HISTORY
Cefn Glas Tunnel carried the Taff Vale Extension of the Newport, Abergavenny & Hereford Railway which was absorbed into the Great Western empire in 1863, a year before the line opened. The route made an end-on connection with the Aberdare Valley Railway at Middle Duffryn Junction; the southern end was at Quakers Yard, named after a local burial ground. The last train trundled through the tunnel on 14th June 1964.
The 703-yard tunnel is straight except for a slight northerly curve close to the western portal. It is amply equipped with refuges and its profile changes at various points. Although mostly dry, the tunnel is not in great condition - towards its centre, sections of its lining have come away. Comprising a brick roof with masonry walls, its patchwork nature suggests that, even during operational times, much repair work was needed.
The tunnel is famous / infamous locally for a coal seam that was worked through one of the refuges during the 1984/5 Miners Strike. Three striking miners from Penrhiwceiber Colliery with a Mark 3 Cortina Estate and timbering courtesy of the Forrestry Commission used to reverse in from the Abercynon end of the tunnel to the point of the refuge. The coal was poor quality and full of sulpher which produced yellow smoke that could be seen for miles !
PHOTOS
Not a planned visit but finding myself carless on a shitty, wet Sunday afternoon, the choice to get home was go over the mountain or through the tunnel. The tunnel won. Sorry for some of the skewiff photos...no tripod on this occasion.
1. Abercynon portal
2. Light
3. Refuge
4. Rock
5. Strike
6. Falls
7. Collar
8. Back
9. Quakers Yard portal
Thanks for looking.
Cefn Glas Tunnel carried the Taff Vale Extension of the Newport, Abergavenny & Hereford Railway which was absorbed into the Great Western empire in 1863, a year before the line opened. The route made an end-on connection with the Aberdare Valley Railway at Middle Duffryn Junction; the southern end was at Quakers Yard, named after a local burial ground. The last train trundled through the tunnel on 14th June 1964.
The 703-yard tunnel is straight except for a slight northerly curve close to the western portal. It is amply equipped with refuges and its profile changes at various points. Although mostly dry, the tunnel is not in great condition - towards its centre, sections of its lining have come away. Comprising a brick roof with masonry walls, its patchwork nature suggests that, even during operational times, much repair work was needed.
The tunnel is famous / infamous locally for a coal seam that was worked through one of the refuges during the 1984/5 Miners Strike. Three striking miners from Penrhiwceiber Colliery with a Mark 3 Cortina Estate and timbering courtesy of the Forrestry Commission used to reverse in from the Abercynon end of the tunnel to the point of the refuge. The coal was poor quality and full of sulpher which produced yellow smoke that could be seen for miles !
PHOTOS
Not a planned visit but finding myself carless on a shitty, wet Sunday afternoon, the choice to get home was go over the mountain or through the tunnel. The tunnel won. Sorry for some of the skewiff photos...no tripod on this occasion.
1. Abercynon portal
2. Light
3. Refuge
4. Rock
5. Strike
6. Falls
7. Collar
8. Back
9. Quakers Yard portal
Thanks for looking.
