Overview
The railway was proposed by the Monmouthshire Canal Company, whose existing canals were being threatened by competition from the new surge in railway lines. In 1845 they obtained an Act of Parliament to build a railway from Newport to Pontnewynydd, under the name "Newport and Pontypool Railway".
By 1848 it was clear that the project would not succeed, and another Act was passed to enable the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company to take on the work and the canal.
The line was opened between Newport and Pontypool on 30 June 1852. Engineering feats included a tunnel at Malpas, a seven-arch viaduct at Cwmynyscoy, and a 52-foot (15.8 m) iron bridge over the canal at Pontymoile. Once completed, the line was soon doubled to cope with increasing traffic demands.
Meanwhile, building commenced on a northward extension to Pontnewynydd, laid in the bed of the drained canal so that the existing bridges could be reused with little modification.
Further linkages over existing tramways were completed to Blaenavon and beyond.
Between 1848 and 1880 the Company carried coal and iron ore from the eastern South Wales Valleys to wharves along the River Usk at Newport. Locomotives №6 (1849) and №18 (1852) were built by Stothert and Slaughter Ltd. Standard wagons were introduced in 1849 with a capacity of 5 tons and wheels designed to travel on 4 ft 4 in (1,321 mm) tramway and 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) railway gauge. Monmouthshire canal boats carried 25–28 long tons (28.0–31.4 short tons; 25.4–28.4 t) and were 64 ft 9 in (19.74 m) by 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m), shorter and broader than boats on other canals. A large commemorative mural has been installed within the pedestrian subway system near Newport Castle.
Read more about this topic: Monmouthshire Railway And Canal Company