Part One (of three)On Monday morning July 1st 1895 early risers in Newcastle Emlyn would have seen seven of the town's worthies heading out of town at 5 a.m. in two traps. It was a miserable rainy morning but this did not dampen the spirits of the travellers because they were on their way to catch the very first passenger train from Llandysul to Newcastle Emlyn.
The intrepid seven - Messers D S Davies and W H Davies, Angel House; Mr T Thomas, watchmaker; Mr S Davies, butcher; Mr Tom Davies, printer; Mr J Picton Jones, stationer and Mr David Jenkins, Waunmarlog - were determined to be part of railway history. They were to travel on the 6.52 a.m. train from Llandysul to Newcastle Emlyn - the first scheduled passenger train along the recently completed line that was to link the old medieval town to the country's railway system.
According to the report in the Cardigan & Tivyside Advertiser [Friday, July 5, 1895] the early start paid off because it reported that the first tickets issued from Llandysul to Newcastle Emlyn were to Mr D S Davies, Angel House and Mr W Rees, Bunch of Grapes. They were joined on the inaugural service by Great Western Railway staff and a large number of Llandysul people. It also noted that the very first first-class ticket over the new line was bought by Mr Gwyn Davies, Metropolitan Bank, Newcastle Emlyn.
The train had been prettily decorated with flags and flowers and there were flags displayed at every window of the coaches. The paper does not comment on the departure from Llandysul but it would be churlish to think that the inaugural train did not leave dead on 6.52.am!
Despite the early hour it was reported that there were crowds of people at Henllan Station to greet the first train with "deafening cheering and the singing of Welsh patriotic airs". At Henllan, Mr Arthur Davies, Jeweller, Adpar; PC Jones, Adpar; and Mr D Davies, Adpar secured the first 1st, 2nd and 3rd class tickets respectively for the trip to Newcastle Emlyn.
Eighteen minutes after departing from Llandysul the inaugural train steamed into Newcastle Emlyn station [ the actual station building had not yet been completed] to be met by more cheering crowds and singing. The whole length of the platform was festooned with flags and banners. There to meet the train was Mr Beck, the stationmaster and his assistant Mr Campfield.
Gerwyn Morgan
The Day the Train Arrived in Town - Part Two
your comments
Mike Hill from Billericay, Essex
I can recall sitting in an upstairs classroom in Llandysul Grammar School and watching the clouds of white smoke down in the valley below. This was the sign that a train was on the way and that the lesson wasn't terribly absorbing! I imagine the trains at that time would have been 'goods' only.
Thu Feb 26 12:22:02 2009
Roger Padfield, Cardiff
I recall vividly the branch line from Pencader to Newcastle Emlyn as I was brought up in Henllan in the 40's and 50's.I travelled quite regularly by train to relatives in Pentercwrt and to the Whitsun Gamanfa Ganu in Newcastle Emlyn and recall travelling on the last passenger train in 1952, I had until fairly recently the ticket for this last journey but gave it, as well as other tickets of excursions on the branch before lifting, circa 1972 to the local railway society, hope they still have it! As my adopted father in Henllan was an ex-railwayman I became a keen railway enthusiast (still am!)and recall seeing in the mid/late 1950's double headed troop trains travelling to Newcastle Emlyn with the train engine exchanging staffs with the signalman, John Daniel JonesAfter leaving Llandysul Grammar School in 1959 I joined the Royal Navy but have been a librarian in Cardiff for almost 40 yearsIt's pleasing to see the efforts of the local railway preservation society in recreating part of this scenic branch line which holds so many wonderful memories for me of my boyhood in Henllan
Fri May 11 13:59:50 2007
anthony c white maesteg
Great to learn about your history.
Wed May 9 09:26:58 2007
Tom Day from N>C>Emlyn
We travelled to the county school at Llandysul in 1946-47 only two stops on the way, Henllan and the "halt" at Pentrecwrt. It was a very long walk from the station at Pontwelly to the school. Happy Days.
Mon Nov 6 16:28:41 2006
Kay James, Bradford, West Yorkshire
I remember being taken by my mother on the last passenger train between Henllan and Llandysul. My memories are rather hazy as I was very young at the time. The train stopped at 'The Halt' in Pentrecwrt somewhere near Alltcavan Mills bridge.
Thu Sep 28 08:57:05 2006
George Lewis Wilmslow
As a fireman stationed at Carmarthen in the 1940's the Aberystwyth branch,Pencader,Newcastle Emlyn, and all points up the line hold good memories. Especially those dark damp nights passing the staff to a small figure who must have been terrified standing there holding the exchange staff whilst the noisy steam encased engine hurtled towards her. Lady courage? Tremendous.
Wed Sep 20 14:27:01 2006
sharon jones ireland
i think this page was very informative and i enjoyed reading it so thank you.
Mon Jun 26 09:05:04 2006
Sion Jones, Abergele.
It is most interesting to read Mr Gerwyn Morgan's article. I use to live in Pencader more than fifty years ago and attended the Llandysul Grammar School. There were times during the summer months when I travelled on my bike to school. On the way home, I could see the steam rising above Pontweli station, which meant the train was heading towards Pencader the junction to the mainline Carmarthen-Aberystwyth. When I saw this it was a sign for me to jump on my bike and race the steam engine home to Pencader. But I was never succesful.
Wed Jun 7 08:35:33 2006
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