Beginning of The Line

The scene below illustrates the growth of industry along the river Tawe during the 18th century. During this time, Swansea became famous for its Copper Industry. Coal was also brought from the South Wales valleys to be transported to other parts of the world. The Swansea canal and railways were used for this purpose. The Mumbles Railway (or the Oystermouth Railroad as it was then known) was originally constructed as a mineral line and not as a passenger service.

The illustration above left is of the White Rock Copper Works. The pollution from the copper works poisoned the river Tawe and blackened Kilvey Hill in the background.

Did you know that the main cargo carried by the Mumbles Railway was limestone? In March 1814, 606 tons of limestone was carried on the railway.

No photographs exist of the mineral wagons on the Oystermouth Railroad (later, the Mumbles Railway). They are likely to have been similar to the wagons shown in the photograph on the left. This photograph above is of the Penderyn tramway in the Cynon Valley.

The print on the left by Thomas Baxter, dates from 1818. Notice the lighthouse, built in 1784 and the cottages of Mumbles Village. On the hills are limestone quarries and limekilns.

Did you know that a large old house called the 'Dunns Mansion' stood on the site of today's Oystermouth bus station? The new line at Oystermouth was laid across the owner's courtyard without permission! The line had to be ripped up and relaid at a new location.