Penydarren (Merthyr) Tramroad Accessed from CF46 5PD

Heritage Plaques

- Structures

Penydarren (Merthyr) Tramroad

Accessed from CF46 5PD

The Penydarren or Merthyr Tramroad ran for 9 ½  miles from Merthyr to Navigation (now known as Abercynon). It was constructed in 1799/1800 and fell 351 feet with an average gradient of 1 in 145.

On  21st February, 1804, Richard Trevithick made history by driving his high pressure tram engine, together with five wagons containing 10 tons of iron and 70 men from Penydarren to Abercynon. This was the first steam engine to pull a load on rails.

Scheduled Ancient Monument - ref 91513

RCAHMW Schedule

1. Merthyr Tramroad, sometimes referred to as the Penydarren Tramroad, ran from quarries near Morlais Castle via a junction on the Dowlais - Jackson's Wharf tramroad at SO05120669 (at the present junction of Tramroadside North and Penydarren Road and now marked by the Trevithick Memorial) in Merthyr, to the Glamorganshire Canal basin at Abercynon (ST08469493) where a commemorative plaque has been erected. The tramroad is famous as the line on which Trevithick's engine ran on 21 February 1804, the first steam locomotive to pull a load on a railway. The Morlais Quarry section was built to supply Merthyr's Ironworks with limestone, and the Merthyr to Abercynon section to avoid the congested Glamorganshire Canal.

2. At ST08069784 , there is a stone revetment wall between the tramroad and the Taff Vale Railway embankment to the west.

Overbridge

Grade II Listed

History
Overbridge carrying the track to Pont y Gwaith over the Penydarren tramroad, said to be mid C19 as crossing a diversion on the tramroad. The bridge immediately adjoins the bridge over the Taff Vale railway opened in 1841 and may have been rebuilt to accommodate the altered roadway. In poor condition at time of inspection, supported with steelwork. Said to be due for repair as part of the Trevithick 2004 Project.

Description
Road bridge over former tramroad, abutting railway bridge. Rubble stone, tall narrow arch with stone voussoirs and rubble stone, the parapets sloping up with roadway to abut railway bridge parapets.

Scheduled Ancient Monument - ref 34850

RCAHMW Schedule

Early nineteenth century high stone-arched bridge carrying a minor road over a later re-alignment (avoiding a sharp curve) of the Merthyr Tramroad . There is a bulge in the bridge about halfway up on both sides and the abutments are being undermined by sheep action; earth has fallen away and stones have become dislodged and a large section of masonry has cracked away on the southeast abutment.