Wow, you have just pulled a memory from my childhood, think I was about 10-11 and six of us decided to navigate down the Taff by canoe from just above the bridge remains in the river. Cant have gone 3-400 yds and one of the group canoed straight into it and broke the bow and the canvas cover. In the panic he turned turtle and we nearly lost him as he was swept away. We managed to get him to hang on and took him to the bank. All very wet and scared , thought it best to abandon the expedition . Got a lift back to Llanishen on the back of an open truck.. Those were the days. Thanks for the clips, always a good source of nostalgia.
Watching this now brings tears to my eyes. How such charm, beauty and glorious engineering, nostalgic of course, has been replaced with a road and retail parks. Very sad how progress in development has destroyed the soul and beauty of an area. I remember as a child going on a trip to watch them blow up the remaining cooling chimneys at Nantgarw. At least you have done sterling work to capture and record these fading memories for us, thank you Bob.
Eagerly awaiting the next in the Cardiff Railway series. All this history around, but generally unnoticed, even by me on my once daily travels through the valley. Regarding the geological conditions at Nantgarw that you mentioned, I had a friend in Cardiff who was a colliery electrician there. He told me that the underground conditions were very bad with the coal seams fractured and difficult to mine. Perhaps it was just down to the location, right on the edge of the South Wales Coalfield.
Your videos are always worth waiting for. My dad - who was a coal miner all his life at Merthyr Vale Colliery - used to refer to Nantgarw as a "modern super pit', but no-one wanted to work there because, as you said, coke was filthy stuff, even by coal mining standards.
Another wonderful exploration Bob!, used to pass so much of that when going to college in Rhydfelin! Also, the Carrefour advert brought back memories!. As a boy, every Saturday morning I’d walk with my Mum, Dad and Sister from Trethomas to the Carrefour in Caerphilly and if things were going well we’d all have a donut when we got back. If Dad had had a bit of luck that week we might even have breakfast at the Cafe in Carrefour. Thanks so much! Can’t wait for the next episode!
I will admit when visiting the relatives in Blackwood their excitement about Caerfour was tangible. It was all very new and different. Thanks for watching
So many memories of that place. The coking process could not use coal exclusively from one mine. It had to be blended with other types of coal to minimise expansion and avoid damaging the walls of the ovens. We spent a lot of time getting those mixes right with even small mini-ovens to test the final mix. That was a full time job for 8 people. And yes, coal gas stank which was a problem when we switched to North Sea gas because it didn't. So, apparently they had to add a smell so people would know if they had a leak.
As a young scout in the early 1970s we got taken down Nantgarw Colliery (one of the parents worked there) to watch coal being cut. I remember it vividly, the long train ride to the coal face and especially when we were allowed to use the drills to cut some coal. Only issue was that I broke a finger on the way out which caused some panic in getting us off site ASAP as obviously a group of young kids should not have been down there. When we got home my father's only concern was to take a picture of me with a face covered in coal and my broken finger.
Excellent video again. Really interesting seeing the old images around Upper Boat etc. I used to spend a lot of time in Rhydyfelin and have walked to Treforest from Rhyd many times past the old parapet. The Jamil Indian restaurant was still a pub as recently as 2010 looking on Street View, I remember going there early 90s when it was called the Jubilee.
Well done Bob, yet another fascinating installment of the Cardiff Railway History. Thanks must also go to the gentleman for sending you the material they had on the line. Looking forward to the next part, in the mean time take care.
Wow, you have just pulled a memory from my childhood, think I was about 10-11 and six of us decided to navigate down the Taff by canoe from just above the bridge remains in the river. Cant have gone 3-400 yds and one of the group canoed straight into it and broke the bow and the canvas cover. In the panic he turned turtle and we nearly lost him as he was swept away. We managed to get him to hang on and took him to the bank. All very wet and scared , thought it best to abandon the expedition . Got a lift back to Llanishen on the back of an open truck.. Those were the days. Thanks for the clips, always a good source of nostalgia.
Not a good thing to hit in a canoe I would imagine! Thanks for sharing that and glad you enjoyed it.
Watching this now brings tears to my eyes. How such charm, beauty and glorious engineering, nostalgic of course, has been replaced with a road and retail parks. Very sad how progress in development has destroyed the soul and beauty of an area. I remember as a child going on a trip to watch them blow up the remaining cooling chimneys at Nantgarw. At least you have done sterling work to capture and record these fading memories for us, thank you Bob.
@@midinotes Thank you. It has been an interesting journey in writing and making them. I am glad it has triggered some positive memories.
Thank you for the explanation of what we were viewing. A genuine walk back in time. Cheers Bob! 🏴🙂👍🇺🇸
Thanks Bob for that wealth of information about the Cardiff Railway.
Thank you for watching.
Just found these shorts. Absolutely brilliant
Thank you. I enjoyed making them, glad you are enjoying them.
Thanks again for another very interesting video enhanced by the great photos.
Great video again, and great contributions with historical photos. Look forward to the next video. 👍
All scripted, I just need the time to film it
Eagerly awaiting the next in the Cardiff Railway series. All this history around, but generally unnoticed, even by me on my once daily travels through the valley.
Regarding the geological conditions at Nantgarw that you mentioned, I had a friend in Cardiff who was a colliery electrician there. He told me that the underground conditions were very bad with the coal seams fractured and difficult to mine. Perhaps it was just down to the location, right on the edge of the South Wales Coalfield.
I had a few stories of how they struggled to get it out. Thanks for watching
Your videos are always worth waiting for.
My dad - who was a coal miner all his life at Merthyr Vale Colliery - used to refer to Nantgarw as a "modern super pit', but no-one wanted to work there because, as you said, coke was filthy stuff, even by coal mining standards.
I remember having it for our coal fire. Horrible stuff.
Another wonderful exploration Bob!, used to pass so much of that when going to college in Rhydfelin! Also, the Carrefour advert brought back memories!. As a boy, every Saturday morning I’d walk with my Mum, Dad and Sister from Trethomas to the Carrefour in Caerphilly and if things were going well we’d all have a donut when we got back. If Dad had had a bit of luck that week we might even have breakfast at the Cafe in Carrefour. Thanks so much! Can’t wait for the next episode!
I will admit when visiting the relatives in Blackwood their excitement about Caerfour was tangible. It was all very new and different. Thanks for watching
very good bob cant wait to see next instalment.
So many memories of that place. The coking process could not use coal exclusively from one mine. It had to be blended with other types of coal to minimise expansion and avoid damaging the walls of the ovens. We spent a lot of time getting those mixes right with even small mini-ovens to test the final mix. That was a full time job for 8 people.
And yes, coal gas stank which was a problem when we switched to North Sea gas because it didn't. So, apparently they had to add a smell so people would know if they had a leak.
@@PhilJonesIII I did hear that about natural gas, but thought it was an urban myth. You really do never stop learning.
As a young scout in the early 1970s we got taken down Nantgarw Colliery (one of the parents worked there) to watch coal being cut. I remember it vividly, the long train ride to the coal face and especially when we were allowed to use the drills to cut some coal. Only issue was that I broke a finger on the way out which caused some panic in getting us off site ASAP as obviously a group of young kids should not have been down there. When we got home my father's only concern was to take a picture of me with a face covered in coal and my broken finger.
Good grief. I thought going round Didcot Power Station as a Scout was risky! Fantastic experience however I would imagine.
It was a great experience. Really enjoying your video, lot of hard work for 15 minutes but bringing back many memories. Thanks.
Excellent video again. Really interesting seeing the old images around Upper Boat etc. I used to spend a lot of time in Rhydyfelin and have walked to Treforest from Rhyd many times past the old parapet. The Jamil Indian restaurant was still a pub as recently as 2010 looking on Street View, I remember going there early 90s when it was called the Jubilee.
Thank you for watching. A lot has changed even in the years I have lived down here.
Interesting as always.
Thank you
Well done Bob, yet another fascinating installment of the Cardiff Railway History. Thanks must also go to the gentleman for sending you the material they had on the line. Looking forward to the next part, in the mean time take care.
Excellent documentary, Bob 👌😃
Thank you and thanks for your constant support