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Pontypridd Junction

PHOTO GALLERY: TAFF VALE RAILWAY

Pontypridd Junction

OPENED: 1902      CLOSED: 1998

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At the north end of Pontypridd Station is a key junction of the Taff Vale Railway network and this was the location of the biggest Taff Vale signal box built – Pontypridd Junction.

Pontypridd Junction SB
Dr J W F Scrimgeour, 7/61

In this view, the brick-built box (about 60 feet in length) seems dwarfed by a large water tower. The line from Treherbert passes in front of the signal box, whilst the passenger train on the right is arriving from the Merthyr direction.

Pontypridd Junction SB
Dr J W F Scrimgeour, 7/61

A view inside shows the 130-lever McKenzie & Holland frame and one of the two matching track diagrams provided owing to the sheer length of the box. A huge number of plungers, signal repeaters and block instruments can be seen on the instrument shelf.

Pontypridd Junction SB
Dr J W F Scrimgeour, 7/61

A view from the Treherbert end of the lever frame. The original McKenzie & Holland lever interlocking was replaced by Great Western Railway tappet locking in 1928. Rationalisation of the layout over the years allowed the lever frame to be shortened to 70-levers which in turn allowed the operating floor structure to be reduced in length. That no doubt improved the ability to keep the signal box cosy and warm!

Pontypridd Junction SB
N L Cadge, 13/8/83

The shortened signal box can be seen here, with a three-car diesel multiple unit passing on the Merthyr line.

The signal box closed on 15th October 1988. It survives as it is a listed building, but it looked distinctly unloved when photographed in 2001.

Pontypridd Junction SB
Phil Deans, 20/12/01