Pontycymer and The Garw Valley Railway, Bridgend
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Brief description
https://cadw.gov.wales/open-doors-tabernacle-chapel-pontycymer
2023: "Tabernacle Chapel, Pontycymer: Grade II listed chapel still in use. Located in Pontycymer, near Bridgend.
The Garw Valley Heritage Society is holding an open day (10am-4pm) for visitors to the chapel, where there will be a guest organist playing the organ and giving a talk on the organ, between 11.30am-12.30pm.
There will an exhibition in the vestry of aspects of Garw life through photographs and articles, concentrating on Richard Price as this is the 300th anniversary of his birth, and other notable Garw citizens, such as Fannie Thomas, headmistress, councillor, and leading suffragette.
Location - Tabernacle Chapel, corner of Meadow Street and Albany Road, Pontycymer, Garw Valley, near Bridgend, CF32 8HF.
Public transport to Oxford Street, Pontycymer (main road), then short walk up Richard Street opposite bus stop, then first right into Meadow Street.
By car - same details, parking in the street.
Unfortunately, due to the age and design of the building, not all areas are wheelchair accessible."
https://seearoundbritain.com/venues/pontycymer-bridgend
" Pontycymer, also spelt Pontycymmer, is a former mining village in Wales. It is situated in the Garw Valley, in Bridgend County Borough, about 7 miles or 11 km north of the town of Bridgend.
Its attractions include a small Heritage railway, and minor alleged paranormal activity occurring annually where one of the main footpaths crosses the railway line. These allegations are not widely known and lack hard evidence.The name is Welsh: pont means "bridge" and cymer means "confluence", i.e. where two streams or rivers meet.
Older signs for the village use the spelling of Pontycymmer; as with many other place names in Wales a double "mm" was historically included as an Anglicised spelling, but the modern Welsh spelling uses a single "m". Recent signage and Post Office records have now been changed to reflect the original Welsh spelling.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garw_Valley_Railway and https://www.facebook.com/garwvalleyrailway/?locale=en_GB
The Garw Valley Railway is the trading name of the Bridgend Valleys Railway Company Limited. It operates a short section of 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge railway located in South Wales, which is being recreated as a heritage railway. Formerly part of the Llynvi and Ogmore Railway (L&OR) and built by the Great Western Railway (GWR), the line was used for freight and passenger services, with most of the track still in place between Brynmenyn and Pontycymer. The project currently[when?] has a train shed at Pontycymer, and hopes to initially offer brake van rides between Pontycymer and Pant-y-Gog, a distance of 0.5 miles (0.8 km). After establishing a base and train shed at Pontycymer, where the archive is currently stored, the current focus is on building a new platform at Pontycymer.[4]
In 2008 the project received a boost through the relocation of the Vale of Glamorgan Railway Society, which had been ejected from the Barry Tourist Railway by owners the Vale of Glamorgan Council, in favour of new operators Cambrian Transport.[7] They are now working with the Bridgend Valleys Railway Company to rebuild the line.
In summer 2014, land works were commenced to establish a station at Pontycymmer. By spring 2015, the first 20 metres (66 ft) of platform had been completed. In 2016, work commenced on levelling and relaying the track that runs alongside the platform, with work continuing throughout 2016 and into 2017. On 20 August 2017 the shed lines were reconnected to the running line, thus allowing one of the company's Planet locos to be driven into the platform, thus being the first loco at Pontycymer Station for some 25 years.[8] After establishment of a station at Pontycymer, the company aims to relay 1 mile (1.6 km) of track south to Braich-y-cymer. Beyond this, it will require two bridge replacement projects to be completed, before access can be gained to establish a station at Llangeinor, and then onwards to Bryngarw Country Park, which will be the southernmost limit of operations in the medium term. In the long term, it is hoped to extend as far south as Tondu, on the Transport for Wales route between Bridgend and Maesteg.[4] "
https://www.garwvalleyrailway.co.uk/
"We are open every Wednesday and Saturday when volunteer activities are ongoing such as permanent way repair work, locomotive and brake van restoration work and many more tasks.
If you fancy paying us a visit on these days we would be most welcome; there is no admission although we always appreciate any kind and generous donations. Details on how to find us can be found https://www.garwvalleyrailway.co.uk/howtofindus
Address
Garw Valley Railway, Old Station Yard, Pontycymer Bridgend CF32 8AZ
And Co-op Food - Pontycymmer, Victoria Street, Pontycymer, Bridgend CF32 8NW
enquiries@garwvalleyrailway.co.uk
Phone
Website
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontycymer
https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/pontycymer-bridgend-pen-y-bont-ar-ogwr
Directions
"The Garw Valley Railway is situated in the village of Pontycymer towards the head of the Garw Valley, approximately 7 miles north of Junction 36 on the M4, around 20 miles west of Cardiff.
Follow signs for Bryncethin and the Garw Valley is marked in brown tourist signs thereafter on the A4061, A4065 and A4064. The station and shed are just past the Life Centre, two left turns opposite Pontycymer Co-op store once you have travelled through the village centre. For satnav users our postcode is CF32 8AZ.
You can also reach us by public transport from Bridgend Bus Station, on both the no. 72 and 73 buses for Blaengarw, which stop near Pontycymer Co-op store, and run at least half-hourly."
Opening Times
Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change
The Garw Valley Railway 2023: We are open every Wednesday and Saturday when volunteer activities are ongoing such as permanent way repair work, locomotive and brake van restoration work and many more tasks. If you fancy paying us a visit on these days we would be most welcome; there is no admission although we always appreciate any kind and generous donations. Details on how to find us can be found here.
We hold around three open days throughout the year, on late May Bank Holiday, August Bank Holiday and also at Christmas. Whilst no trains run yet during our development stages, these events showcase our progress at Pontycymer shed and station. Attractions during the day include:
Locomotive and Rolling Stock interactive displays and access,
Miniature Railway,
Local sellers of gifts and souvenirs,
Guided tours,
Demonstration locomotive runs."
Transport
2023: You can also reach us by public transport from Bridgend Bus Station, on both the no. 72 and 73 buses for Blaengarw, which stop near Pontycymer Co-op store, and run at least half-hourly"
Amenities
Co-op store: Co-op Food - Pontycymmer, Victoria Street, Pontycymer, Bridgend CF32 8NW [with ATM / Cash Machine] https://seearoundbritain.com/venues/co-op-pontycymmer-bridgend
And Waunbant Fish Bar, 3 Gwaun-Bant, Pontycymer, Bridgend CF32 8LN
And Well Pharmacy, Victoria Street, Pontycymer, Bridgend CF32 8NN
And Halo Garw Valley Life Centre, Old Station Yard, Pontycymmer, Bridgend CF32 8ES
post office: 50A Oxford Street, Pontycymmer, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, CF32 8DB https://www.royalmail.com/services-near-you/post-office/pontycymmer-cf32-8db 01656 870304
Travel Information
For further travel information in Wales please see: www.traveline.cymru/travel-info
Or call Traveline Cymru on 0800 464 0000
Location
Nearest Venues
35 metres*
*Distances are calculated in a straight line from the current venue, please allow extra time/distance based on available paths or roads.