Found on the Archives Wales website
http://www.archiveswales.org.uk/
29 June, 1804
The Mumbles Railway Act was passed to build a tramroad between Oystermouth
and Swansea for carrying limestone.
The Swansea and Mumbles railway ran from Swansea to Mumbles, Glamorgan. In
1804 the Oystermouth Railway and Tramroad Company was incorporated and work
began on building the line. In 1806 goods traffic began to pass over the
line in wagons pulled by horses. The main cargo was limestone at this stage.
However, as Mumbles began to lose its industrial character and started to
develop as a tourist resort, freight lessened and in 1807 the line became
unique as providing the first regular rail passenger service in the world.
In 1874 the Swansea Improvements and Tramways Company (SITC) was
incorporated and was given the powers to work over the Mumbles railway
system. In 1877 the SITC began to operate services on the line in
competition to those already provided by the railway owners. In 1879 the
owners became a limited company called the Swansea and Mumbles Railway
Company Limited (SMRC). The Mumbles Railway and Pier Company was
incorporated in 1889 in order to extend the railway from Oystermouth to
Mumbles Head and to construct a pier at the head. The new line and pier were
opened in 1898. In 1896 agreement was reached between the SMRC and the SITC
with the SITC stopping running services on the line in return for certain
payments from the SMRC. In 1899 the Railway and Pier undertakings of the
SMRC and the Mumbles Railway and Pier Company were leased to the SITC.
Between 1877 and 1929 steam passenger services ran on the line replacing the
earlier horse-drawn wagons. In 1929 the line was electrified. In 1927 the
SITC transferred its interest in the Swansea and Mumbles Railway to its
associate, the South Wales Transport Company Limited. The line closed in
1960.
A large variety of records are held at West Glamorgan Archives.
Jeff