LLWYBR RHEILFFORDD Y MWMBWLS

MUMBLES RAILWAY TRAIL

History

A brief history of the Swansea & Mumbles Railway

1804

An Act of Parliament approved the laying of a railway line between Swansea and Oystermouth, for the transport of quarried materials, namely coal and limestone, to Swansea Docks.

1807

The first passenger railway in the world began ferrying passengers from The Mount in Swansea, the world's first recorded railway station.

1855

The railway was re-laid to the standard railway gauge and a horse-drawn passenger service was re-introduced between Swansea and Oystermouth.

1870

The horse-drawn carriage was replaced with a steam train locomotive named 'Pioneer'.

1889

Work begins to extend the railway line from Oystermouth to the new pier at Mumbles Head

1893

The extension to Southend opens for use.

1898

The Swansea and Mumbles Railway now runs all the way down to Mumbles Pier.

1929

The line is electrified and a full electric service begins on March 2nd 1929 using a fleet of eleven double-deck cars built by the Brush Electrical Engineering Co of Loughborough. This would be extended to thirteen cars, each capable of carrying 106 passengers. Some trains were doubled up, increasing the capacity to 212 passengers.

1958

The Swansea and Mumbles Railway is sold to the South Wales Transport Company, the principal operator of motor bus services in Swansea. In 1959, they went to parliament with a proposal to close the railway and, after a bitter campaign to save the Mumbles Railway, won.

Mumbles Train (electric) at Ashleigh Road

1959

The railway section from Southend to the Pier was closed on 11 October 1959

1960

On the 5th January 1960, the train ran from Swansea to Mumbles and back. Driven by Frank Dunkin and full of local dignitaries, it was the final time the Mumbles Train would run. Within a very short time of the train returning to Rutland Street depot, work began on dismantling both the track and the cars.

1970s

The front of Car No 7 was saved for preservation; following years of neglect it was initially restored in the early 1970s and is now on display in the Tram Shed in Swansea's Maritime Quarter.

Mumbles Railway Trail is a Mumbles Development Trust project funded by: National Lottery Heritage Fund, GWR Community Fund, Swansea Council, Mumbles Community Council, and with community donations raised through Crowdfund Swansea.
CONTACT US at: mdtmumbles@gmail.com