Operation of MGR trains in South Wales

[Springs Branch]

Does anyone remember the extent of MGR coal train operations from pits in South Wales before the coalfield was largely closed down?
Which collieries the trains ran from, and which power stations were destinations in the 1980s and 90s?

Of course Aberthaw power station is one obvious answer, but did Welsh coal regularly go to English power stations (e.g. Didcot, the Thames Estuary, Ironbridge)?
Coal mining in South Wales was on such a scale (even in later days) surely it must have supplied more than just one power station and Llanwern Steelworks.

I've seen many images of the Valleys in the late 20th Century - sidings full of loaded coal wagons, Class 37s and 56s hauling these away - but I've little idea where most of the black stuff was railed to.


BTW I've tried an Internet search but, living in Australia, Google has been a bit too helpful in "personalising my experience". It turns up too many references to coal trains in New South Wales (which are many and varied).

 

[theblackwatch]

I've dig out a copy of a book called 'Freightfax' which was published in 1991. It lists some trains from Tower/Coedbach/Onllywn to Ellesmere Port, but from what I can see, the majority of services were internal workings in South Wales.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Many examples - e.g Blaenant - Aberthaw , Cwmbargoed / Taff Merthyr /Ogilvie to the latter point

A very rare working for a while was Newport Docks to Didcot - which was assisted with a 37 in front of a 56 as far as Bristol Parkway.

 

[D6975]

I've dig out a copy of a book called 'Freightfax' which was published in 1991. It lists some trains from Tower/Coedbach/Onllywn to Ellesmere Port, but from what I can see, the majority of services were internal workings in South Wales.

These may have been the old domestic coal/coke services, usually in red liveried HEAs rather than silver MGR HAAs.
Domestic coal ran to all sorts of places.
Patchway
Bristol
Yeovil Jn
Exmouth Jn
Tolworth
are ones I remember.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

These may have been the old domestic coal/coke services, usually in red liveried HEAs rather than silver MGR HAAs.
Domestic coal ran to all sorts of places.
Patchway
Bristol
Yeovil Jn
Exmouth Jn
Tolworth
are ones I remember.

Hove , Fratton , - a very much declining service by the early 1980's - as a lad used to frequent the GCG / Abernant trip workings - and my geography improved no end by working out where places like Neasden , Beckenham Junction , Chessington , West Drayton etc were - my favourite of all times was Lent Rise Sidings , Taplow.

 

[Quakers Yard]

The Merthyr Vale colliery trains went to Aberthaw and Beddau/Nantgarw coke works.
The line was renewed in 89 for the last trains before closure even though the loop at the back of Crescent/Taff st, sidings and weighbridge (in the now-waste ground you see south of Merthyr Vale station before the points are now) been taken out of use.
The rails in the pit level crossing by the river bridge remained and were tarmacced over about 20 yrs ago when the road was diverted temporarily. Loads of old railway clues in Merthyr Vale and Aberfan including the old Aberfan platform still there with some fencing and light pylons albeit buried in the undergrowth.