Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway
In time the Canal became overwhelmed by the volume of traffic, and encouraged by the successful opening of railways with more advanced technology than the horse tramways of previous years, the Taff Vale Railway was promoted. It was authorised by Parliament in 1836 and it opened between Merthyr and Cardiff docks in 1841. The line passed close to the Maesmawr workings but did not make a connection.
Taff Vale Railway
The main line railways of Great Britain were taken into nationalised ownership at the beginning of 1948, following the Transport Act, 1947. The former Taff Vale area became part of the Western Region of British Railways. The end of World War II had brought to notice what had become inefficient working methods, and British Railways immediately set about some closures.