Memoirs of the Sirhowy Branch: 1868 to 1960 – Retro Review

Following its conversion from a tramroad and commencement of passenger services in 1865, The Sirhowy Railway in Monmouthshire (later Gwent) existed for almost a century. During that time ownership passed in 1876 to the London and North Western Railway which become the London, Midland and Scottish in 1922. The line ended its days in nationalised British Railways ownership.

Illuminating the life of the line under all four owners is W.W. Tasker’s Memoirs of the Sirhowy Branch: 1868-1960. It was published by Treowen Press in 1994. Being out of print, while still widely available second-hand, makes this one of our ‘retro review’ series.

A miscellany covering nearly 100 years of the Sirhowy Branch

The book is really a miscellany, packed full of snippets, photographs, diary entries and a host of other ephemera. Sensibly, there are no formal chapters, which enables Tasker to arrange the numerous ad hoc items, such as bridge locations, in ways most pleasing to the reader.  On the other hand, there is a loose chronological arrangement which if read cover-to-cover takes the reader broadly forward in time. Completing the book are staff and locomotive records before a short bibliography.

Though being far less formal in structure, the content is actually better balanced, giving more weight to mineral and industrial traffic. This includes the activities of private operators such as the powerful Tredegar Iron and Coal Company (TIC). Hinting at the working relationship between the TIC and the LNWR are intriguing references to the coal company’s Ground Pointsman and the Traffic Office. Questions are raised as to how they operated and where they were located.

Subsidence and signal boxes – snapshots of life on the line

Keeping the narrative text to a minimum means this book is perfect for just dipping into at random. Almost every page contains something of interest and casual browsing is a pleasure. As opposed to the merely interesting, some extraordinary documents are included. For example the gradient diagram for the Sirhowy branch (undated) carries a warning about mining subsidence. Moreover, two sections of line towards the upper end of the valley from Markham to Pochin and Bedwellty Pits to Ty Trist colliery were liable to a change of gradient from month to month!

Among other noteworthy drawings is one of an early Sirhowy Railway signal lever with an accompanying description of its operation. A generic plan of late LNWR signal boxes in the area is provided by Gerald Davies. As evidenced throughout his publications, Tasker was an accomplished sketch artist and his small portraits of locomotives, sheds and signal boxes are a delight.

In Summary

A delightful miscellany of old diary entries, photographs and other material from almost a century of railway operations in one valley. A book to dip into at random or browse a few pages of related material at a time. An overlooked gem.

Related reviews

Railways in the Sirhowy Valley by W.W. Tasker
The Sirhowy Valley and its Railways by D.S.M. Barrie and Charles E. Lee