Barry Railway
Starting in 1885, the company constructed 7 miles (11 km) of track from Barry to Cogan, and by 1888 had completed its main line from Barry via Cadoxton to Trehafod, a distance of 18½ miles although the several branches brought this to 26 miles (41.6 km) in length covering an area from the docks to the Rhondda Valley. Additionally, access was created via junctions with the existing and authorised railways, to all the other great mineral-producing districts of South Wales. The original line had connected with the Taff Vale Railway at Trehafod, and connections were added with the GWR at Peterston and Bridgend (1900) and the Brecon and Merthyr Railway at Caerphilly (1903). Eventually the Company had a total of 68 miles (109 km) route miles, but with an additional 140 miles (230 km) of sidings, 100 miles (160 km) of which were around the docks. The head office of the railway was at Barry. Apart from owning the docks themselves—which consisted of three docks entered by locks—the main portions of the rail network were:
- the main line from Barry to Trehafod (via Wenvoe, Creigiau, Efail Isaf, Tonteg, Trefforest and Pontypridd Graig)
- a branch from Cadoxton giving access to Cardiff via the Taff Vale Railway
- the Penrhos branch from St Fagans to south-east of Llanbradach and a connection with the Rhymney Railway and Brecon and Merthyr Railway (via Rhydlafar, Morganstown, Taff's Well and Caerphilly)
- the Barry Island branch
- the line via Aberthaw to Bridgend, linking with the Great Western Railway. This was the Vale of Glamorgan Railway, promoted by the Barry.
The Barry Railway was one of the most successful of the South Wales railways, and benefited from controlling its own port.
Read more about this topic: Barry Railway Company
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