Abernant railway station

The station was opened by the Vale of Neath Railway in November 1854. It was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel as a single Broad Gauge line with a third rail added later to allow mixed gauge traffic It became part of the Great Western Railway in 1865.

By the late 19th Century, the line was described as the 'most antiquated line' of the GWR. It was quite a distance from 'Aberdare' that either required a long steep climb or hiring a cab. It was described as picturesque and convenient, it was unloved. The chairman of the local Board of Health said that due to the lack of facilities, it was a disgrace. He noted that over 300,000 passengers a year used it but there was no accommodation or toilets. Further pressure was added in June 1896 when a local newspaper suggested it be moved to the Cardiff Exhibition. As a result, facilities were improved in 1897.

The line then passed on to the Western Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948. The station was then closed by the British Railways Board in 1962.{{cite web |title=The Abernant Station Sign |url=http://cynonvalleymuseum.wales/2020/05/04/the-abernant-station-sign/ |publisher=Cynon Valley Museum Trust |access-date=2 June 2021 |date=2020-05-04}}

The platform remains on the now overgrown site.{{cite web |title=Some views of the site of the former railway at Abernant, 2003 |url=http://www.abgs.org.uk/reunionalbum/Visits2003/Abernant1.htm |publisher=Aberdare Boys Grammar School |accessdate=2019-10-05}}

The British Railways Western Region station sign is now on display at the Cynon Valley Museum, Aberdare.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|first=R.V.J. |last=Butt |title= The Directory of Railway Stations |publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd |year=1995 |ISBN=1-85260-508-1}}
• {{cite book|first=A. |last=Jowett |title= Jowett's Nationalised Railway Atlas |publisher=Atlantic Publishing |year=2000 |ISBN=0-906899-99-0}}
• Abernant station in 1962 [https://web.archive.org/web/20110811182606/http://archive.rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk/treorchy/image.php?i=38048&r=2&t=4&x=1]
• [http://www.npemap.org.uk/tiles/map.html#301,203,1 Abernant station on navigable O. S. map]

{{Disused Rail Start}}

{{Rail line|previous=Llwydcoed|next=Merthyr Tydfil|route=Great Western Railway
Vale of Neath Railway|col=000000}}

{{end}}

{{coord|51.72143|-3.42811|type:railwaystation_region:GB_source:npemap.co.uk-enwiki|display=title}}

Category:Disused railway stations in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Category:Former Great Western Railway stations

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1854

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1962

Category:1854 establishments in Wales

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