European Railroad Discussion > Newport / Casnewydd

Newport (or Casnewydd in Welsh) is a city in SE Wales, about 130 miles from London, some 25 miles from Bristol (in England) and about 15 miles from the principality's capital, Cardiff. Newport is an industrial city (some might say a post-industrial city) with little to charm anyone stopping for any length of time. Steel, despite contractions over the years, is still an important business, as are the docks on both sides of the River Usk. Historically Newport owes its importance to it being the lowest crossing of the River Usk, before the Usk flows into the River Severn. In the late 18th century it was the southern terminus of the Monmouthshire Canal which also joined the Usk and connected with the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal, funneling coal, limestone and iron through the city.

With all this industry Newport also became, and remains a major railway centre with multiple passenger and freight trains throughout the day and night. I went down last Saturday whilst on a family visit to my father in law, who's 93rd birthday we celebrated on Sunday.

The multi storey car park at Maindee overlooking the railway's crossing of the tidal River Usk is a great location even though the upper floor has recently been rules off limits.
1: Thanks to a hold up at the toll booths on the M4 I only just made it to Maindee as 66061 on the 6H35 Margam to Birdport steel train appeared. It was already crossing the Usk, a few minutes early, as I pulled up. This was the best I could do. Birdport is a rail connected wharf specialising in export steel on the east bank of the Usk, near Uskmouth power station, which also receives coal by rail.
2: A pair of Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) class 153 'tin rockets' crossing the Usk on an empty stock working
3: Much more satisfying was 60091 Barry Needham on the 6B13 Robeston to Westerleigh oil tanks. 60s are usually used on the oil tanks as 29 tanks weigh 2900 tonnes and are not within the haulage capabilities of a 66.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/16 15:27 by 86235.

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4: From Central Newport I headed east to a mile or so beyond the Llanwern steel works where the slow line, which has leads into the steel works, crosses the up and down fast on the Bishton flyover. On Saturday all traffic was using the slow lines, so here, unusually, is an HST crossing Bishton at about 40 mph on a Swansea to London Paddington train
5: It was followed, running late, by a Margam to Tees Yard service. Margam is the yard next to the Port Talbot steelworks some 50 miles further west, this train is a rather melancholy one, it's running to recover coke and iron ore from the closed Redcar steelworks in NE England. Owned by a Thai company it went out of business last year. By now we had lost the sun.

From Bishton I headed west to the other side of Newport, to Duffryn. The final pictures were all taken from a temporary footbridge as a consequence of the permanent bridge at this location being rebuilt, pending electrification. Unfortunately that is the fate of all the overbridges in and around Newport, steps are now required :-(

6: An Ebbw Vale to Cardiff local formed of a pair of ATW class 150s. The branch up the valley to Ebbw Vale, another ex-steel town, was only reopened to passengers since the tin plate works closed in 2001



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/16 15:21 by 86235.

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Final three
7: A Margam to Llanwern train carrying coiled steel from Port Talbot to the galvanising plant at Llanwern, the coil steel rides in these cradles
8: Another regular on a Saturday is the empty Theale to Robeston tanks, another 60 turn, this time 60054, surprisingly routed on the down fast
9: Final shot brings the day full circle, it's 66061 on the Birdport to Margam empties

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Thanks for posting these, it has been quiet on this board the past few days.

John

 Thanks for posting the great photos from "across the pond".  
ALLEN

Thanks, glad you like them.

Cool shots!   I'm afraid I may have contrbuted to this board going quiet by moving back to the US!   Way fewer trains in my daily life than when I was in London. 

Nice pics!!