Author: John Hutton
Publisher: Foulis-OPC
ISBN: 0860934144
Publication: 1988
Number of pages: 136
Format: Hardback
How Obtained: Purchased
The Taff Vale Railway (TVR) had the distinction of being the first standard gauge edge railway designed purposely for steam traction in South Wales. With an independent life from 1841 to grouping in 1922, it spent most of its existence in the Victorian Era.
John Hutton’s Taff Vale Railway Miscellany is a mix of photographs and descriptive text on this prosperous South Wales company. It was published in 1988 by Foulis-OPC and is one of our retro reviews of books which are widely available second hand.
A brief single page history of the TVR precedes portraits of many locations on the railway, mainly stations but including sheds, depots and works. These are arranged in order, starting with the main line from Cardiff Docks to Merthyr and followed by 23 branch lines, many serving the Cynon and Rhondda valleys.
Hutton includes a survey of the TVR’s characterful signal boxes and a selection of staff photographs including some from the post-grouping Great Western years. Closing the book are short sections covering derailments, locomotive portraits and the preservation scene as it then existed.
The Taff Vale Railway: compact and prosperous
The Taff Vale was compact, the main line from Cardiff Docks to Merthyr running for only 24 miles. The twisting valley topography meant that engineer I.K. Brunel abandoned his beloved 7 feet (broad) gauge and built the line to standard gauge (4 feet 8 ½ inches).
This is clearly seen in the collection of images chosen by Hutton. No grand images of expresses hurtling along expanses of relatively straight track seen at places like Sonning Cutting. Instead the photos reveal a railway of densely packed junctions, stations and docks with often tightly curved track. Even where the lines have left the confines of narrow valleys there are few occasions where junctions do not interrupt a lengthy run.
This means there is always something of interest. The photographs do not disappoint, spanning a range of some 120 years from the 1860s to the 1980s. Although the majority are from the pre-grouping days before 1923, many cover the Great Western years until 1948 and a few more recent ones in BR times. Moreover, Hutton does not ignore the human side of the company with interesting photos of ephemera such as letters to job applicants and new starters.
Certainly, there are many books now on the market which mine the nostalgia market, focussing on the ‘Big Four’ era or later. The inclusion, however, of so many images from times well beyond the memory of all but a few people currently alive means the nature of this book is very different. The only downside is the preservation information is now completely out of date. But that can hardly be held against publication over 30 years old.
In Summary
A captivating portrait of a railway which, while constricted geographically, presents very many interesting aspects. The range of photographs dating back to the 1860s provide a fascinating glimpse into a long lost golden era of rail transport in South Wales. Highly recommended.
The Good
- A range of older photographs stretching back to the 1860s
- Brief location description paragraphs give background detail and place the pictures in context.
- Documents and other ephemera provide different perspectives on the railway and often lend a personal touch.
The Not So Good
- Not a criticism of the book itself, but some preservation information is now out of date.
Outline Contents
- The Main Line
- Branch Lines
- Signal Boxes
- Railway Staff
- Derailments and War Damage
- Engines at Works, Yards and Sheds
- Preservation
Related reviews
Brunel in South Wales: Volume 1, In Trevithick’s Tracks by Stephen K. Jones
Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain; v.12, South Wales by D.S.M. Barrie
South Wales Branch Lines by H. Morgan