Penydarren Tramroad. Navigation Junction (above the New Inn). 21st October 1949 (22)

The line to the lower basin passes to the left of the cottage, and that to the Upper Wharf, to the right.

Penydarren Tramroad. Navigation. View of the upper wharf looking south. 1946 (23)

The Glamorganshire Canal is on the right hand side. In the background to the left of the trees, is an old crane pillar. Five tram plates are visible in the bottom right-hand corner.
Having been identified as the most northerly place on the canal where boats could be repaired, the Basin was the Canal Company headquarters at Navigation House. The Company also constructed warehouses, depot houses, a winding hole, saw pit, blacksmiths shop and dry dock here. The Basin was also the place where both the Merthyr Tramroad, and the Llanfabon Tramroad, joined the canal.

Penydarren Tramroad. Navigation. View, looking north, of old crane pillar on the wharf. 1904 (24)

The 1804 date shown on the pillar has now disappeared in this photo taken in 1904 on the occasion of the Trevithick Centenary.
This area of the Basin is today occupied by the fire station and council yard. The iron pillar in the Centre of the image formed the base of a crane used for loading and unloading canal boats. Unable to remove this part of the crane the new fire station’s practice tower was built around it.

Penydarren Tramroad. Abercynon. View at Navigation of the site of the old canal basin, and the base of the swivel derrick. May 1964 (32)

Penydarren Tramroad. Navigation. View, looking north, of lower basin canal on left hand side. 1946 (25)

The tramway continued through the square opening to another basin ¼ mile south of the former.

Penydarren Tramroad. Navigation. Lower canal basin. 1904 (25a)

View taken on the occasion of the Trevithick Centenary in 1904 (compare with image number 25 taken in 1946).

Penydarren Tramroad. Abercynon. View at Navigation approaching the site of the old canal basin at ST 086951. May 1964 (33)

Penydarren Tramroad. The MT Wagon of 1800 (Extract from “History of the Bogie as applied to locomotives” by C E Stretton). (26)

“As early as the year 1800, the Merthyr Tydfil train-road was opened in South Wales. And in order to convey long bars of iron, and also timber, wagons were constructed in pairs, coupled together by an iron draw-bar, having a joint at either end: these wagons had no sides, but in the middle of each there was fixed a centre pin, upon which worked a cross-beam or bolster upon which the timber or iron bars were placed. Of course it will at once be seen that these early wagons were not actually bogie vehicles, and that they were in use before even the first locomotive engine had ever ran upon rails, yet we cannot upon examination fail to see that they contained the essential principle of the bogie. They allowed a long load to be conveyed round sharp curves, and permitted the wheels under the two tracks to follow the curve of the rails, and the most improved bogie vehicles of today simply carry out the very same principle.”

Penydarren Tramroad. Richard Trevithick’s design for a Railway Locomotive 1803. (27)

The drawing is of the “Tram Engine” which was not involved in the Penydarren Tramroad trials in 1804. See “Penydarren Re-Examined” by Guy, Lewis Bailey, et al in Early Railways Volume 6.