Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - Railway Magazine - Interview with Mr. Ammon Beasley - TVR - 1898 . . . .

A subway is at present being built under the River Ely to facilitate the communication between Penarth dock and harbour. It is being constructed by means of shield and compressed air, is 10ft. in diameter, and will be lined throughout with cast iron segments. Already about half of its total length has been constructed.

Originally two tunnels existed on the main line - one at Quaker's Yard and the other at Ynyscoi, but at both places they have been superseded by open cuttings.

"Subsidence caused by colliery workings gives a good deal of trouble, and constant vigilance is necessary to prevent any undue subsidence taking place. In some districts this has amounted to three or four feet in one year, consequently the line is now in some places ten or twelve feet above the level of the adjoining lands with which at one time it was on a level."

"In these days of labour troubles it will be of interest to have some details of the facilities which you grant to your employees."

"I think the facilities and advantages granted to our staff compare favourably with those of any other company. Of course there are the usual facilities for free travelling at holiday times, and for obtaining privilege tickets all the year round, and facilities are afforded in many other ways which are of much advantage to the staff.

In one respect I claim that the Taff Vale is more liberal to it's employees than any other Company I know. Most railway companies encourage the establishment of provident and pension funds, to which the men and their employers subscribe in certain fixed proportions.

On the Taff Vale Railway there is no pension fund, and no contributions are required from the staff ; nevertheless, each and every person is entitled on reaching a certain age to claim a pension according to a fixed scale, the amount of which varies with length of service and the wages received.

This great boon to the staff is the outcome of a desire on the part of Mr. Guest, the Chairman, to do all in his power to cement the friendly relations which I hope exist, and which I trust will continue to exist for many years to come, between the Board and the great body of their staff."