 The tramways were wooden waggonways, and they extended to a harbour at Llanelly for onward transport of the finished product by coastal shipping.There were extensive mineral deposits further inland at Cross Hands, and exploitation of the minerals needed a longer railway; the distance was 16 miles and Raby was the prime mover in the formation of the "Carmarthenshire Tramroad" for the purpose.The Tramroad was the first railway in Wales to obtain an authorising Act of Parliament, which it did in June 1802; the capital was £250,000.