Loose_Grip/Pete's photos with the keyword: Monmouth

Like many of the South Wales coal mines the Big Pit at Blaenavon was located high up on the valley side above the village. What's missing at what is now a museum is the huge spoil tip that loomed behind the site when it was active. HFF to everyone. Have a great weekend.

Now all the deep coal mines in the UK are closed the only way to go underground today is in a museum like The Big Pit National Museum at Blaenavon. The Big Pit used to be connected to the LNWR line to Pontypool by a steeply graded mineral line. Today Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST (Works No 544 1900) NCB No 10 stands on the truncated remains by the pit head coupled to a rail-mounted crane.

Sunrise over the valley adds some atmosphere to the track work at Blaenavon High Level station. Now the Blaenavon Heritage Railway this line was one of the few LNWR branches in the South Wales coalfield and originally ran from the Heads of the Valleys line at Brynmawr to Pontypool. HFF to everyone & have a great weekend.