National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nationβs social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
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Swansea, Victoria - Pontardulais Railway, 1964 (June)
βIt would be difficult to find a more lovely train journeyβ, declares Swanseaβs Librarian, the film-maker and narrator. Prepare to be beguiled, station by station.
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Overview
Record of one of the last train rides β on the βold puff puffβ - from Swanseaβs Victoria Station to Pontardulais. The line was closed soon afterwards, part of the reshaping of the railway system undertaken by Dr Beeching, chair of the British Railways Board. The footage was shot by Swanseaβs Borough Librarian, Leslie M Rees, and his deputy, with Mr Rees later providing a commentary (he happens to mention that the jail, seen in passing, has an excellent branch library).
This line ran from Swansea Victoria to Pontardulais, calling at Swansea Bay, Mumbles Road, both Killay and Dunvant at one time, Gowerton, Gorseinon and Grovesend. Once the Beeching axe struck, the train ran simply from Swansea to Gowerton and on to Llanelli and from Llanelli to Pontarddulais via Bynea and Llangennech. The βnew face of British Railwaysβ is seen β a diesel train (βnot half so romantic as the old puff puffβ) heading for Shrewsbury, few passengers embarking or disembarking. βOf courseβ, comments Mr Rees, βthat probably is the reason why all these trains are being taken off, we just donβt use them.β
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