Garw Valley Railway

The Garw Valley Railway runs on standard gauge tracks between Brynmenyn and Pontycymer using both steam and diesel locomotives for passengers. The line winds through the valley landscape with period buildings and restored facilities typical of a working heritage railway.

The line opened in 1876 to carry coal from nearby mines, reaching peak output of 4,000 tonnes per day in the early twentieth century. Mining decline led to gradual closure until volunteers began restoring the route from 1988 onwards.

The name derives from the Garw River, which shaped the valley's communities and geography over centuries. Visitors today experience how the railway corridor connects the landscape and how local people regard these preserved sections as part of their area's identity.

The railway operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM at the Pontycymer Locomotive Works in the Old Station Yard. The site is accessible by foot from nearby parking and has clear signposting from the main road.

The collection includes a Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-4-0 ST locomotive from 1952, representing post-war industrial railway engineering. This engine exemplifies the craftsmanship of British factory railways and is rarely seen in such working condition.