NEW: Mumbles Railway - 200th anniversary guide
Millions of words have been written about the Mumbles Railway, suffice to say that despite its constant swaying, rock-and-roll motion, it was undoubtedly the most punctual mode of transport in Swansea. People would set their watches by the train times, rarely did it miss a trip - and then only in severe weather when icing would freeze certain key points.
The electric trains, (trams) of which I write, had replaced the steam locomotives on 2 March 1929 - the line originally being horse drawn. Each train had one, two, three or even four cars linked at one time. Everyone was inside away from the elements and it could transport literally thousands of people from Swansea to Mumbles in a very short space of time. The main booking office and departure point was at Rutland Street, a stones throw away from Victoria Railway Station. Here, the cars, as the electric trains were called, were housed in a great galvanized building where they would be cleaned and polished until their red painted bodywork sparkled, such was the sense of pride in those days.
Leaving Rutland Street the train would proceed along its single line. (At certain stages, secondary lines enabled other trains from the opposite direction to pass.) First stop Trafalgar Arch and on to the Slip, where access was gained to Swansea beach proceeding to St Helens, opposite the entrance to Singleton Park, then Ashleigh Road, Blackpill, West Cross, Norton Road, Oystermouth, Southend and finally, Mumbles Pier. The trip cost coppers but provided a highly invigorating ride with splendid panoramic views of the bay.
It was the first passenger-carrying railway in the world, and even today those fortunate enough to have braved - and survived - its terrors recall it with fond pleasure. It closed in 1960.
Royston Kneath
More Swansea History in our special section...
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.
moira banks, powys
My mother rode on the Mumbles train, what tales she used to tell! After living in Mumbles, I have a great fondness for it even though I never rode on it. I couldn't resist when I found a couple of small oval plates in a junk shop with the' Mumbles Railway & Pier Company 1889' logo on them. It clearly shows a train on the pier with a large building at the end. Looking at the Wikipedia history, the train & building never happened!Can anyone enlighten me?!
Sun Jun 21 22:08:26 2009
Will Davies - Murton
I used to catch the Mumbles train at 8.10 every morning to goto Penllegaer, where I sold goats to a pig farmer and made my fortune, all thanks to the Mumbles train. Good days.
Tue May 26 17:24:18 2009
Russell Fenwick from Guildford Surrey
During the war when I was 4years old I went to school in Oystermouth.The trams kept running I remember. I used to live at the last house on the front before Pier Station.But of course nothing is left to see now!
Wed Aug 6 16:09:35 2008
Marilyn Harres (nee Cloke) Wirral
I remember the Mumbles train with great love and affection. The cheer that went up when it would come creeping out and the warmth and affection shown by all once we all got on was second to none. It was the worst thing Swansea ever did. I have lived away now for 45 years but have the most beautiful painting here in my house of the train having just left the Mumbles Pier a constant reminder of the years of happiness I spent both as a child and teenager off to the Pier dancing if only we could bring that wonderful train back .
Wed May 14 09:51:22 2008
Dave Penny Florida
I used to live at West X. I was on the last ride of the train, I had an autographed tickets for many years until I loaned it for an exibition, alas the ticket was not returned. With the development at the Marina, the city should consider resurrecting a modern travel system (monorail) between the town and the pier. It would take the pressure off the Mumbles Road and also be a great tourist attraction.
Mon Jan 21 09:23:51 2008
Shirley Harrison from Rhyl
I remember riding the Mumbles railway in the 1950's. I came with my parents and brother from Birmingham to spend our holidays with our Aunt Doris and Uncle Jim. We alighted at Mumbles Pier and then walked to the house, which was the only one on Mumbles Head. Think it was old Army property, a long single-storey building that housed two families. The coastguard was at the back of the building up the hill. The lighthouse out at sea, its warning sound we called 'Gasper'.
Mon Dec 10 12:23:27 2007
Emmett Jordan Milwaukee Wisconsin
Ben Evans and the Mumbles Train are being recalled by a wonderful copper etching by Coppercraft in Clacton-on-Sea, which has found its way to Train Time at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. All Aboard!
Mon Sep 3 09:47:02 2007
Peter Williams,Abertridwr,Mid-Glamorgan.
My Gran lived near the Half-way Garage, Blackpill.I used to stay there during the summer holidays, in the early 1950s. I got to know all the drivers, and on one magical early morning run, one opened the connecting door and let me use the regulator, which controlled the speed! It certainly introduced me to Rock n' Roll.
Tue Aug 28 10:41:16 2007
Jeff Stacey - Wiltshire
Like most of the young urchins of Brynmill, I used to place a penny (old penny) on the track to see it get pressed and mangled almost out of recognition, but my best recollection was the experience of travelling on the top deck on a sunny summer's day - that was something else!
Mon Jul 16 11:43:56 2007
TERRY A THOMAS
Now living in Crosshands. My grandfather drove the steam train and then the electric train. I have a comemorative badge which was given to him when the steam train finished. His name was George Bayliss.
Mon Jul 16 11:37:48 2007
karl Petryszyn swansea
I remember those wonderful days traveling to Blackpill infant school every day, 1949 to 1953, my elder sister Carol travelled too. Oystermouth school, she got off the tram at the terminus. I had the pleasure of riding back to Ashley rd,it was known as Cwm farm estate at that time... now sadly gone. As a boy I also remember sitting always facing the Bay as though you were at highwater you felt as though you riding over the waves as the tram seemed to tilt towards the bay.
Fri May 18 14:15:44 2007
Glynden Trollope, Berkhamsted
As a student I was a conductor on the Mumbles train in 1949. I recall changing the direction of the back seats at each terminus. On one trip several nuns arrived with 90 children at the Swansea Terminus. I had to issue their tickets on the TIM machine used by the South Wales Transport Co. The machine produced a continuous roll of tickets. Processing 96 tickets was a nightmare; it was difficult to keep track. Eventually, to my great relief, a very understanding nun
said "I'm sure we have a sufficient number of tickets!"
Mon Feb 26 13:36:37 2007
Mike Farrugia, Malta
I used to live in Carlton Terrace Swansea and could hear the train's whistle at night when the wind blew in from Mumbles. In the late 50's my friends and I would chat up girls by the bridge going over the track to the beach by the civic centre. If we knew they were going to Mumbles by train, we would challenge them (with the train) to a bike race to Mumbles, if we won the race they would have to go out with us. The girls said we would never win because the train was faster (which it was), so they would take us up. However, although the train was faster it had to stop, we knew this, and of course we won, but we didn't always get the girls, they said we cheated.
Thu Feb 15 08:59:18 2007
Vivienne of BC Canada
I spent the best times of my teenage life catching the Mumbles train on a Saturday night to dance at the Mumbles pier.
My friend, Margaret George, who I have long since lost track of, and myself, spent many happy years from 1954 dancing at the Pier, 'til I emmigrated to Australia in 1957. I lived on St Helen's Rd opposite the Swansea hospital. I don't think the Mumbles railway should have ever been removed. Wonderful history lost.
Tue Jan 2 09:41:37 2007
Tony Wood from Houston USA
I lived in Fforestfach as a child and spent many weekends in Mumbles. Remember the Tram very clearly particularly its unique tremor in its later days. Mumbles magic keeps us returning; rented cottages this year near the Salt. I wish my daughter could still ride the Tram when she starts at Swansea Univ. next year.
Tue Oct 31 16:30:28 2006
Peter M Williams Swansea
I travelled from West Cross to Swansea twice a day, racing home for lunch in the alloted one hour. We had happy times playing shove halfpenny on the transformer box upstairs in the front of the train. I checked its speed in my car - it did approximately 45 mph between Brynmill and Ashleigh.
Wed Sep 13 08:58:57 2006
Nina Rowland,California USA
I remember the Mumbles Train from my childhood holidays, visiting my grandparents who lived on Rodney Street in Swansea. Driving along on the top deck watching the wonderful views brings back wonderful memories. This was one of the highlights of my holiday. I wonder if my cousins are still in Swansea...
Mon Jun 19 16:27:35 2006
Margaret Clarke (Virginia, USA)
My family lived many years in Swansea, then moved to outside London late 1920's. Can well remember listening for the train's special signal annoucing the arrival of the train down by Singleton, when visiting there. In more recent visits, it just doesn't seem the same. My paternal grandfather had been a chief engineer for the trams.
Mon Jun 19 10:53:09 2006
Theo Harris
I attended the Bible College School later called Emmanual Grammer and spent a lot of time when there exploring the area where the LNER trail passed over the Mumbles road at Blackpill. (There were the remains of railway coaches on the corner junction where Derwen Fawr Rd joined the mumbles Road) and further back where the Cline entrance used to be in my day was a railbridge over a canal system complete with horse tow path etc., I have searched everywhere to find a reference to this in todays records on the net but I can't find anything at all?? Surely someone must remember this canal and whether it has all been obliterated and scrubbed from history!? Theo - Perth, Western Australia
Mon Mar 27 16:51:18 2006
j. fifield from ireland
i can still remember getting the train on wednesday from west cross to mumbles,to go to bible class.anybody that travelled far got threepence from the pastor.on the way home we went to dick bartons chip shop in west cross and got two bags of chips to take home.i used to live near the train stop.
Mon Mar 20 21:26:11 2006
Kenneth James Bournemouth
My grandpa "Raymond Loaring" used to be a fireman on the steam trains then became a driver of the Mumbles tram, as a boy I would ride the tram with my mother and felt so proud because "Grandpa" was the driver.
Thu Mar 16 23:38:29 2006
John Hanby Reading Berks.
I can remember riding The Mumbles Train when I was courting my future Wife in the 1950's,it was such a wonderful run along the sea shore
especially when you were with a beautiful girl.
The train should never have been scrapped
think of the number of people that would use it today going to the University and visiting Catherine Z.Jones house in the Mumbles.
Tue Feb 7 20:33:52 2006
Les Lewis Cydach
I have fond memories of the Mumbles Train from the time as a child going with my parents and grandparents to Mumbles in the 1940s, until I went to Dumbarton, when all the school were put on it every week on games day to Ashleigh Road playing field until 1960 when it stopped running. Shame shame.
Tue Jan 10 15:33:19 2006
Ian Palmer from The Forest of Dean
The Mumbles Train was part of my life; I caught it for five years from West Cross to St Helens going to Dumbarton and then for another three years at Dynevor and Swansea Tech College. What a pity it has gone. Which shows the wrong people make wrong decisions that destroy history
Sat Dec 24 15:49:36 2005
George Doherty, Truro, once of Llandovery
I remember travelling on the tram out to Mumbles in the years before the war. Later I travelled that same way when the beaches were covered with barbed wire to prevent enemy landings. In the 1950s I went that way again - the ride was a 'rock and roll' adventure to say the least!
Happy days!
Fri Nov 18 01:21:56 2005
John Hunter from Leicester
My grandparents lived in Cross Hands and when visiting during the summer holidays circa 1947-1953 we would get the United Welsh bus to Swansea then catch the Mumbles tram for a day out. Shame its gone as it would be a great tourist attraction today.
Fri Oct 21 10:12:34 2005
Neil Grant - Swansea
Brought up in Swansea, I often used the Mumbles Train. It was a great service which is sadly missed nowadays with the traffic on the Mumbles Road. Why not resurect the system with an overhead rail, running on the same route as before? It would ease the traffic considerably and be a wonderful magnet to attract visitors to the area.
Thu Sep 29 10:51:08 2005
Andrew Phillips from Hitchin
I used to stay at my grandmothers in Carnglas Road, Sketty. You could see Mumbles railway from her bathroom window. I remember being taken several times on the railway. It was wonderful, sitting upstairs looking out across Swansea Bay.
Tue Sep 27 20:56:22 2005
Jeff Evans in Bristol
Caught the train week days,from West cross to Rutland St,from 57 to 60. (October?)
Played shuve half penny upstairs,on my daily trip to Dynevor and was sadden went it closed down.
Sat Aug 27 14:56:55 2005
Austin Harris from Cambridge
Born in Swansea, I lived in Clase and then moved to Winch Wen until I joined the RAF in 1967. As a child my mum always used to take me by Mumbles Railway to the slip and we would ride on the old wooden swing boats on Swansea beach. This was followed by a walk around the Patti Pavillion gardens and then ice cream at Joe's Parlour near the Guildhall before catching the tram back. Then catch the bus at St Marys church to get back home. Great days.
Fri Jul 15 16:18:16 2005
Roy Matthews, Brisbane
The Mumbles train was always a highlight of a trip to the beach with my family when a lad, upstairs and to the front of the train - a wonderful experience still remembered.
Wed Jul 6 16:04:33 2005
David York
I lived on the Mumbles Road in Norton. Could see the Mumbles train coming from the Pier and knew how much time I had to get ready for school at Dynevor. Sometimes we played shove ha'penny upstairs. I still have a lifetine pass on it. Useful should the train be revived!
Pity it shut down. It would really alleviate traffic into Swansea.
Tue May 24 04:48:29 2005
Sheila Wells, Reigate Surrey
I have always said that my first memory is sitting on the Mumbles train and crying because the train had bucked and I bumped my head. This memory has been confirmed to me as being true because the train was very bumpy running towards the end of it's life and was dismantled in 1960 so I must have been under 4 years old. I have also seen a diagram of the seating plan and it is just as I pictured. My family insisted that I would not have remembered going on the train.
Thu May 12 11:59:32 2005
Krieg Youngs, Ferdinand, Indiana, USA
I lived in Mumbles and rode the train to Swansea everyday to go to school at Dumbarton House School. We used to sit in the upper level where I and some others played penny ha'penny on a small table at the back of car. It was a time of my life that I will never forget. I was living in Mexico when I heard that it had closed.
Fri Apr 29 21:59:51 2005
Ray Hook from Auckland New Zealand
When I was aged about 6, I was on holiday with my sister in Swansea and can remember the Mumbles train as it nearly ran me over when I ran out in front of it.
Tue Apr 26 10:25:12 2005
Val Williams from Newbury
I remember the trains so well - we would, as kids, be able to go to Mumbles quite safely by ourselves. I also remember John Arlott, cricket commentator, mentioning, on radio, the trams as they went past St.Helen's cricket ground.
Wed Apr 13 11:14:51 2005
Huw Roberts, Caernarfon (ex Neath).
I was a seven years old when the Mumbles Train was closed. I vividly remember riding the train from Swansea to the old paddling pool at Blackpill. I would run towards the road as the trams passed so that I could see the electrical sparks as the trams went beneath the bridge of the old railway to Gowerton. I am sure that this was my inspiration to a career in Electronics.
Sat Apr 2 22:19:11 2005
Penny Lloyd Cape Town
I met my husband Ian on the Mumbles train!
Fri Feb 11 18:35:17 2005
Michael Rees - Wollongong, NSW, Australia
I remember that I was returning to Neath with my parents after holidaying at the Mumbles. It was the very last day of the service before it closed down. Alas, a friend of my father's saw us waiting at the Mumbles Terminus and gave us a lift to Swansea Station in his van. I was not impressed! Would have been about 1960???
Mon Feb 7 04:28:25 2005
Mark Pattison Isle of Man
I have just moved here after living 25 years in Mumbles. Transport history is important here, it is a shame that it is not the same in Swansea. The horse drawn trams are still here and still provide public transport.
Mon Nov 22 12:52:51 2004
Graham Sheppard - Vancouver Ca
I remember it well. My aunt and uncle lived in Mumbles, in fact my uncle was a driver/conductor (not sure) on that very train. I used to go to Mumbles on holidays from Blackwood area. I would roam the hills and bays around the area with my two cousins Peter and Ken. I wonder where they are now?
Thu Sep 16 23:24:29 2004
Phil Balmont Western Australia
We stayed at Oystermouth as kids in a guest house over the way from the Mumbles Railway. I can recall riding upstairs in the swaying cars. The seat backs allowed movement to face forward at all times.
This would have been around the mid to late 1950's.
Sun Feb 22 07:02:47 2004
Do you remember the Mumbles Train? Add your comments here.
