In the context of South Wales, the focus of attention for industrial railways has been on coal, iron and steelmaking. But from the closing decades of the nineteenth century to well into the twentieth century reservoir contractors employed a wide variety of steam traction on largely temporary systems.

Documenting these railway systems and the locomotives used on them is Reservoir Builders of South Wales. The draft of the book was originally written by Harold D. Bowtell in the 1970s with Geoffrey Hill completing, extending and editing the manuscript for publication some thirty years later. It was therefore first published in 2006 by the Industrial Locomotive Society and is Book Six of Bowtell’s Dam Builders in the Age of Steam series.

For the reservoir builders of South Wales mechanisation was essential

As many of the reservoir projects were sited in the Brecon Beacons (now Bannau Brycheiniog), the first three chapters of the book detail projects located in the rivers which form the headwaters of the Taff – the Fawr and Fechan. Two chapters cover projects elsewhere in the Beacons for Swansea, Neath and Mountain Ash.

The focus then shifts to the Black Mountains with another two chapters on dams for Abertillery and Newport. The book concludes with a round up of ad hoc and smaller projects for a variety of clients. The text is accompanied by excellent maps and copious photographs.

A huge variety of locomotives in an industry beset with problems

However, almost all of the larger projects were beset by problems with contractors experiencing financial difficulties and manpower shortages as a consequence of the First World War.  Many of the engines which were initially owned by the contractors changed ownership at least once and often ended up in the possession of the client local authorities which brought the work back in-house.

Bowtell and Hill provide a brief description of the various railway networks before going on to meticulously document the history of the locomotives deployed. There is a bewildering array of gauges with examples from almost every major manufacturer. The authors provide a handy index to them all at the back of the book. The pictures do full justice to the variety ranging from tiny, almost skeletal, 2ft gauge 0-4-0 engines right up to substantial standard gauge 0-6-0 types.

Diagrams provide interesting insight into the track layouts at points of interest such as engine sheds, workshops and main line interchanges. As such they suggest interesting possibilities for railway modellers.

In Summary

A book for the devotee of industrial locomotives and the systems on which they plied their trade. Railway modellers, especially narrow gauge enthusiats seeking something different from the North Wales slate-based scene will find much to interest them in this book.

Outline Contents

• Railways of Cardiff Corporation in the Valley of the Taf Fawr
  
• Cardiff’s Llwynon Project in Cwm Taf
  
• The Valley of the Taf Fechan
  • Railways serving the Neuadd & Taf Fechan Reservoirs of Merthyr Tydfil Corporation and the Taf Fechan Water Supply Board
    
• Cray and other projects for Swansea Corporation and Ystradfellte for Neath RDC
  
• Penderyn: a modest project using two gauges for Mountain Ash UDC
  
• The Abertillery & District Water Board in the Grwyne Fawr Valley
  
• Newport’s Protracted Schemes at Wentwood & Talybont
  
• Other Projects using Railways for Aberdare, Pontypridd & the Rhondda and the Ebbw Vale Area
  
• Other Water Supply Projects during the Railway Era
  
• General Index, Locomotive Owners, Locomotive Builders

About the Authors

Related Reviews

Industrial Locomotives of Gwent by Geoffrey Hill and Gordon Green
Modelling the Welsh Narrow Gauge Railways by Chris Ford