Site of Ystradgynlais railway station

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Ystradgynlais railway station once occupied land in this vicinity. From the 1870s until the First World War, passengers could travel by direct train from here to Birmingham!

The station was opened by the Swansea Vale Railway company, which had converted various tramroads (where horses hauled wagons on crude rails) into railways. Its main line, completed in 1868, linked Swansea to Brynamman via Ystalyfera. Ystradgynlais station, known as Ynyscedwyn until the 1890s, was on a secondary line which diverged at Ynysgeinon and joined the Neath to Brecon railway at Coelbren (east of Abercrave).

In 1874 the Derby-based Midland Railway took over the SVR. It was mainly interested in carrying freight from heavy industry in the Swansea area, but it also provided passenger and postal services.

Herbert de la Haye, stationmaster at Ystradgynlais, lost his son Cyril in the First World War. Cyril was educated at Ystradgynlais County School and Cardiff University. He was a Scoutmaster with the Penrhiwfarteg Troop before joining the Royal Fusiliers. He transferred to the  Royal Engineers in 1915, where he was a corporal and later a lieutenant.

Cyril was killed in action in France, aged 24, in May 1918. His brother Hubert was a Private in the Royal Army Medical Corps and survived the war.

The Midland Railway was absorbed into the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1923. The LMS abandoned the Ynysgeinon to Coelbren line in 1931. The Great Western Railway stepped in, but axed the passenger service in 1932. The track through Ystradgynlais remained in use by freight trains into the 1960s. The railway route is now a popular cycling and walking path.

With thanks to Chris Bowen

Postcode: SA9 1PN    View Location Map

To continue the Ystradgynlais in WW1 tour, descend along Station Road, passing Weavers Rd and Maescynog. The police station is where the road bends left
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