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The Mumbles Railway the route from Blackpill to Oystermouth by Carol Powell

The Mumbls Steam Train at Norton

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Mumbles Railway

From Blackpill to Mumbles Pier

The different routes are explained in the text

Pleaase note:

Not all staions and lines shown were open at the same time

Some of the stations of the electric railway 1929 to 1960

Looking towards Southend, with two of the three rusting poles, in the centre, waiting to be restored. They are often ignored by passers by who do not realise that they were an essential part of the Mumbles Train system. Photo: A History of Mumbles, December 2019.

The Route from Blackpill to Oystermouth

Since it was first constructed in 1804, the route taken by and motive power of, what we now call The Mumbles Railway, has changed several times. In 1807 it ran to the Castle Hill Terminus, Mumbles, (called Mumbles Station from 11th November 1860) on today's Dairy Car Park.

Oystermouth Square and Castle Hill Terminus Explored >

Following erosion of parts of the line in its original location along the seashore, it was relocated a few yards inland in 1815, and ran to the

Mumbles was not connected by road to Swansea until the Mumbles Turnpike Road was opened in 1826, adjacent to the Tramway (railway) track and the competition with cheaper horse-drawn buses put the railway out of business for some thirty years, from 1827 to 1860.

17 August 1877 saw the start of a regular steam service. Henry Hughes’ engine, the Pioneer was attached to two large cars containing over 80 passengers. This followed on from trials to ascertain whether the train would frighten horses on the adjacent road-way. However, the Swansea Improvements and Tramways Company also continued with its horse-drawn vehicles until they ceased to operate on 31st March 1896, which probably made for some awkward incidents as the Swansea and Mumbles Railways Co. Ltd. and their steam trains were running along the same line, throughout those 19 years.

The steam train at Blackpill

A further passing line was added and the train is pictured at Blackpill

The same place today, now used by the Land train

Train steam and Lady cyclists near West Cross also lady with basket

Two lady cyclists and a lady pedestrian are pictured on the Turnpike Road alongside the Steam Train which was travelling between Blackpill and West Cross, prior 1890.

Another photograph taken close by at about the same time, shows a tradesman delivering to the Grange, a horse and trap on the road, while the Mumbles Train passes by.

The road outside the Grange today

The Electric Train at The Cutting, West Cross, c1950

At The Cutting, West Cross, Photo: Peter Morgan

The Land Train at The Cutting, West Cross, August 2010

The last trees at the Cutting, West Cross, 2015

In 1889, the Mumbles Railway and Pier Company was formed to lay a line one mile and 22 chains long from a new station and to construct a Pier. (The new station, named Oystermouth Station, was 50 yards to the south of Mumbles Station and constructed on reclaimed land ). More: Oystermouth to Mumbles Head
Also in the 1890s, as part of the same project, a new sea wall from Blackpill to Oystermouth was constructed along the sea shore and the rail track was repositioned from the roadside to the site of the current promenade, it opened on 26 August 1900.

On 1st March 1929, the last steam trains ran along the Mumbles Railway driven by long-service employees, W. Williams, H. Davies and W. Veale and the next day, 2nd March, electrified services, which many of us remember, began with a fleet of thirteen double-decker cars, each seating 106 passengers — 48 on the lower deck and 58 on the upper deck, running over the same route with additional passing places. There was an entrance platform and staircase at each end, both entrances being on the landward side.

The electric Train

At West Cross Station - looking towards Blackpill

A train might be composed of one or two of these coaches, so that a maximum of 212 seats could be available for any journey. Initially the coaches were painted cream and brown to match the town's trams, but later they became the much-remembered red. The travelling time was reduced to nineteen minutes barring delays.

The electric train at West Cross Station - looking towards Blackpill c1955

The Land Train near the same spot, July 2018

From West Cross, looking towards Norton

For over twenty years, the anti-tank blocks were a feature alongside the track

The steam train at Norton

The steps are still there today

The electric Train at Norton, making its way to Swansea, Photo: Ronald Studden

Mumbles Steam Train at Norton, heading for Oystermouth, 1908

The electric train at Norton Station

The train has just departed from Norton Station, en route for Oystermouth Station

Horse Drawn Mumbles Train

The centre of Oystermouth, Mumbles,

Today, when you pass Mumbles Methodist Church, on the left of this photo, you will note that it is about one hundred yards from the sea wall. But, until 1892, the sea came up as far as the road in front. Photo: pre 1890.

Castle Hill Terminus, Mumbles, pre 1890

Above the left hand res arrow, is The Elms, next to the earlier sea wall. In the centre, hidden behind the trees is the carriage house featured earlier above. The Castle Hill Terminus and passenger shelter are situated above the right hand red arrow. The tall terrace on the Mumbles Road is named Clements Row .