A Brief History of the LMMR
The Carmarthenshire Tramroad was established in 1802 by Act of Parliament. It began
running trains in 1803, the initial line being a tramway, with motive power provided by a pair of
horses. This distribution line allowed for coal extraction in the hinterland to be connected to the
Sandy area and Llanelly Docks and in 1798 the Stradey Iron Works established by Alexander
Raby had begun trading and later received his coal, ironstone and limestone for its furnaces
via the Carmarthenshire line.
By 1844 the company ceased trading and it was to take over 30 years for the line to reopen. At
a meeting in Llanelly Town Hall chaired by C.N.Neville Esq. M.P., it was resolved to reopen the
line and to extend it to Cross Hands. In 1880 Mr Waddell the contractor stated that he was
''pushing ahead with vigour''.
The railway reopened in 1883 operated by the newly formed Llanelly and Mynydd Mawr Railway
Co. That company disappeared in 1922 on being absorbed into the Great Western Railway
which was in turn of course absorbed into British Railways in 1947. Throughout the twentieth
century the line continued as a main artery for coal distribution from the Gwendraeth Valley,
until the closure of Cynheidre Colliery in 1989.
In the early years the LMMR had a fleet of its own steam locos to work the line but following
absorption to the GWR pannier tanks were in common use on the line until phasing out of
steam in the 1960's. In 1965 0-6-0 PT 1607 of Llanelly shed 87F was purchased by the NCB
and worked at Cynheidre Colliery until 1969 when it was condemned with a cracked frame,
and was subsequently scrapped on site.
In the latter years Class 08 diesel shunting locos (up until the closure of the Cynheidre North
section) and Class 37 diesel locos were the staple diet. Class 37's were the final class to
traverse the line and can still be seen in daily use in 2008 on the UK network.
If you wish to read more about the history of the line then a book is available written by Price,
M.R.C. The Llanelly & Mynydd Mawr Railway, Oakwood Press, 1992, ISBN 0 85361 423 7.
The Carmarthenshire Tramroad was established in 1802 by Act of Parliament. It began
running trains in 1803, the initial line being a tramway, with motive power provided by a pair of
horses. This distribution line allowed for coal extraction in the hinterland to be connected to the
Sandy area and Llanelly Docks and in 1798 the Stradey Iron Works established by Alexander
Raby had begun trading and later received his coal, ironstone and limestone for its furnaces
via the Carmarthenshire line.
By 1844 the company ceased trading and it was to take over 30 years for the line to reopen. At
a meeting in Llanelly Town Hall chaired by C.N.Neville Esq. M.P., it was resolved to reopen the
line and to extend it to Cross Hands. In 1880 Mr Waddell the contractor stated that he was
''pushing ahead with vigour''.
The railway reopened in 1883 operated by the newly formed Llanelly and Mynydd Mawr Railway
Co. That company disappeared in 1922 on being absorbed into the Great Western Railway
which was in turn of course absorbed into British Railways in 1947. Throughout the twentieth
century the line continued as a main artery for coal distribution from the Gwendraeth Valley,
until the closure of Cynheidre Colliery in 1989.
In the early years the LMMR had a fleet of its own steam locos to work the line but following
absorption to the GWR pannier tanks were in common use on the line until phasing out of
steam in the 1960's. In 1965 0-6-0 PT 1607 of Llanelly shed 87F was purchased by the NCB
and worked at Cynheidre Colliery until 1969 when it was condemned with a cracked frame,
and was subsequently scrapped on site.
In the latter years Class 08 diesel shunting locos (up until the closure of the Cynheidre North
section) and Class 37 diesel locos were the staple diet. Class 37's were the final class to
traverse the line and can still be seen in daily use in 2008 on the UK network.
If you wish to read more about the history of the line then a book is available written by Price,
M.R.C. The Llanelly & Mynydd Mawr Railway, Oakwood Press, 1992, ISBN 0 85361 423 7.
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| © All images and material contained within this website are Copyright The Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway Company Limited 2009 unless stated otherwise Company Registration Number 3753219 Registered Charity Number 1087985 |