Where was Red Squirrel 22/10/2019

[whole diary]

[stuving]

Bmblbzzz mentioned that the line once went further than the current Penarth terminus and the line certainly does continue as a footpath for some distance. The OS^▸ (Ordnance Survey) map shows the trackbed swings round to Sully and then in the general direction of the line to Barry but after that it becomes unclear.

On this occasion the easiest way to see where it went is in Google Earth historical imagery - the 1945 aerial photos of this area are unusually clear. The line did go through Sully, and swing left to join the existing line from Dinas Powys into Barry. That in turn joined the other line into Barry, which came past Wenvoe and ultimately from Pontyclun.

[grahame]

Beyond Penarth, the line did continue via Albert Place Halt, Lavenock, Swanbridge Halt and Sully to rejoin the Cardiff to Barry (via Cogan and Dinas Powis) at Cadoxton.  It survived until May 1968 - 10 trains per day, though two of them were short workings to Sully and five left out at least one of the halts.   Nothing between 09:16 and 12:05 from Penarth, then nothing between 13:05 and  16:05.  Last train 18:45.    So few trains on a journey that took between 11 and 17 minutes probably didn't do very much to encourage its use ...

[Bmblbzzz]

Bmblbzzz mentioned that the line once went further than the current Penarth terminus and the line certainly does continue as a footpath for some distance. The OS^▸ (Ordnance Survey) map shows the trackbed swings round to Sully and then in the general direction of the line to Barry but after that it becomes unclear.

On this occasion the easiest way to see where it went is in Google Earth historical imagery - the 1945 aerial photos of this area are unusually clear. The line did go through Sully, and swing left to join the existing line from Dinas Powys into Barry. That in turn joined the other line into Barry, which came past Wenvoe and ultimately from Pontyclun.

I didn't know there was such a thing as Google Earth historical imagery. Have to check that out, thanks!

[Bmblbzzz]

Incidentally, there is a nice walk to be had along the coast path once you get out of Barry/Cadoxton back to Penarth, taking in Sully and the tidal Sully island (check the tide times) with a nice pub stop at Swanbridge. The only drawback is that there is a bit of a trudge from Cadoxton station to the coastpath taking in the delights of a main road and industrial works but it's quickly enough done.

A few weeks ago I picked up a book at the library, Edging the Estuary, by Peter Finch, in which the author walks along the coast of the (very broadly defined) Severn Estuary, including this section, and writes about history and people and geography and poetry and stuff.

[johnneyw]

There is apparently a law that states that everyone one must, at some time in their life, have an ice cream on the pier at Penarth.

 

Pleasingly, this is a law I have been compliant with, late March 2016 IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly).

[Red Squirrel]

Didn't the Penarth line originally go on to Barry – and then join the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) line to Brigend, or did it cross it and go elsewhere?

Looks like it rejoined the Vale of Glamorgan line just before Cadoxton... http://www.systemed.net/carto/New_Adlestrop_Railway_Atlas.pdf

_{Edit: Oops, didn't spot that this had already been answered.}