Brecon Mountain Railway

During a holiday at a farm near Abergavenny, we visited the Brecon Mountain Railway, which runs from Pant, near Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales into the Brecon Beacons National Park. Being a fan of American locomotives, I was pleased that we were hauled by Number 2, a beautiful1930-built Baldwin that had formerly worked in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The line has great scenery- far better than some other narrow gauge railways, and the facilities and staff were excellent. I look forward to seeing it again when the extention to Torpantau is completed. Although I had left South Wales in the 1970s to work abroad (in England!) I was amazed to be recognised by the Fireman (Francis) who had also been a member of the Caerphilly Railway Society. That was a very pleasant surprise- what a small world! Please enjoy this video, and if you get the chance, the line is well worth a visit.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Brecon
• Mountain
• Railway
• Baldwin
• narrow
• gauge
• steam
• locomotive
• Beacons
• National
• Park

[CGiordano464]

im hearing from ppl this is the SR & RL # 24? its from SA right?

[mvjedforest]

@CGiordano464 This loco (#2) is definitely from South Africa. It was built by Baldwin in 1930 and spent its entire working life on limestone trains near Port Elizabeth, until wrecked after running away without the engineer in 1974. The Brecon Mountain Railway bought it and rebuilt it to its present condition. As for SR & RL #24, I believe that it was cut up after the railroad closed. Hope this answers your question and thank you for watching.

[EWS60500]

Nice vid mate, there is just something about American built locos, they seem to have more character to them, and a more bulky look!

[mvjedforest]

@EWS60500 Thank you for your kind comment- I like the American locos (steam and diesel) for the same reasons. Thank you for watching.

[ShaurntheSheep]

nice video and nice railway see if i can go there one day

[mvjedforest]

@ShaurntheSheep Thank you for your kind comment. The line is definitely worth visiting- I don't think that you will be disappointed.

[mvjedforest]

@Johnfwake I am glad that you ejoyed the video. It really is a lovely line and has much better scenery than a lot of other narrow gauge lines that I have travelled and I do like Baldwins. Regretably, I did not have time to visit the line on my most recent trip back to Wales, this week,( although my son did- lucky man! ) so hopefully next time. Thank you for watching...Mervyn

[Johnfwake]

Yes, this is a great video. Good quality. Excellent. I was Guard on the Railway for the season before the Baldwin was reintroduced. Pity to have missed it. Have hundreds of shots of the Baldwin during restoration.

[mvjedforest]

@NKPman I hope that the weather was as kind to you as it was when I made the video- it really is a one of the nicest areas to visit. I share your enthusiasm for No.2- it looks and sounds great in the forest. Thank you for your kind comments...Mervyn

[NKPman]

This is a lovely video - my wife and I were walking on the western side of the res, and in the forest and on the lower slopes of the fells, yesterday (05/06/2011) and we could hear the 11.00 (and the next train as well - we were strolling slowly lol!) as it made its way down the eastern side to Dol-y Gaer, when No 2 ran round the train and as it returned to Pant - the EXACT same sequence of whistles, Westinghouse (?) pump panting and exhaust beats as in this lovely sequence. What a loco!