Rails in Wales at Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen. Opening 2009. Closed 2024

Compare and contrast the exciting scene in 2009 when local schoolchildren were gathered at the level crossing as the first train in many years returned to G-C-G for the first load of coal for Llanwern. Then in May 2024 I returned to
find track lifted and removed but surprisingly warning signs of rail movement still present....what will happen to these collectors items?

[@christopherbraiden6713]

Thanks for the video Mike, definitely an end to an era, thanks for sharing!!😎🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🇬🇧

[@julianlane8313]

Fascinating video as always Mike of a bye gone era, thank you for capturing it and sharing 👍🏼

[@GarethJonesPilipala]

This really is the end of 'King Coal'

[@stephendavies6949]

I guess those "collectors' items" will be / have been, well, collected!
When exactly did the line close?
Also, now this & Cwmbargoed are no more, our Hertiage railways sector - along with anyone else who requires coal - has to import it from South America: very eco-friendly. We live in a bizarre world.

[@hojomo]

Sadly, the sound reverted to left-hand only a few minutes in, which was no good for me, so I didn't finish it 🙁

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

I used a directional mic. back then, to cut out the wind sound, subsequently there was no stereo. Did the picture fail too ?

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Do you produce videos too...hojomo?

[@marc21091]

The film showing how many EWS staff in orange jackets were used just to halt the traffic while the train went across the level crossing shows that railways in Britain make themselvwes uneconomic by applying excessive safety standards. The train's slow speed surely means just one man with a flag and a flashing light was all that was needed to go through the crossings on the Pantyfynnon - Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen line (which branches off the Central Wales Line at Pantyffynnon).
The move to end coal production in Britain and the run-down of our steelworks is the sad reason why these trains no longer run.
The sensible solution with such a line that can carry trains at slow speed is NOT to lift the track, but leave the track in place and run a weedkiller train over it once a year to stop bushes and trees getting established on the line. Then it doesn't matter who walks on the line while it is out of use; it can be brought back into use one day. This is done in Ireland to keep lines for the future (though it needs local politicians to insist that Irish Rail runs such trains).

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

Thanks for your response Marc. Also all the locals know the tracks well in the Valleys, including G-C-G, maybe it was a day out for the higher achy. You'll note soon on another clip of a Railtour there are less high viz around.