Lost Lines of Wales: The Heads of the Valleys

Geoffrey Lloyd continues this series of pocket books exploring Wales's railway heritage, each revealing one of the nation's "lost lines." The closure of many of these lines has had significant and lasting impact, and the recovery of some routes is of public relevance and a source of debate today. The Heads of The Valleys line served the communities of Methyr, Tredegar, and Abergavenny dating back to 1860, linking the area to major population centers around south Wales and the rest of the UK on a dramatic route of curves, steep gradients, tunnels, and viaducts. The line was finally closed in 1958. The history and social background of the railway and its passengers during this period is explored station by station and brought vividly to life through extensive research and archive photography, some of which has never been published before. These portable guides are suitable for the transport historian as well as being accessible to the general reader, and richly document this essential aspect of British heritage.