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Tondu |
Walnut Tree Jct |
Ystrad Mynach
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Four of the six lines that originally converged at Tondu are still extant.
The one from Bridgend enters from the bottom right and continues towards Maesteg.
One from Margam converges from bottom left, and the disused Blaengarw branch diverge to the right.
The junction is now reduced to single track, but there are still semaphore junction homes on all four incoming lines...
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The line to Margam, now only used as a diversionary freight route, with
the junction signal on the right.
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The view from the station platform, with the impressive junction signal
from Bridgend (TU63).
Note the route indicator under the right-hand arm. There is a loop just out of view on the
Blaengarw line, and trains can be signalled into either track.
The subsidiary disc reads to the goods loop on the right of the Maesteg line in the top picture.
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Rear view of the same signal from the footbridge, showing the station platform
and the line to Bridgend. The signalman has now pulled off for the local passenger
train to Maesteg.
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You can see that the brickwork of the signalbox has been modified at various times,
including an extension at the far end.
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The driver of the local passenger train collects the single-line token
for the section to Maesteg.
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This is the view from an overbridge a short way up the Maesteg line.
Tondu's starter is just before the bridge, and the junction signal can be seen in
the background.
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Here is a closer view of that junction signal (TU9). You can also see the disc that
controls the exit from the disused goods loop.
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From the other side of the bridge, the line to Maesteg and
the loop to up Maesteg signal (TU26).
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25/2/06
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This is Tondu's down outerhome on the line from Bridgend. It is a short way in
advance of the platform at Sarn.
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A winter view towards Margam. With the leaves off the trees, you can see there are in
fact three signals for departing trains.
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A closer view of the same. On the right, one of the lights of
an elevated position-light limit-of-shunt marker can also be seen.
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A face-on view of the junction signal from the Margam line (TU59).
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The up outerhome from Margam (TU60). The disc controls
shunting moves into the down (former platform) line.
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With the leaves down I also discovered there are actually two splitting signals
for the Blaengarw line, one for each of the loop tracks.
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At this time of year I was also able to glimpse the down outerhome on
the line from Maesteg. The disc at its foot controls entry to the goods loop.
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May 1983
This is how the line to Margam looked in 1983. What a difference!
Two sidings each side of the running lines, and all full of coal trains.
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The sidings on the right in the photo above continued round the
back of the signalbox, and joined back up to the Maesteg line a bit further on.
The Margam line became double again before passing the box, and continued as double
track up to the down Maesteg starter.
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A wide-angle view of the station area with the line to Bridgend on the left.
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A longer-range view of the line to Margam. A splitting home can
be seen immediately beyond the point where the line singles, but the advanced
starter that exists today does not appear to have been in the same position then.
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The line to Bridgend, with the up starter visible in the distance.
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The down homes from the Bridgend line. The fixed distant was for
Tondu Ogmore Junction,
which was still in use then.
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The line to Maesteg.
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The signalbox then.
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Tondu Ogmore Junction |
May 1983 |
Ogmore Junction was a short way along the Blaengarw line, responsible for
the junction with the Cardiff & Ogmore branch to Llanharan, which had since
been truncated at Wern Tarw Colliery/Washery. This line can just be seen
diverging to the right beyond the signal with
Tondu (Middle)'s
fixed distant below it. (The Blaengarw line then singled, and shortly beyond that
a further line to Nantymoel diverged at a ground frame at Brynmenyn Junction.)
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The view back towards
Tondu (Middle),
showing Ogmore Junction signalbox, and its home signal. This section, which later
became today's Blaengarw line loop, was a normal double-track section then.
Tondu (Middle)'s
splitting home can also be seen beyond that - the double-to-single junction
at that end was always worked by the Middle box.
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The following is a simplified track layout I have drawn up based on what I've
seen on my last two visits, including signal numbers where I know them.
This may not be completely accurate at this point in time, and I have indicated
areas of specific uncertainty
regarding the 1983 layout. But it should hopefully be
a useful guide to the relative locations of all these signals.
Just click on a signal, signalbox or other item to jump to the corresponding photo...
I have deliberately
excluded various technical details to prevent the diagram getting overcomplicated.
I have, however, included signal numbers where I know them - these are the codes in white on small black plates you can see in some of the photos, and are
the lever numbers in the signalbox.
More information about Tondu signalbox can be found on the
Signalling Notices
and
Signal Box
sites.
Thanks to Ian Hughes and the signalman in the 6th photo, whose son emailed me, for their input and corrections to this page.
Aberbeeg |
Abercynon |
Aber Jct |
Aberthaw |
Bargoed |
Barry |
East Usk |
Gyfeillon Upper |
Llandaff Loop Jct |
Lime Kiln Sdgs |
Pantyffynnon |
Park Jct |
Porth |
Radyr |
Swansea |
Swansea Docks |
Tondu |
Walnut Tree Jct |
Ystrad Mynach
Signals |
Abergavenny |
Abergele |
Banbury |
Birmingham NS |
Bognor |
Brereton Sdgs |
Cambrian |
Craven Arms |
Droitwich Spa |
Exeter |
Gobowen |
GW(S)R |
Helsby |
High Wycombe |
Kidderminster |
Ledbury |
Lincoln |
Llandudno |
London |
Malvern Wells |
Moreton-in-Marsh |
New Cumnock |
Newton Abbot |
Pontrilas |
Rhyl |
Shrewsbury |
S Wales |
St Albans S |
Taunton |
Warrington |
Woofferton Jct |
Worcester |
Wrexham |
Yeovil |
West Midlands |
Home Signal page |
SRS |
Exeter West Group