Railway Memories

By Sylvia Morgan

Photo of Crumlin Low Level Station and Viaduct 1962 courtesy of Roy Nancarrow

your comments

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Gaynor Shemwell Morgan, Australia
I too was in Crumlin Watching the filming of Arabesque. I remember Sophia Loren and Peter O'Toole running over the viaduct being buzzed by an aircraft. Following the filming Sophia walked in front of me wrapped in a blanket clutching a hot water bottle to her chest. When the film was shown the scene appeared to be in the desert, not one sign of Crumlin - the green valley and the local observers had been obliterated. I also remember sitting in the showfield at Cefn Fforest watching two tall round chimneys being blown up somewhere in Oakdale, possibly at the colliery.

Ted James, Melbourne, Australia
I lived on Kendon Road under the Crumlin viaduct until 1953, and can remember climbing the bridge looking for jackdaw nests until dad caught me. That was the end of that game.

Brian Plummer from Toronto, Canada
I have lived in Canada since 1966, and lived in Cefn Fforest, not too far from Crumlin, before that. I do remember going to Crumlin one Sunday morning to see the making of the movie Arabesque with Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren. It was so crowded down below the viaduct, with a helicopter flying around over and under it as part of the film story. I parked away from the crowd, and just stepped out of my car when two Rolls-Royces rolled up along side of me. To my surprise, Gregory Peck stepped out of one and Sophia Loren and another beautiful lady, I assumed to be her 'stand in', because of their likeness, stepped out of the other!! Both said 'Good morning' to me and I immediately became tongue tied! But I had enough intestinal fortitude to take a pen from my pocket and the Saturday paper from my car and get their autographs. It was a beautiful morning and they both commented on that fact. This is one of those moments that you wish you could share with someone, but there wasn't another soul around, just me, and the stars of the movie. If there are copies of the movie around you can see the scene of the helicopter flying around Crumlin viaduct.

Carl hobbs
I remember watching the filming of Arabeque where Gregory Peck, Sophia Loren where filmed on the viaducy when i was a kid.....

Bryan Parry, QLD AUSTRALIA
When I was nipper back in the 60s our family use to walk up and down from the Crumlin up to the Swffryd where my nana lived and use to wave to the steam train, I also remember when the movie with Gregory Peck a helicopter flew under the viaduct I think it was around the time the bridge was being dismantled I also remember a cable hitting a bloke in the head while i was walking down from the Swffryd to walk up to the Trinant where I lived.

Audrey Griffiths, Nelson
I have an interesting memory of crossing this viaduct in 1939 when just 5 years old. It must have been the summer before the war started because we did not go there again until 1945. We lived in Hirwaun and were on the way to Manchester to visit relatives. The train stopped on the viaduct and I have a memory of my father taking me by the hand and jumping out of the train, then lifting me up in his arms and showing me all the lights below. In my mind I can still see them. As a child the height did not scare me at all but I am sure if it happened now, I would feel very different!

Do you have any memories of the Crumlin viaduct?

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