in many cases absolutely impossible, but where possible would cost from 6,000l. to 8,000l. a mile additional.” Maerdy, being 900 feet (275m) above sea level was the highest colliery to be included within the TVR system and was included by 1889. (Note: the '£' sign developed from the 'l' for libra).

On the front cover of the Gauge Commission report Lord Bacon is quoted as saying: “There are three things which make a nation great and prosperous, - a fertile soil, busy workshops, and easy conveyance for men and commodities from one place to another.”