HISTORY
(Also known as Penar / Pentwynmawr Tunnel)
The original Penar Tunnel was built by Benjamin Hall for the passage of horses, trams and coal from several local collieries to the Crumlin Canal. When the GWR took over the line in the 1877, the original tunnel was found to be too low and narrow for the passage of steam engines so rebuilding would be required.
When this rebuilding was finally undertaken at the start of the 1900's (in preparation for the movement of coal from the new collieries at Markham and Oakdale), it was found that the tunnel could be shortened by about half to 239 yards in length but that a complete rebuild would be required to accommodate steam engines. This was completed in September 1912, before which the line from Pennar Junction to Hall's Road was unusable.
From September 1912, coal transports from Markham, Oakdale and Llanover ran through the tunnel to Hall's Road Junction where they joined the Western Valley line on to Rogerstone Yard and Newport. When Standard Class 9 2-10-0s worked services to Marham and Oakdale in the early 1960's, their clearance through Pennar Tunnel was extremely restricted with about 1.5 inches between the engine chimney / cab and the tunnel roof. Because of this, the driver and the fireman had to lie face down on the cab floor for ventilation through the tunnel in the up direction when running engine was leading.
The last train and coal rumbled through Pennar Tunnel in 1989 after the closure of Oakdale Colliery.
THE VISIT
This tunnel has always been a bit of an enigma. Nothing really special about it - not very long, no passenger services ever ran through it as it was on a colliery line and you can easily see right through the tunnel from either end. Despite all that, it has always been locked up like something akin to Fort Knox. Which always got us wondering why, when a lot longer and bigger tunnels in South Wales did not seem to get the same treatment.
Maybe the Trident launch codes were in there along with the Third Secret of Fatima guarded by Lord Lucan and Shergar hence the overkill on keeping people out. Sadly not the case as it was just a nice little tunnel with some nice features.
Visited with a non member.
PHOTOS
1. Western portal
2. View through
3. Refuge
4. Red
5. Cook, Piss, Partridge
6. Cable
7. Light
8. Eastern portal
9. 361 chains later
Thanks for looking !
(Also known as Penar / Pentwynmawr Tunnel)
The original Penar Tunnel was built by Benjamin Hall for the passage of horses, trams and coal from several local collieries to the Crumlin Canal. When the GWR took over the line in the 1877, the original tunnel was found to be too low and narrow for the passage of steam engines so rebuilding would be required.
When this rebuilding was finally undertaken at the start of the 1900's (in preparation for the movement of coal from the new collieries at Markham and Oakdale), it was found that the tunnel could be shortened by about half to 239 yards in length but that a complete rebuild would be required to accommodate steam engines. This was completed in September 1912, before which the line from Pennar Junction to Hall's Road was unusable.
From September 1912, coal transports from Markham, Oakdale and Llanover ran through the tunnel to Hall's Road Junction where they joined the Western Valley line on to Rogerstone Yard and Newport. When Standard Class 9 2-10-0s worked services to Marham and Oakdale in the early 1960's, their clearance through Pennar Tunnel was extremely restricted with about 1.5 inches between the engine chimney / cab and the tunnel roof. Because of this, the driver and the fireman had to lie face down on the cab floor for ventilation through the tunnel in the up direction when running engine was leading.
The last train and coal rumbled through Pennar Tunnel in 1989 after the closure of Oakdale Colliery.
THE VISIT
This tunnel has always been a bit of an enigma. Nothing really special about it - not very long, no passenger services ever ran through it as it was on a colliery line and you can easily see right through the tunnel from either end. Despite all that, it has always been locked up like something akin to Fort Knox. Which always got us wondering why, when a lot longer and bigger tunnels in South Wales did not seem to get the same treatment.
Maybe the Trident launch codes were in there along with the Third Secret of Fatima guarded by Lord Lucan and Shergar hence the overkill on keeping people out. Sadly not the case as it was just a nice little tunnel with some nice features.
Visited with a non member.
PHOTOS
1. Western portal
2. View through
3. Refuge
4. Red
5. Cook, Piss, Partridge
6. Cable
7. Light
8. Eastern portal
9. 361 chains later
Thanks for looking !
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