Alan Sewell visits Maesteg...

I love industrial railways and I'm honoured that Alan continues to share his extensive collection of visit reports with us all here via my blog. Today, we visit Maesteg in the South Wales valleys in September of 1970 to witness an Austerity show...

Norma (Hunslet 3770 of 1952), September 1970. The driver attempted a quick getaway but the snatch in the coupling broke the train in two and the train had to be set back to pick the wagons left behind!! Alan Sewell photo.

National Coal Board – West Wales Area 

Maesteg Deep Central Washery and Loco shed

Maesteg

Glamorgan

Gauge: Standard

Date of Visit: 2 September 1970 

A long colliery railway linking three mines to the central washery and to BR just north of Maesteg town station. Two of the mines Caerau and Dyffryn are above the valley of the river Llynfi and the third Cwmdu is reached by a reversal from the eastern branch of the system. The railway is set very impressively above the river valley in quite wild and exposed scenery. At the south western end the NCB line crosses the river, road, and BR on a high embankment at the end of which a short branch leads to the wagon repair shops and loco sheds at the site of Maesteg Deep Colliery. A reminder of this is the large stone winding house which looms over the shed yard.

Shed scene at Maesteg, September 1970, Alan Sewell photo.

Four locos were at work and all were Austerity type 0-6-0 Saddle tanks.

At the loco shed a train consisting of spare locos  LINDA Hunslet 3781 of 1952, PATRICA Hunslet 2867, a NCB ex GWR brake van, a “muck” wagon and privately owned 0-6-0 Pannier tank 9642 were pushed into the workshop sidings by NORMA Hunslet 3770 of 1952. In the shed was another Austerity dismantled.

Maureen (Hunslet 2840, 1943) shunting, September 1970. Alan Sewell photo.

Maureen shunting, September 1970. Alan Sewell photo. 

Working at the washery MAUREEN Hunslet 2840 of 1943 rebuilt Hunslet 3382 in 1962 was shunting empties from the washery down to sidings near the loco shed. These were then taken by NORMA along the branch to Cwmdu colliery. The driver of NORMA attempted a quick getaway but the snatch in the coupling broke the train in two and the train had to be set back to pick the wagons left behind!!

NCB No2 (Bagnall 2758 of 1944) arriving from Caerau, September 1970. Alan Sewell photo.

“NCB No2” Bagnall 2758 of 1944 arrived with a train of unwashed coal from the Caerau branch and set back into the washery.

Another loco PAMELA Hunslet 3840 of 1956 was not seen but was working Caerau colliery.

Thank you Alan, for another of these gems - it is always a pleasure to share them with you all and perhaps there is inspiration in here for your own layout or model? Until next time, more soon...