European Railroad Discussion > Brecon Mountain Railway

Only 45 minutes from home now, the 2' gauge Brecon Mountain Railway is the southernmost of Wales steam worked narrow gauge railways. It runs through the Brecon Beacons National Park some 5 miles along the right of way of the standard gauge Brecon & Merthyr Railway to the summit at Torpantau. Very scenic, but somehow rather un-photographable, at least with the sun in the right place. It has a small stable of motive power, yesterday 4-6-2 no.2 (Baldwin 1930) was in charge of the three train service. Round trip is about 100 minutes, which includes a stop for 30 minutes at the only intermediate station - Pontsticill - on the way back for refreshments and a look at the small museum they've set up. It is not a volunteer railway, it is run as a commercial operation with paid staff. Trains run on about 200 days a year, only January is a train free month. Here are some photos from yesterday.

1: taken at Pant station, the southern terminus and location of the workshop. This is no.2, built by Baldwin in 1930 for a cement works in South Africa from where it was rescued, brought back to Britain and restored by the BMR at Pant. They have another Baldwin at Pant at the moment which they acquired from Brasil and are turning it into a Sandy River & Rangeley Lake 2-6-2 replica

2: the upper terminus at Torpantau. There's nothing here, just the station next to the road. Great place to go walking from, based on yesterday's timetable you would have four hours to go walking before catching the last train back to Pant.

3: Here's the second train of the day, sold out according to the sign at Pant station, approaching the outdoor adventure centre at Dolgaer. A mountain biker takes a rest.

I took a  few more pictures: https://nick86235.smugmug.com/Trains/2017/Spring-arrives-March-April-May-2017/i-sXNTNCp



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/17 02:02 by 86235.

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Very North American style consist including the caboose. Guess that is what they are going for since doing a SR&RL look alike.

Sharon Evans
Glen Allen, VA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/17 06:33 by RNinRVR.

Good show, Nick.  Thank you.  Gerry

I like it...thanks for posting.
Chris

RNinRVR Wrote:
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> Very North American style consist including the
> caboose. Guess that is what they are going for
> since doing a SR&RL look alike.

The BMR's founder, the late Tony Hills, was a Baldwin fan. He died in late 2015 so it's not clear to me whether his Baldwin project - he had a replica 2-4-4T in his plans too - survives.

It does look like you're in Northern New England instead of Wales.