Hear more about this locationHelp with RealPlayer & Help with listening onlineWhere else, for example could you follow the route of the world's first passenger railway, or pass the spot where trees from an ancient woodland helped to create Sir Francis Drake's battlefleet that routed the Spanish Aramada? The bay has had a darker side too, with no fewer than three public hangings taking place on the site of the present County Hall -apparently the last of these in the 1860s attracted more than 15,000 onlookers, making it one of the busiest ever days in the history of the bay.
Bernard Morris, Swansea Council's former city estate agent and now editor of the Gower Society's annual research journal, says, "Hangings were always carried out in public view at that time but they became too much of public entertainment and the practice was eventually ended."
Point 1 - Junction Restaurant
Nowadays, apart from visits to Blackpill Lido and nearby Clyne Gardens, a 48 acre paradise of 2,000 different plants, it's the view across Swansea Bay that people flock to the seafront walk for, and the most popular section has to be the trek from Blackpill to Oystermouth Square in Mumbles. But before setting out it is work taking a closer look at the Junction Restaurant because this listed building, dating from 1927, once played a key role as the old transformer house for the Mumbles Train. It was on March 25 1807 that a railroad carriage converted to carry people was conveyed by horse along the perimeter of Swansea Bay. Its destination was Mumbles, which at that time was an oyster harvesting and fishing village.
In later years the train was powered by steam, battery, petrol, diesel and , finally, electric tram. But after suviving the World War Two bombing of Swansea the train came to abrupt end on January 5 1960, when owners South Wales Transport succeeded in closing it down, preferring buses to the railway. The company claimed that the train was operating at a loss - but only a year later they revealed the railway was making a £5,500 a year profit and although they owned the track outright they had been charging themselves £12,000 rent.
There are many who still cling to the belief that the Mumbles Train will make a comeback; among them is retired printer Tony Cottle, chairman of the Mumbles Railway Preservation Society. He says, "I think something is going to happen because the City and County of Swansea is currently carrying out a feasibility study into the possibility of reviving the train in some form or other - and it would certainly ease congestion along Mumbles Road."
Tony is in the process of planning a series of celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the railway in 2007, and with such evident nostalgia attached to the train, enthusiasts are likely to converge on Swansea and Mumbles from across the world.
"People are always asking about the Mumbles Train and there's little doubt it would be a huge attraction if it was in service now," says Mr Cottle.
Onward to Part Two
your comments
We're making some changes to the sites shortly and although this form will be closing, you will have other opportunities to contribute on our new-look site.
Rosina Rowland
I remember the mumbles train from my visits to my granparents who lived on Rodney St in Swansea.I also stayed with my aunt who ran a boarding house at the top of Sketty Hill.I was so excited to ride the train and see the wonderful coast.I liked putting the seats forward and backward and even enjoyed the bumpy tracks!I now live in the USA but my heart and home will always be in Wales and especially The Gower Coast.The train may have ceased to run, but my memories of holidays and fun remain constant.
Sun Jun 28 18:47:03 2009
ALUN AND SHEILA
We have a holiday chalet in Caswell Bay and would love to see the railway and the trams back in Mumbles. It would be the making of Mumbles/Swansea.
Tue Jul 22 11:04:33 2008
Stephen West Folkestone Kent
I was born and bred on the Gors Avenue, and had many rides on the Mumbles Train. It would be an asset to Swansea to bring it back. This would stop the congestion and also free up parking spaces in the Mumbles.
Me, my brothers and friends would walk from the Mumbles to Caswell Bay, my favorite beach, and then back again. It would take all day but who cared. Then home in time for tea.
Mon Jun 2 13:36:39 2008
Jan Mclean from Scotland
I'd love to see the return of the Mumbles train. It was a sad day when it stopped. I lived in Swansea for the first 20 yrs of my life, and I can still remember the joy of getting on the train and going to Mumbles for the day. No-one minded the bumps on the track and the fact that you'd be thrown from side to side. It was all part of the fun. Please bring it back, it would be a great asset to Swansea.
Thu Aug 23 16:33:06 2007
Stefano Burattini from Malmö
I had the pleasure and the luck to visit Gower with the person I love in Easter 2007. I got blessed by lovely weather that enhanced the pure beauty of this land. It's definitely a must see.
Tue Jul 10 13:31:43 2007
Justin Lewis (aka Rev)
Many, many fond memories of Mumbles - many spent in the wonderful venues of Neptunes, Bentleys and Cinder's.With the SA1 development going ahead it would be wonderful to see the two linked and add an excellent finishing touch.
Wed Apr 18 16:48:49 2007
Leonardo and Tina
We own Leonardos Guest House ... and we regularly take a walk or cycle from St Helen Road all the way to the Mumbles Light House and often stop for coffe at Blackpill old train Station. It has always been very enjoyable and although in the city we feel far away from it. The Mumbles Train would be a unique attraction and would be benecicial to everybody, bring it back!!
Tue Dec 19 14:54:23 2006
Martin Owens, Perth Western Australia (Ex-Mumbles
I still have very fond memories of the many summer holidays I would spend cycling to and from Swansea from Mumbles, along "The Front" with my friends. Life in Mumbles holds a special place in my memories, and always will. I hope when I am at retirement age, I will be able to afford to move back to Mumbles and retire there. Although I am thousands of miles away, Wales will always be my true home.
Thu Oct 12 09:15:14 2006
Spencer Cottle
Visited the Gower yesterday. Smashing place. Nice to find my heritage and discover mumbles lighthouse. The last lighthouse keeper was my grandad.
Fri Jun 30 12:09:22 2006
Rob Morgan (Leicester)
I have very fond memories of the old Mumbles trams. When I was a lad our family used to stay with my Aunt & Uncle up the precipitous hill above Sketty Road. A favourite trip would be to walk through Brynmill Park to the Tram Stop at Brynmill, catch the service to Oystermouth, and then change for the bus either to Langland or Caswell.
As I recall at busy times they would join 2 trams together to provide a mini-train which could seat about 220 people.
At that time the railway from Swansea Victoria ran parallel with the trams as far as Blackpill, where it began its long inland journey%! 20to Shrewsbury. Happy days!
Tue May 30 08:58:08 2006
Christopher Williams born Llanelli
I am 57 now and live in Derby.
I remember Sunday School outings to Swansea with the highlight of the tram trip to Mumbles for a whole day on the beach. My Grandfather used to sing a song:-
' Oh the train that runs to Mumbles
Well it rattles and it rumbles
But it Never Ever fails
To keep running on the rails'
It would be so nice to bring it back
Fri May 5 08:58:10 2006
Douglas James"caswell"
Why did we ever take this wonderful attraction away in the first place, the first passenger railway!! no polution,safe and what a pleasure, please lets get back on the map....
Sun Mar 26 08:44:23 2006
M.Gaskins Skewen
One of my earliest memories was riding on the tram down to Mumbles, I must have been about 4years old and it seemed like a hundred miles away from Neath. Bring it back, What a tourist boost it would be for the city of Swansea.
Mon Feb 13 10:07:06 2006
Julie Turner
I rode on it. Would love to see the train come back I think it would make the people of Swansea very happy. I used to ride on it when I lived in the Mumbles 1949.
Mon Feb 6 18:44:38 2006
Geraldine Jackson (Lloyd) from sw France
I was brought up in the Mumbles (almost opposite the Tivoli cinema) and the sound of the train in the morning was part of life!! - Together with the occasional lifeboat alarm, frightened me to death, ah, such memories!
Not sure about bringing it back, it's a lovely walk from Blackpill to Mumbles, you'd lose that!
Sat Dec 17 08:08:02 2005
Carole Locke, Swansea
I would love to see the Mumbles train return to it's home on the seafront,I travelled to school from Westcross to Oystermouth it was great fun bring it back please.
Sun Sep 25 13:50:21 2005
Allan Gravelle from Queensland, Australia
Born & bred in Swansea, so many memories of trips to Mumbles & Bracelet bay. What a tourist attraction it would be if the the Mumbles Train was restored!!.
Thu Sep 8 12:13:46 2005
Marva Rees- ex-Llanelli
Bring back the the train, or even the tram which I used to go on as a child! Why deprive people of the delight of travelling right next to the sea on their way to and from some of the most beautiful places in Britain?
Wed Aug 31 17:37:35 2005
Lynne Dexter from Stafford
The Mumbles train is a fixed memory of my childhood! I grew up in Danygraig and the main part of a visit to Mumbles was the ride on the train! I used to love the way you could sit either backward or forward! I do hope they bring the train back. I saw a section of it in a Swansea Museum and it saddened me. Please let others experience the pleasure riding on it brings - both for young and old!
Wed Aug 31 14:01:53 2005
Alan Davies (Ashby de la Zouch)
I used to go to Saint Davids School on the Mumbles Train,
and play shove Half Penny on the upstairs luggage rack. It could get a bit shaky during winter,
but I would love to see it back.
Sun Aug 28 22:57:26 2005
Tom Howell from Reading
I grew up in Swansea and remember witnessing a crash on the Mumbles train at Blackpill. Not too serious - it didn't go fast! I think there must have been some kind of junction, and perhaps the points were left in the wrong direction.
Fri Aug 19 22:48:31 2005
Phil Hughes, California
The railway had stopped running when I was in Swansea U but the tracks were still there. It would have been so much more pleasant to ride than the smelly diesel busses.
Its history sounds just like Los Angeles where General Motors bought all the street car companies and converted them to buses (which GM made!) The good news ia that San Francisco has got religion and trams now run again along the sea front. What's more there are trams from cities around the world including Milan, Chicago etc. Heres hoping that Swnsea's city fathers get the same idea. Its a great trourist attraction.
Maybe this could be start of a trend - when will trolley busses return to Llanelli?
Thu Aug 11 06:51:32 2005
Alan Price
My mother came from Swansea and when I was a mere youngster would delight in a trip to Mumbles on the tram. I still have an aunty living on the Mumbles Road what a fantastic place the Mumbles and the bay is!! Please bring back the trams, so I can treat my grandchildren.
Fri Aug 5 12:53:11 2005
Martin Yeo, Llanelli
I remember as a young boy riding on the Mumbles train. It was a very sad day when it finished. If it was restored as a modern link from Mumbles to Swansea, not only woulld tourism benefit but local people would have a cleaner and faster way to get to Swansea for work or pleasure. Long live the Mumbles train!
Thu Aug 4 19:26:45 2005
Lesley Harries from Gravesend
As a yearly visitor from childhood, I would love to ride the railway that my father and grandmother(locals) spoke about. And what a way to see the beautiful bay even on a rainy day.
Wed Aug 3 23:03:53 2005
Mike Mort now of Surbiton, Surrey
I lived in Swansea up to the age of 11 in 1953 in Penlan, and we often took the Mumbles train. It used to wait at some stations for the train going the other way to pass it. We moved because my father was promoted in his job in telephones.
Tue Aug 2 17:24:58 2005
David L. Morgan Baden, Pennsylvania, USA
Oh my, the memories!
My eldest was 1 years old and my ex-wife and I had a great day out at Mumbles. My Auntie Beryl with her ever present cigarette, and her late husband Dai. I had a great coversation with the two fishermen on the pier. And we had great beef burgers, fish fingers and chips with a galon of vinegar on them. 1989. Where did it all go?
Wed Jul 27 04:18:52 2005
Trevor Wheatley - Nottingham
We go to the Mumbles every year on holiday
and the return of the train would be a great atraction for visitors and a great benefit for the locals. It couldn't fail.
Fri Jul 22 12:09:30 2005
Oliver Hale from Oxfordshire
I love the bay, I love the Gower. Best coastline to live on in Britain, because it's got everything, from history to community to glorious golden sand beaches with a wild hinterland. I studied 4 years in Swansea in the 80's, and my father before me in the 50's when the tram still ran. Bring it back, it would be the icing on the cake for the bay, and make the journey from Swansea to magnificent Mumbles a joy.
Fri Jul 22 09:55:59 2005
Are you a fan of the Mumbles? Would you like to see the Railway returned? Have Your Say here.
