The Life and Times of the Swansea and Mumbles Railway
The Swansea and Mumbles Railway ran from the town of Swansea to the neighbouring village of Mumbles. It was built, in 1804, as an industrial tram- road on which horses pulled waggon-loads of limestone and coal. In 1807 it became unique as the line on which the first regular rail passenger service in the world was begun. Mumbles lost its industrial character and trading pretensions with the passing years and became more purely a resort and residential area. As freight all but disappeared, traffic meant passengers: commuters, trippers and excursionists. The first saddle tanks arrived in 1878, and their load was often a heavy one over the ensuing years. Electrification came in 1929 in the shape of a fleet of large, efficient tramcars. The Railway was closed in 1960.
Apart from an electricity sub-station and two small commemorative plaques, the only reminders of the line are in Swansea's two museums, and in the memories of local people.
Hardback, 17x24cm, 80 pages, black & white photographs
Condition: Good/Very Good with a little age-related discolouration at edges of pages
ISBN: 9780905928791
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Updated: 2 January 2025