The Penydarren Tramroad also known, with greater accuracy, as The Merthyr Tramroad, was formed in 1799 by agreement of the three Merthyr ironworks (Dowlais, Penydarren and Plymouth) to build a tramroad from “the Lime Stone Rocks at Castle Morlais to Craig Evan Leyson”, and by-pass the upper section of the Glamorganshire Canal, which ran from the yard of the fourth Merthyr ironworks, Cyfarthfa to Navigation (Abercynon). It opened in 1802.
The Castle Morlais Quarries plateway was owned by the Dowlais Ironworks and was constructed as part of the Penydarren Tramroad. It ran from the Dowlais line at Penydarren, North to Castle Morlais (2m). It opened in 1803, with mixed gauges of 4' 2" and 2' 9½".
Dowlais. From near the termination of the canal in Merthyr at Jackson’s Bridge, Bethesda Street, east to Dowlais Ironworks (1½m). Opened 1793. Track: plateway, 4’ 2½” gauge. Tram engine: after 1834 (rack rail). Closed c1853.
The Castle Morlais Quarries plateway was owned by the Dowlais Ironworks and was constructed as part of the Penydarren Tramroad. It ran from the Dowlais line at Penydarren, North to Castle Morlais (2m). It opened in 1803, with mixed gauges of 4' 2" and 2' 9½".
Dowlais. From near the termination of the canal in Merthyr at Jackson’s Bridge, Bethesda Street, east to Dowlais Ironworks (1½m). Opened 1793. Track: plateway, 4’ 2½” gauge. Tram engine: after 1834 (rack rail). Closed c1853.
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). The approach to Castle Morlais Quarries showing the last section of tramroad, to the right of the telegraph pole. 24th October 1949 (8)
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). The approach to Castle Morlais Quarries showing the last section of tramroad, to the right of the telegraph pole. 24th October 1949 (8)
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Goitre Pond, Pen-y-Darren. Looking north towards the pond and the site of a crossing loop. 24th October 1949 (7)
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Goitre Pond, Pen-y-Darren. Looking north towards the pond and the site of a crossing loop. 24th October 1949 (7)
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Pen-y-Bryn. View looking north of the sharp curve near the Water Works. 24th October 1949 (6)
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Pen-y-Bryn. View looking north of the sharp curve near the Water Works. 24th October 1949 (6)
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Pen-y-Darren. View of level crossing at Gwaun-Farren Road, looking south. 24th Ocober 1949 (5)
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Pen-y-Darren. View of level crossing at Gwaun-Farren Road, looking south. 24th Ocober 1949 (5)
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Pen-y-Darren. View looking north at Gwaun-Farren Lodge. Many stone sleeper blocks and traces of mixed gauge track can be seen. 24th October 1949 (4)
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Pen-y-Darren. View looking north at Gwaun-Farren Lodge. Many stone sleeper blocks and traces of mixed gauge track can be seen. 24th October 1949 (4)
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Pen-y-Darren. View of upper portion of the hairpin bend into Tramroad Lane. The level of the main road on the level crossing has been considerably raised since the days of the Tramroad. 24th October 1949 (3)
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Pen-y-Darren. View of upper portion of the hairpin bend into Tramroad Lane. The level of the main road on the level crossing has been considerably raised since the days of the Tramroad. 24th October 1949 (3)
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Pen Yard, Pen-y-Darren. View opposite the Music Hall Inn in High Street looking east. In the background the Castle Morlais line curved very sharply to the left in a hairpin bend to cross the main road into Tramroad Lane. 24th October 1949 (2)
Traffic: limestone.
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Pen Yard, Pen-y-Darren. View opposite the Music Hall Inn in High Street looking east. In the background the Castle Morlais line curved very sharply to the left in a hairpin bend to cross the main road into Tramroad Lane. 24th October 1949 (2)
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Pen Yard, Pen-y-Darren. The Tramroad cutting below and parallel to the High Street. View looking west showing the old tramroad cutting between the telegraph pole and the roadway retaining wall. 24th October 1949 (1)
The Castle Morlais Quarries plateway was owned by the Dowlais Ironworks and was constructed as part of the Penydarren Tramroad. It ran from the Dowlais line at Penydarren, North to Castle Morlais (2m). It opened in 1803. Plateway with mixed gauges of 4' 2" and 2' 9½".
Penydarren Tramroad (Castle Morlais Line). Pen Yard, Pen-y-Darren. The Tramroad cutting below and parallel to the High Street. View looking west showing the old tramroad cutting between the telegraph pole and the roadway retaining wall. 24th October 1949 (1)
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. Penydarren Ironworks slag road. May 1964 (35)
The roadway in the background leads from the Castle Morlais quarry lines and the Dowlais line, to the charging bank for the furnaces.
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. Penydarren Ironworks slag road. May 1964 (35)
Penydarren Tramroad. Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil. A view looking west at S0 055070 showing the line running below the road. May 1964 (1)
The line ran from Jackson’s Bridge in Merthyr east to Dowlais Ironworks.
Penydarren Tramroad. Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil. A view looking west at S0 055070 showing the line running below the road. May 1964 (1)
Penydarren Tramroad. Penydarren. Site of Penydarren Ironworks showing remains of the old furnaces. 1946 (1)
Penydarren Tramroad. Penydarren. Site of Penydarren Ironworks showing remains of the old furnaces. 1946 (1)
Penydarren Tramroad. Penydarren. The Trevithick Memorial at the junction of the Penydarren & Dowlais tramroads. 1946 (2)
The inscription reads: “Richard Trevithick 1771-1833 Pioneer of high pressure steam. Built the first steam locomotive to run on rails. On February 21st 1804, it traversed the spot on which this monument stands,,on its way to Abercynon”.
Penydarren Tramroad. Penydarren. The Trevithick Memorial at the junction of the Penydarren & Dowlais tramroads. 1946 (2)
Penydarren Tramroad. Penydarren. Crossing the Nant Morlais stream by Pen Yard.Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. Tramroad tunnel entrance at Pentrebach, under the charging area of the blast furnaces of the Plymouth Ironworks. Date unknown (6) (3)
Photo from Locomotive Magazine, Vol 10, p 27
Penydarren Tramroad. Penydarren. Crossing the Nant Morlais stream by Pen Yard.Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. Tramroad tunnel entrance at Pentrebach, under the charging area of the blast furnaces of the Plymouth Ironworks. Date unknown (6) (3)
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. View of Tramroad Side North from corner of Newcastle Street. 22nd October 1949 (4)
Illustrating the later type of track with which this portion of the route was relaid about 1880.
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. View of Tramroad Side North from corner of Newcastle Street. 22nd October 1949 (4)
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. View from lower end of Tramroad Side North showing the line curving into Tramroad Side South. 22nd October 1949 (5)
In the background is the Glove and Shears public house.
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. View from lower end of Tramroad Side North showing the line curving into Tramroad Side South. 22nd October 1949 (5)
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. Tramroad tunnel entrance at Pentrebach, under the charging area of the blast furnaces of the Plymouth Ironworks. Date unknown (6)
The tunnel measures about 110m in length, 2.44m in height and 2.57m in width. In 1830, the tunnel was extended to the south, the new section measuring about 70m in length, 3.96m in height and 3.96m in width. Photo from Locomotive Magazine, Vol 10, Page 26
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. Tramroad tunnel entrance at Pentrebach, under the charging area of the blast furnaces of the Plymouth Ironworks. Date unknown (6)
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. Interior of the Tramroad tunnel of the Plymouth Ironworks at Pentrebach. 1946 (7)
Looking towards Merthyr
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. Interior of the Tramroad tunnel of the Plymouth Ironworks at Pentrebach. 1946 (7)
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. Remains of the furnaces and water course at Plymouth Iron Works, Pentrebach. 1946 (8)
The tunnel is situated at the rear of the furnaces.
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. Remains of the furnaces and water course at Plymouth Iron Works, Pentrebach. 1946 (8)
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. Entrance to Plymouth Iron Works tunnel, Pentrebach. 1948 (9)
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. Entrance to Plymouth Iron Works tunnel, Pentrebach. 1948 (9)
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. The line crosses the quarries at Pentrebach by Winches Row, and to the right of the chimney at Duffryn Pits. 1946 (10)
Looking south to Abercynon.
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Tydfil. The line crosses the quarries at Pentrebach by Winches Row, and to the right of the chimney at Duffryn Pits. 1946 (10)
Penydarren Tramroad. Mount Pleasant. View looking south below below Edward Stephen’s Terrace, approaching the level crossing with the main road. 22 October 1949 (11)
Penydarren Tramroad. Mount Pleasant. View looking south below below Edward Stephen’s Terrace, approaching the level crossing with the main road. 22 October 1949 (11)
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Vale. Looking south. 1946 (12)
After leaving Dyffryn & Troedyrhiw the tramroad crosses the main road three times, and then runs between the houses and railway at Merthyr Vale. It turns slightly to the right.
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Vale. Looking south. 1946 (12)
Penydarren Tramroad. Mount Pleasant After crossing over to the west side of the late Taff Vale railway below South View School, stone sleeper blocks type C are to be seen. View looking south. 1946 (13)
The hammer is 12 inches long
Penydarren Tramroad. Mount Pleasant After crossing over to the west side of the late Taff Vale railway below South View School, stone sleeper blocks type C are to be seen. View looking south. 1946 (13)
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Vale Junction. View, looking south, of stone sleeper blocks type C, where there is a curve and a passing place. 1946 (14)
All the remaining sleepers are type A & B. This passing place is detailed on the ordnance reference map.
Penydarren Tramroad. Merthyr Vale Junction. View, looking south, of stone sleeper blocks type C, where there is a curve and a passing place. 1946 (14)
Penydarren Tramroad. Pontygwaith. Overbridge at Pontygwaith looking north. The bridge is of a more modern construction than the tramroad. 1946 (15)
Penydarren Tramroad. Pontygwaith. Overbridge at Pontygwaith looking north. The bridge is of a more modern construction than the tramroad. 1946 (15)
Penydarren Tramroad. Pontygwaith. Straight length of tramway near Hen Dafarn looking towards Merthyr Tydfil. 1946 (16)
Present railway and retaining wall on the right.
Penydarren Tramroad. Pontygwaith. Straight length of tramway near Hen Dafarn looking towards Merthyr Tydfil. 1946 (16)
Penydarren Tramroad. Pontygwaith, looking south. A crossing place detailing a number of stone sleeper blocks. 1946 (17)
It would appear that the plates were sometimes cut to fit a closing length.
Penydarren Tramroad. Pontygwaith, looking south. A crossing place detailing a number of stone sleeper blocks. 1946 (17)
Penydarren Tramroad. Edwardsville. Greenfield Bridge, the first crossing of River Taff, looking westward along the river. 1946 (18)
The line crosses from right to left from Merthyr to Abercynon. The tramroad bridge over the River Taff was built after 1815 for the Penydarren tramroad to replace a wooden bridge which collapsed on 15 February 1815 when a train was passing over. The arch of 19.2m span, rising 8.4m above the river, is among the largest early railway bridges in the world. In poor condition in 2002. Said to incorporate abutments of the former bridge, but another abutment survives adjoining. Tramroad bridge, rubble stone, high single arch with thin cut stone voussoirs of tooled stone with raised keystones. Rubble stone parapets with cement capping. Large square abutments.
Penydarren Tramroad. Edwardsville. Greenfield Bridge, the first crossing of River Taff, looking westward along the river. 1946 (18)
Penydarren Tramroad. Edwardsville. Greenfield Bridge, the first crossing of the River Taff, looking looking up under the bridge. 1946 (28)
Penydarren Tramroad. Edwardsville. Greenfield Bridge, the first crossing of the River Taff, looking looking up under the bridge. 1946 (28)
Penydarren Tramroad. Quaker’s Yard. Victoria Bridge, the second crossing of the River Taff. 21 October 1949 (19)
View looking north of the tramroad over the top of the bridge. Similar to the Greenfield Bridge and also one of the largest early railway bridges in the world. The S abutment and central pier of the earlier trestle bridge of the tramroad is said to survive downstream.
Penydarren Tramroad. Quaker’s Yard. Victoria Bridge, the second crossing of the River Taff. 21 October 1949 (19)
Penydarren Tramroad. Quaker’s Yard. Approach to Victoria Bridge from the north. May 1964 (30)
Penydarren Tramroad. Quaker’s Yard. Approach to Victoria Bridge from the north. May 1964 (30)
Penydarren Tramroad. Quaker’s Yard. View north from Victoria Bridge. May 1964 (29)
Penydarren Tramroad. Quaker’s Yard. View north from Victoria Bridge. May 1964 (29)
Penydarren Tramroad. Quaker’s Yard. Victoria Bridge, the second crossing of the River Taff, view looking southwards. 1946 (20)
High single arch with tooled stone long voussoirs, coursed stone in spandrels and battered abutments with tooled stone quoins. Narrow causeway with parapets removed, replaced with wire netting.
Penydarren Tramroad. Quaker’s Yard. Victoria Bridge, the second crossing of the River Taff, view looking southwards. 1946 (20)
Penydarren Tramroad. Quaker’s Yard. Approach to Victoria Bridge from the south. May 1964 (31)
Penydarren Tramroad. Quaker’s Yard. Approach to Victoria Bridge from the south. May 1964 (31)
Penydarren Tramroad. Quaker’s Yard. View looking north from ST.096965. May 1964 (34)
Toll Gate House, Quakers Yard. On the corner of Tram Road Side and Rodericks Terrace. The cottage is still standing (in 2023) but has had a single storey extension built on the south side.
Penydarren Tramroad. Quaker’s Yard. View looking north from ST.096965. May 1964 (34)
