:Rassa Railroad
{{short description|Former horse-drawn tramroad in south Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
The Rassa Railroad was a horse-drawn tramroad in south Wales, running between Sirhowy Ironworks and Beaufort Ironworks, with connections also to the Trefil Rail Road and the Ebbw Vale Ironworks. It was later served with a tram engine.
History
The Rassa Railroad opened in 1794 as an edge railway of approximately {{track gauge|3ft4in}} gauge.{{rp|p.57}} It was laid out by Thomas Dadford, engineer of the Monmouthshire Canal Co., which owned the line.{{rp|p.201}} After a few years it was converted to a {{track gauge|4ft2in}} gauge plateway.{{rp|p.201}} A tram engine was used on the route from 1829.{{cite book| first=Bertram| last=Baxter| title=Stone blocks and Iron Rails| publisher=David and Charles |location=Newton Abbot, Devon |series= The Industrial Archaeology of the British Isles |url=https://archive.org/details/stoneblocksironr0000baxt| url-access=registration| year=1966}}{{rp|p.201}} At some point the owner of the Rhymney Ironworks also secured running rights over the Rassa line.{{rp|p.213}}
Route
The railway ran for {{convert|2+1/2|mi}}, directly north from Sirhowy then east through the village of Rassau to Beaufort. At Trevil Machine (location of a weighing machine), where the line turned sharply to the east, a junction was made with the Trefil Rail Road from the limestone quarries at Trefil. A further junction with the Trefil line at Shop Row led to the Ebbw Vale Ironworks at Pont-y-Gof.{{rp|p.201}}{{cite web|url=http://www.railbrit.co.uk/Rassa_Railroad/frame.htm|title=Rassa Railroad|publisher=RailBrit.co.uk|accessdate=29 March 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bioeddie.co.uk/ebbw-vale/history.htm|title=Ebbw Vale history|publisher=bioeddie.co.uk|accessdate=29 March 2020}} There was at least one viaduct. Sirhowy was also served by the Sirhowy continuation of the Nine Mile Point Tramroad.{{rp|p.200}}
The recommended carrying weight was up to {{long ton||45}} per set of wheels, but loadings of up to {{convert|3|LT|lb kg}} of iron were noted.{{rp|p.81}} Other materials carried included coal and limestone.{{rp|p.201}}
Today
The former tramroad lies within Blaenau Gwent, now passing communities such as Rassau, Carmeltown and Glyncoed. The former tramroad permanent way is represented now by areas of tarmac and pathways. There is at least one surviving stone bridge.{{cite web |title=The Trefil Tramroad and Railway |url=http://www.industrialgwent.co.uk/c32-trefil/index.htm |website=Industrial Gwent |accessdate=29 March 2020}}