“Quick. I can see the steam.” We locked the car and ran as fast as possible towards the station. At the ticket office we rudely interrupted a lady in front of us in order to get the tickets for our steam train ride on the Brecon Mountain Railway. With tickets in hand we tried to run to the platform but happy people from the previous ride were choking the hall making movement almost impossible. We were worried in case we missed this departure and had to wait for the next one which was in 90 minutes. It’s a long wait in the middle of nowhere. By pure luck we managed to get to the platform and into a carriage. On the way we managed to catch glimpses of the black locomotive standing graciously at the platform end enjoying the Easter sun and admiration of keen travellers like us. Once we settled in our small wooden seats, the feeling of being in an Agatha Christie book was enormous. I searched around people trying to find the next killer only to see happy families with kids, dogs, grandparents. The short and sharp almost military hoot of the train with lots of smoke announced the beginning of the exciting 65 min ride leaving the main Pant station. We slowly started climbing, passing small villages scattered around the hills and woods. The constant chug-chug is loud but southing. Once outside the cutting the full view of the Taf Fechan Reservoir slowly fills the whole train windows with its crystal blue water. With bright sunshine the window looked like a timeless paintings covered in blue and gold. Behind the reservoir three peaks of the Breacon Beacons rise and all three are a different colour. The Middle Peak which is the highest is covered with snow which looks like a thick woolly hat protecting it from the cold. Later we learn its Pen-Y-Fan peak which at 2906 feet is the highest peak in South Wales.
As we approach the next station the Dam can be seen in its full glory and the journey continues along the reservoir bank. On the left we passed the Sailing Club and our journey soon ends at the northern end of the reservoir. The locomotive is detached and moved to the back of the train to take us back. We are not allowed to get off the train and with huge excitement we are all glued to the windows staring at the impressive locomotive. The reason why we can’t go further is that the track size is not right for our steam train but there are plans to extend it for a further 1 and 1./2 miles next year when passengers can be taken into the heart of the Brecon Beacons.
On the return we additionally stop at the Pontsticill Station for coffee and tea served from old ex-British Rail carriages. We have the choice to stay here and wait for the next train or return to Pant station. As it’s getting late we, as the rest of the passengers, decide to return.
Facts:
At the Brecon Mountain Railway there are three locomotives in use. We were taken by locomotive number 2 which was built in Philadelphia in 1930. The working life of this pretty locomotive was spent in South Africa until 1974 when it was written off and bought by the Brecon Mountain Railways. They shipped and stored it in Liverpool until 1990 when they started to re build it and finally finished in 1997 and locomotive number 2 entered its second life in the Brecon Beacons.
The Brecon Mountain Railway site is on the old Brecon and Merthyr Railway opened originally in 1859 and finally closed in 1964.
Please check the timetable as the waiting time between trains could be long
You can have a full day trip by getting on the early train and take a walk around reservoir. (5.5 miles)