The Neath and Brecon Railway: A History

Perhaps the Neath and Brecon (N&B) is not among the largest in south Wales in terms of mileage or receipts, nor carried such intensive mineral traffic as other lines. But few lines of its size have been associated with such an assortment of characters. This is what makes the N&B such an interesting topic for railway enthusiasts throughout the world. It is widely known that the first Fairlie locomotives in the world worked on the Neath and Brecon Railway. The N&B originated as a typical contractor's railway, a scheme created by the flamboyant Scottish contractor, John Dickson. What is not clear is the collaboration between Dickson and his fellow Scot, Robert Fairlie. Dickson's vision for the N&B was that it should form part of a trunk route from south Wales to the Midlands and in pursuit of this he cultivated the London and North Western. But for the most of its existence, the N&B was content just to stay solvent and meet the needs of the farmers of southern Breconshire and the collieries of the Dulais valley.Jones, Gwyn Briwnant is the author of 'The Neath and Brecon Railway: A History', published 2005 under ISBN 9781843234524 and ISBN 1843234521.