TRANSPORT
1 September 1867 with the Dowlais Top to Pengam section opened on 1 September 1868. There were initially 3 trains per day each way between Brecon and Newport. However a report in the Merthyr Express dated 16 June 1865 advises that “Opening of railway Newport to as far as Hengoed occurred on Wednesday 14 June 1865”.
Opening of the Newport Extension of the Brecon and Merthyr Railway The railway was opened on Wednesday morning as far as Hengoed, where it passes under the Great Western Railway line from Swansea to Merthyr, and the first passenger train left Dock-street Station, Newport, at 9.20a.m. by means of this railway, the opening of which has been so long looked forward to. Newport is now placed within easy and direct communication with the Rhymney Valley, which has been practically closed up to this time. The undertaking is likely to prove of utmost importance to the trade of Newport and district. The other portion of the line between Hengoed and Pant Station is expected to be opened shortly, and trains will then run through between Brecon and Newport. Also, the opening of the Sirhowy Railway from Tredegar to Newport will take palace on Monday, 19 th June.
Another report in the Merthyr Express dated 24 February 1866 gives an account of the opening in Deri of the Cwmysgwyddgwyn Chapel School and a special train from Bargoed and another one down from Dowlais, Pantywaun and Fochriw at 2:45 on 16 February 1866.
“Merthyr Express” 14 September 1867
Local Railways The railway line from Fochriw to Dowlais etc. is now opened for passenger traffic. Owing to lack of patronage, the Sunday trains on the Brecon - Merthyr line are to be discontinued for some time. Mr. Gage’s conveyance, plying between the Dowlais Top and the Rhymney Railway Stations is also stopped. Since writing the above, a conveyance has again been set on by Mr. Cook of Pontlottyn.
“Merthyr Express” 8 February 1873
Train timetable Trains up to Dowlais leave Fochriw at 09.10; 2.05; 6.55; trains down to Deri leave Fochriw at 10.00; 3.15; 6.16
Train timetable Trains up to Dowlais leave Fochriw at 09.10; 2.05; 6.55; trains down to Deri leave Fochriw at 10.00; 3.15; 6.16
It would appear that the railway line at Fochriw was laid some years prior to the initiation of through traffic from Dowlais Top to Pengam, which started on 1st August 1868, and the official opening was on 13 September 1868. However the Darran & Deri station of the RR opened some ten years previous on 31 March 1858 and, as mentioned above, the track to Deri Junction was completed during 1864 with the station goods yard initially acting as the terminus.
The line north of Deri Junction to Fochriw was on a constant gradient of 1:40 for approximately 3 miles. Fochriw station was on a gradient of 1:300 and a 1:38 gradient followed which commenced halfway along the down platform for about 1mile approaching and entering the "cutting" which, at 1314 feet, was the highest point of the B&M railway network being one foot higher than Torpantau in the Brecon Beacons..
Fochriw was an equidistant 23.5 miles from both Newport and Brecon, thus representing the halfway point on the railway between Brecon and Newport.