Volume Eleven - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - some more aspects - The Taff Vale Railway and Docks - 'The Engineer' Article of 1866 . . .

In 1842, according to Mr. Francis Wishaw, C.E., the following was the full extent of the Taff Vale Railway and its branches:—

Although at this period the original design of the Taff Vale Railway promoters was fully carried out, it was known that a wild and very hilly district to the west of the line in central Glamorganshire, abounded in minerals, although it contained no towns, and a very uncivilised population. So it was determined to carry the rails into the Rhondda valleys, and to make a branch to Aberdare. Accordingly in 1846 parliamentary powers were obtained to make the Rhondda, Rhondda Fach, and Aberdare branches, which, however, were not constructed for several years afterwards. Recently the Penarth and a few other short branches have been opened, the whole nearly doubling the length of line given above.

The earthworks upon the railway are unimportant, and two tunnels 377 yards in length once situated upon the main line, have recently been changed into open cuttings, without hindrance to the regular traffic. One of these was situated near the top of the incline at Aberdare Junction, and the other at a point seven miles from Cardiff. The railway winds through exceedingly picturesque and hilly scenery, rendering many bridges and viaducts necessary, and these are built of stone, the masonry being of unusually good and substantial workmanship. A viaduct of six arches of 50ft. span each, resting upon octagonal columns of masonry 14ft. in diameter, carries the line over the valley near Quaker's Yard, at an elevation of 100ft. above the river.