The Elan Valley Railway

In order to construct the network of reservoirs in the Elan Valley in mid-Wales, a contractor's railway was essential. This thread focusses on that railway. The first article provides a general introduction and then follows the first length of the line.

https://rogerfarnworth.com/2022/05/25/the-elan-valley-railway-part-1

 

My grandfather began his working life as an apprentice at the site and there is a photograph of the apprentices posing beside MW1316 from which it is hard to identify him. Having visited the site in early 2010 I discovered that much of the official documentation, including staff records, had been thrown into a skip some years ago and destroyed hence the loss of much valuable information. What is available has been perused by Colin Judge hence his excellent book on the railway - Volume 071 in the Oakwood Press collection.
Sadly I was unaware of his involvement before his death in 1962 hence my interest in finding out more about that part of my family history. A further co-incidental connection is that when my parents moved to Corby in 1956 I became familiar with the S&L Quarry fleet including MW1316 which I often had occasion to ride within the system; again never mentioning the fact to my grandfather and being unaware of his involvement with the locomotive at all.

 

Great memories.