The Origins of the LMS in South Wales – Book Review

From the 1840s to the 1860s a battle was waged between rival railway giants for access to the lucrative South Wales industrial belt. Fought initially on the English side of the border, it was centred on the towns of Hereford, Worcester and Shrewsbury.

Gwyn Briwnant -Jones and Denis Dunstone tell the compelling story of this competition and its consequences in The Origins of the LMS in South Wales. It was originally published in 1999 by Gomer Press. Gomer’s publishing arm was bought by Y Lolfa in 2019 and the book is available to buy new on their website.

Following a brief introduction, the authors dive straight into the story of the contest between the Great Western, London and North Western (LNWR) and Midland Railways (MR) to develop routes from the English Midlands to South Wales. The pawns in the game were the small local railways such as the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway and the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway. 

The LMS in South Wales: gauge wars and risky strategies

The core of the book consists of four chapters which deal with the lines ultimately secured by the LNWR and MR which became part of the London Midland and Scottish in 1923. A final chapter provides some analysis as to what extent the investment made by those two companies was worthwhile.

The LNWR feared that a GWR monopoly of the huge industrial wealth of South Wales combined with its push as far north as Birkenhead would make the adoption of Broad Gauge almost inevitable. This meant the LNWR went out on a strategic limb, at one point trying to purchase leases and reach arrangements with railways almost a hundred miles from its own tracks in the midlands!

Overcoming arrogance: LNWR snatches victory from the jaws of defeat

Being overly aggressive in dealing with early local companies landed the LNWR in trouble and at one point it looked like they had blown the opportunity, leaving the Midland to challenge the GWR. Subsequently, a change of management in the 1850s, meant the adoption of a far more subtle and conciliatory approach.

As a result, there was a startling turn around in fortunes and a decade later it had secured one of the three direct easterly routes into South Wales in the form of the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway. The Midland Railway was left as the poor relation with a longer mid-Wales route to Swansea. Even there it could not completely shake off its North-western competitor!

Helping the reader make sense of a convoluted story, the book is generously illustrated with many maps, diagrams and over 400 photographs. Gwyn Briwnant-Jones is an accomplished railway artist and four colour plates of his paintings are a delightful addition.

In Summary

The authors help the reader make sense of a very convoluted story of rivalry, skulduggery and competition in an accessible manner. Well written and illustrated including artwork from Briwnant-Jones himself makes this a worthwhile read.

Outline Contents

• Introduction
• Early Skirmishes
• Over The Top To Cardiff And Newport
• The Merthyr Tangle
• The Hard Way to Swansea
• The Midland Mops Up
• The Harvest

About the Authors: Gwyn Briwnant-Jones and Denis Dunstone

Gwyn Briwnant-Jones was born and educated in Machynlleth. He is the author of several books on Welsh railway history. A retired art teacher and local history enthusiast, he now lives in Cardiff. His most recent publication is Tales of the Old Corris.

Denis Dunstone has co-authored several books on railway history in Wales.

Related reviews

Abergavenny to Merthyr (Including the Ebbw Vale Branch) by David Edge
Railways and Industry in the Sirhowy Valley by John Hodge
Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: v.12, South Wales by D.S.M. Barrie