What an incredible representation of the old railway line!! I grew up in East Aberthaw during the 1960's/70's and have walked along every aspect of the railway line many, many times. I've also spent many hours playing in the Lime Kiln building. Thankyou so much for bringing back so many childhood memories.
A great recreation of a long lost line which is only a stones throw away from my house. Much of the embankments still exist together with signal box at St Mary Church and station building at St Athan Rd. Very few photos exist of this route so I would imagine compiling would have been that much more difficult so thanks for your efforts in producing this.
Thanks, yes it was a real challenge with hardly any pictures. Fortunately there are good maps of the old line, and Google Earth, and I do know the area quite well.
I am from Cowbridge but the railway ended before I was born my great uncles worked as a train driver and the other was a guard thank you l will cherish this film forever
Well done Ben. I was an apprentice with PO/BT in 1967 and I worked this area as far as St Mary Church as a BT Lineman. Many of the buildings were still there especially in the old good yards. They are mostly still there and some still in use. A testimony to the GWR buildings quality, shame the line has gone. I’m too young to have seen it working but I do remember the Cowbridge to Llantrisant/Pontyclun section. I used to know many of the engine crews, unfortunately they have mostly passed away but one or two children are still around.
I have only just seen this one @Ben Salter, and it's another amazing film you have made. A wonderful branch line which I would love to have traveled on - and I wish was still there. Thanks so much for making these animation films good sir. Thanks for allowing those of us a bit of the atmosphere and character of railway lines we could never have witnessed, and thanks for sharing your work. Cheers once again :)
Abslutely incredible. How did you manage such amazing scenic accuracy ? Do you have a library of historic photographs ? Magic , and thanks. Regards, aloiciuscrud.
Pity it only ran North-South and not East-West through Cowbridge. As you know the town is in a dip so the railway ran through Pontyclun, East-West instead.. Mike in Cowbridge. Have you informed the local paper ( The Star) of your work; I know they would be interested
Great job. Aberthaw was so much prettier without the power station and cement works. Was Llanbethery platform that well appointed? :-) In the late 70s and 80s you could see the remains of literally a platform there, no sign of a shelter or any other building . The impression I got from the old farmers back then was that there was basically just a dock for loading passengers and sheep. The postman for the area used to use it too. Never seen a photo of it though, and I doubt there's anyone alive who can remember travelling from it
Good question? It's basically an extension to the original. But whether you should re-install or not, I don't know? I would probably recommend re-installing to prevent any issues arising? Plus there's the extra scenarios to consider?
Hi Ben, "Only me,again." was driving the Penarth Triangle the other evening and was wondering if the route could be merged with your Barry Railway as they both have Cadoxton Station in common. Any thoughts ?
Sadly no. I wish I had known I was going to do the Barry route, when I did the Triangle, as far as I know they'll have to stand alone as two separately entities.
What an incredible representation of the old railway line!! I grew up in East Aberthaw during the 1960's/70's and have walked along every aspect of the railway line many, many times. I've also spent many hours playing in the Lime Kiln building. Thankyou so much for bringing back so many childhood memories.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. Must have been a beautiful trip when the line was open.
That is wonderful. I have shared it with the St Hilary Community - thank you very much.
You may like this one too? th-cam.com/video/XQLSENEhuWk/w-d-xo.html
How to keep history alive. The limeside detail remarkably captured as always.
Thank you
A great recreation of a long lost line which is only a stones throw away from my house. Much of the embankments still exist together with signal box at St Mary Church and station building at St Athan Rd. Very few photos exist of this route so I would imagine compiling would have been that much more difficult so thanks for your efforts in producing this.
Thanks, yes it was a real challenge with hardly any pictures. Fortunately there are good maps of the old line, and Google Earth, and I do know the area quite well.
I am from Cowbridge but the railway ended before I was born my great uncles worked as a train driver and the other was a guard thank you l will cherish this film forever
Absolutely stunning as always Ben, you've captured the atmosphere, of both a GWR Branch line, but this rarely photographed Branch...Outstanding work.
Thanks Bob, I'll be on board the Cwmbargoed Collier this weekend, hope to spot you trackside 😁
I prefer to think of it as a Taff Vale branch line. :-)
Yes, I've often thought that it's such a shame this line was so rarely captured on camera. This recreation helps correct that.
Well done Ben. I was an apprentice with PO/BT in 1967 and I worked this area as far as St Mary Church as a BT Lineman. Many of the buildings were still there especially in the old good yards. They are mostly still there and some still in use. A testimony to the GWR buildings quality, shame the line has gone. I’m too young to have seen it working but I do remember the Cowbridge to Llantrisant/Pontyclun section. I used to know many of the engine crews, unfortunately they have mostly passed away but one or two children are still around.
Thanks Peter, I did spot that the signal box at St Mary Church still exists. You can just see it on Google Streetview.
Wonderful route once again, Mr. Salter. I did a clean install and have had no issues to report. No milk bottles either! Many thanks.
Excellent news. Thanks glad you like it 😀
Another triumph, Ben. Keep up the great work.
Great simulation Ben, its like a fly through from bygone times.
Thank you
I have only just seen this one @Ben Salter, and it's another amazing film you have made.
A wonderful branch line which I would love to have traveled on - and I wish was still there. Thanks so much for making these animation films good sir. Thanks for allowing those of us a bit of the atmosphere and character of railway lines we could never have witnessed, and thanks for sharing your work. Cheers once again :)
Thanks, so glad you enjoyed it. Good progress on the Vale of Neath line at Hafodyrynys currently.
Back in the day, a member of my family was a 'Wheel tapper' at Cowbridge Railway Station
Pure escapism mixed with nostalgia. Nice one Ben
Cheers
Wow wonderful to see,my neck of the woods
Glad you enjoyed 😁
Abslutely incredible. How did you manage such amazing scenic accuracy ? Do you have a library of historic photographs ? Magic , and thanks.
Regards, aloiciuscrud.
Thanks, this section of line was heavily dependent on site visits and Google Earth 😁
@@TheOpenBoatDAFFODIL That's magnificent, as there's such fine detail in the track side images and marsh areas. Regards, aloiciuscrud
Absolutely charming, Ben. Really evocative.
Would you be able to make a film of the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway, from Port Talbot to Cymmer Afan?
Thanks, I think next autumns project will be Pontypool Rd to Neath?
Pity it only ran North-South and not East-West through Cowbridge. As you know the town is in a dip so the railway ran through Pontyclun, East-West instead.. Mike in Cowbridge. Have you informed the local paper ( The Star) of your work; I know they would be interested
Thanks I'll let them know :-)
Great job. Aberthaw was so much prettier without the power station and cement works. Was Llanbethery platform that well appointed? :-) In the late 70s and 80s you could see the remains of literally a platform there, no sign of a shelter or any other building . The impression I got from the old farmers back then was that there was basically just a dock for loading passengers and sheep. The postman for the area used to use it too.
Never seen a photo of it though, and I doubt there's anyone alive who can remember travelling from it
Thanks, but yes the biggest challenge on this project, was the lack of any photos. So it was all down to old maps and artistic licence.
Hi Ben another amazing route. Can this be installed over your old Cowbridge Railway or should it be a clean install?
Good question? It's basically an extension to the original. But whether you should re-install or not, I don't know? I would probably recommend re-installing to prevent any issues arising? Plus there's the extra scenarios to consider?
Hi Ben, "Only me,again." was driving the Penarth Triangle the other evening and was wondering if the route could be merged with your Barry Railway as they both have Cadoxton Station in common. Any thoughts ?
Sadly no. I wish I had known I was going to do the Barry route, when I did the Triangle, as far as I know they'll have to stand alone as two separately entities.
Where was the station in Cow
bridge?
Approximately behind the present-day Fire Station near Slade Close.