Railways and Industry in the Sirhowy Valley

Book excerpt: A work “which must rank as one of the finest railway history books of 2020” from the author of Llanelly West to Carmarthen (West Somerset Railway Association). Railways and Industry in the Sirhowy Valley is the first full history of the railways that served this important area of Welsh industry, covering all aspects of its rail transport and manufacturing history. It is the latest volume in an ongoing series of books, covering the history and development of rail transport in the South Wales valleys. The area once boasted some very important industrial manufacturers, including the Tredegar Iron Works and numerous other iron smelting companies. This volume covers the industrial, economic and social history of this fascinating area of the South Wales valleys and the railway that once served the area. “A welcome addition to the literature, placing the line in a more appropriate context than previous volumes about the valley railways . . . John Hodge’s very attractive book presents a wealth of detail in a very readable form.” —Books on the Line “The photographic section is tremendous, with 36 road maps and a collection of 530 black and white photographs that offer us an interesting portrait of the area studied.” —Miniaturas JM