In terms of railway use, today a journey from Aberystwyth south involves a lengthy detour via Shrewsbury.
Once there was a direct route – although ‘direct’ would be perhaps a flattering description. Like many of Britain’s railways, it evolved haphazardly, depending on funding, topography and land purchase. What for most of the twentieth century was referred to as the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway, was created by the endeavour of three companies that culminated in a network consisting of one line between the two towns, and two quiet branches to Newcastle Emlyn and Aberayron (Aberaeron).
Even under the dreaded Beeching axe, the line did not go quietly, and part of it was used for dairy and other goods traffic until 1973. Geraint Roberts has researched the history of the railway and provides a story of the rise and fall of this quirky line, with the help of newspaper reports, reminiscences from two British Railway firemen and numerous illustrations and signalling diagrams.
The book provides a feel of how things were in a bygone time, explaining the rationale behind the route and the names of the companies that built it, and their ambitions, successes and failures.
Aberystwyth to Carmarthen presents the fascinating history of this rural railway line using text and plenty of high quality black & white photographs, as well as a few more recent colour images. Hardback. 304 pages.