Beaufort | |
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![]() Station site in 1965. | |
General information | |
Location |
Beaufort,
Blaenau Gwent Wales |
Coordinates | 51°47′53″N 3°12′24″W / 51.7980°N 3.2067°W |
Grid reference | SO168116 |
Platforms | 2 |
Other information | |
Status | Disused |
History | |
Original company | Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway |
Pre-grouping | London and North Western Railway |
Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway |
Key dates | |
1 March 1864 | Opened |
2 September 1867 | Becomes a junction for Ebbw Vale |
2 April 1951 | Ebbw Vale branch closes |
6 January 1958 | Closed to passengers |
2 November 1959 | Closed to goods traffic |
Beaufort railway station was a station on the London and North Western Railway's Heads of the Valleys line serving the village of Beaufort in the Welsh county of Brecknockshire. [1]
The first section of the Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway from Abergavenny to Brynmawr was opened on 29 September 1862. [2] The line was leased and operated by the London and North Western Railway which acquired the smaller railway company on 30 June 1866. [3] [4] Beaufort station opened on 1 March 1864. [5] [6] It became a junction station on 2 September 1867 with the opening of a branch to Ebbw Vale. [7] [8] The station nameboards read "Change for Ebbw Vale" even though the branch service started at Brynmawr. [9] [10] Beaufort was busy with Ebbw Vale traffic until c. 1925 as there was a daily service to and from Brynamwr of over thirty trains. [11] Ebbw Vale was reached by the 93-yard (85 m) Beaufort Viaduct before reaching Ebbw Vale Junction and the 93-yard (85 m) Rhyd Viaduct. [12] Ebbw Vale station was near the area which is known locally as 'The Crossing', in the town centre.[ citation needed]
Beaufort station was situated in a cutting to the west of a road bridge. [13] It stood opposite the Beaufort Ballroom and adjacent to the Beaufort Arms Public House.[ citation needed] It had two platforms accessible by flights of steps leading down from the road bridge. [14] The main station building was built of stone, with a timber waiting shelter was provided on the opposite platform. [9] As Beaufort is situated 1,200 feet (370 m) above sea level, harsh winters such as that of 1946-47 could result in the cutting being blocked with snow. [15] The line to Ebbw Vale closed on 2 April 1951. [16] [17] The Abergavenny line was the next to close when passenger services ceased on 4 January 1958. [18] The last passenger service over the line was an SLS railtour on 5 January 1958 hauled by LNWR 0-8-0 49121 and LNWR 0-6-2 tank 58926' [18] [19] Final closure came on 2 November 1959 when coal traffic from Tredegar ceased. [9] [20]
Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Trevil Halt Line and station closed |
London and North Western Railway Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway |
Brynmawr Line and station closed | ||
Ebbw Vale (High Level) Line and station closed |
The station site has been obliterated following realignment of the junction of the A4047 and B4560 at SO168117. [21] In addition, the cutting which held the station has been infilled to road level. [22]