Loughor railway station

Loughor
General information
Location	Loughor, Swansea Wales
Coordinates	51.6615°N 4.0776°W / 51.6615; -4.0776
Platforms	2
Other information
Status	Disused
History
Original company	South Wales Railway
Pre-grouping	Great Western Railway
Key dates
11 October 1852	Opened
4 April 1960	Closed

Loughor railway station was on the South Wales Railway, now the West Wales Line, from Swansea to Llanelli. The station was located on the west side of Swansea in the residential area of Loughor.

South Wales Railway
Cross Country Route to Birmingham to Bristol to docks and GRC&W Works Gloucester Eastgate Gloucester Docks Gloucester (GWR) River Severn Alney Island River Severn Ledbury and Gloucester Railway Oakle Street Grange Court Hereford, Ross and Gloucester Railway Westbury-on-Severn Halt Newnham Ruddle Road Halt Bullo Pill Railway Bullo Pill (Goods only) Awre for Blakeney Forest of Dean Central Railway Gatcombe Severn Bridge Railway to Sharpness Severn Railway Bridge over River Severn Severn Bridge Severn Bridge Tunnel Lydney Lydney Junction Lydney Harbour Branch Dean Forest Railway Tinworks branch Woolaston Wye Valley Railway Tutshill for Beachley Halt Chepstow East Chepstow Railway Bridge over River Wye Chepstow Bristol and South Wales Union Railway Portskewett (original location) ("Portskewett Junction" 1863–1886) Portskewett South Wales Main Line via Severn Tunnel Caerwent Training Area Caldicot Severn Tunnel Junction Undy Halt Magor flying junction Bishton Crossing Llanwern station & steelworks Goods line to Uskmouth Welsh Marches line to Abergavenny and Hereford River Usk Newport High Street Brecon and Merthyr Railway to Ebbw Vale Alexandra Dock Brecon and Merthyr Railway to Machen and Merthyr Tydfil Marshfield River Rhymney Roath Rhymney Railway to Caerphilly Cardiff Queen Street Taff Vale Railway to Pontypridd Cardiff Central Bute Street Queen Alexandra Dock P & A Campbell ferry across the River Severn Barry Railway to Barry, Penarth and Vale of Glamorgan Cardiff Canton Locomotive Depot Ninian Park Leckwith Junction Penarth Harbour and Dock Railway to Taffs Well Ely Main Line St Fagans St Fagans Junction Barry Railway to Barry to Tynycaeau Junction Drope Junction Peterston Pontyclun Ely Valley Railway Cowbridge and Aberthaw Railway Llanharan Cardiff and Ogmore Valley Railway Pencoed Barry Railway to Vale of Glamorgan Bridgend Llynvi and Ogmore Railway to Maesteg Llynvi and Ogmore Railway to Tondu Pyle Junction Pyle Llynvi and Ogmore Railway to Porthcawl Port Talbot Railway to Tondu Port Talbot Railway to Tonmawr Junction (Mean) Margam Halt Port Talbot Port Talbot Docks Baglan Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway to Treherbert South Wales Mineral Railway to Tonmawr Briton Ferry Swansea District line Neath Vale of Neath Railway River Neath Skewen Swansea District line to Swansea Docks Llansamlet Landore viaduct over River Tawe Landore High Level Swansea Cockett Tunnel Cockett Gowerton North Loughor Loughor Viaduct Trostre Tinplate Works Llanelli Pembrey & Burry Port Lando Platform Kidwelly Flats Halt Kidwelly Ferryside Carmarthen Junction Carmarthen for Carmarthen–Aberystwyth line via Lampeter Sarnau St Clears Whitland West Wales line to Pembroke Dock Whitland and Cardigan Railway Clunderwen Rosebush loop Clarbeston Road Fishguard branch Haverfordwest Wolf's Castle Halt Welsh Hook Halt Mathry Road Rosebush loop Jordanston Halt Fishguard & Goodwick Fishguard Harbour Ferry to Rosslare Europort Johnston Neyland Waterston oil refinery Robeston oil refinery Milford Haven Newton Noyes Hakin Docks

History

The railway line between Landore High Level and Carmarthen was opened on 11 October 1852 by the broad gauge South Wales Railway, which later became part of the Great Western Railway. The engineer of this line was Brunel. Originally, Loughor was the first station westwards from Landore; Cockett and Gowerton were opened at later dates.

The station was double track, with 2 platforms. A mineral line to Broad Oak Colliery diverged from the line to the east of the station.

Loughor Viaduct

Brunel's viaduct as at 2007

The new bridges, as at 2013

The Loughor Viaduct to the west of the station carries the line across the River Loughor. Before it was replaced in early 2013, the viaduct was the last remaining timber viaduct designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

The Loughor viaduct was constructed to carry the broad gauge South Wales Railway west of Swansea to Carmarthen. It was opened to traffic (broad gauge and standard gauge) in 1852. The viaduct was rebuilt several times; modifications made include the removal of its swing bridge and broad gauge tracks, replacement of the timber deck with an iron structure, and additional piles. In 1986, due to structural concerns, the track was singled and speed restrictions were imposed adding to journey times.

In the early 2010s, Network Rail commissioned a new-build replacement. On 8 April 2013, the new bridge with its redoubled track was opened to traffic. A section of the original viaduct is preserved alongside the new structure.

1904 railway accident

On 3 October 1904 an express passenger train of 2 engines and 8 coaches from New Milford towards Landore derailed. At Llanelli a tank engine was attached to the front to assist in the climb to Cockett. It is surmised that the train was travelling up to 60 mph to make up time, and jumped the straight track to the west of the Loughor River. There were 5 fatalities, including the driver and fireman of the tank engine, and 94 injured. A full report from the Board of Trade enquiry is available.

External links

• Station description and photos at town council website