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Last journey of the Mumbles train, Swansea, Wales. A maintenance engineer
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Memory Lane
Last journey of the Mumbles train, Swansea, Wales. A maintenance engineer
Last journey of the Mumbles train, Swansea, Wales.
A maintenance engineer was determined to have the last ride on the train as it made its way into the depot.
The Swansea and Mumbles Railway was the venue for the worlds first passenger horsecar railway service, [1] located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom.
Originally built under an Act of Parliament of 1804 to move limestone from the quarries of Mumbles to Swansea and to the markets beyond, it carried the worlds first fare-paying railway passengers under an agreement effective from 25 March 1807. It later moved from horse power to steam locomotion, and was finally converted to electric power, using the largest tram cars ever built for service in Britain, before closing in January 1960, in favour of motor buses.
At the time of the railways closure, it was claimed to have been the worlds longest serving railway, although this distinction has to be qualified because other railways which were used solely for goods traffic (e.g. the Middleton Railway in Leeds, Yorkshire, dating from 1758) had been operating for longer. (Words from Wikipedia)
Picture taken 5th January 1960
Western Mail Archive
Mirrorpix
Swansea
South Wales
Wales
B/W Print
Media ID 21915244
© Mirrorpix
1960 2th Century Electric Farewell Goodbye Memory Lane Passenger Swansea Tracks Train Tram Lines Welsh
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Last Journey of the Mumbles Train - A Nostalgic Farewell
EDITORS COMMENTS
. In this photo print, we witness the poignant final moments of the iconic Mumbles train in Swansea, Wales. As it embarks on its last journey into the depot, a determined maintenance engineer seizes the opportunity to be part of history and takes one final ride. The Swansea and Mumbles Railway holds a significant place in transportation history as the world's first passenger horsecar railway service. Originally designed to transport limestone from Mumbles quarries to Swansea and beyond, it evolved over time from horse-drawn carriages to steam locomotives before ultimately embracing electric power. With its closure in January 1960, after more than a century of service, this railway claimed fame as one of the longest-serving railways worldwide. However, it is important to note that other goods-only railways had operated for longer periods. This evocative image captures not only an engineer bidding farewell but also symbolizes an end of an era. The immense tram cars featured here were among Britain's largest ever built for public use—a testament to their historical significance. Preserved within Memory Lane Prints' collection and taken by Western Mail Archive on January 5th, 1960—just days before its closure—the photograph invites us into a world where trains once ruled these tracks with grace and charm. It serves as a reminder of how progress can sometimes erase cherished pieces of our past while igniting nostalgia for simpler times when rail travel was king.
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