IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Lon Y Rheilffordd, BARRY, CF62 5BP

Woodham Brothers scrapyard on Barry Island became the resting place for a large number of steam locomotives following their withdrawal by British Railways. A small number of diesels also found their way here. Leading this line of rusting hulks is D601 Ark Royal - a class 41 diesel hydraulic locomotive built by the North British Locomotive Company in 1958. Of the 297 steam locomotives purchased by Woodham Brothers, 213 have subsequently been sold on to the preservation movement - though not all have been restored as yet. In the rush to preserve steam locomotives and with the general dislike of diesels within the enthusiast community at the time it is hardly surprising that D601 and her sisters did not find a buyer. None of the diesels that went to Barry survived and as a result not a single example of a North British built mainline diesel exists in the UK today. D601 outlived her builders - the North British Locomotive Company went into voluntary liquidation in 1962 as orders dried up and warranty work on the locomotives it had supplied to British Railways dragged it down. A sad end to what was once the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe and the British Empire. The story of Barry Scrapyard can be read at http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/barry1.htm .

Except it wasn't - nearly all the locomotives sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard, including those seen here, were bought by heritage railways around the UK and put back into traffic. Only a handful remained here by 1984. In 2020, this view was unrecognisable - the area had been redeveloped as a supermarket car-park and housing.

From a 35mm slide of about 1980

A general view of the 200 plus locomotives awaiting the torch at Woodhams yard Barry Island. Most of these locomotives were saved and are now found on the heritage lines throughout the UK. Thanks to Dai Woodham most of the locomotives were not cut up but saved. It was the fact that they were busy scrapping other items of rolling stock like wagons that few of these locomotives were cut up. Many other scrap yards cut the steam locomotives very quickly, soon after arrival. Hundreds of enthusiasts visited the scrap yard from the 60s until the last locomotives left. It was a very popular attraction in those days.

From a 35mm slide of about 1980

From a 35mm slide of about 1978

Viewed through a pair of old metal posts, probably late Victorian. The notice on the right states that this access to the waterfront is suitable for pedestrians only. A glance along the route confirms this statement. There are steps, and a metal barrier across part of the route ahead.

This OS cut mark can be found on No86 Clive Road. It marks a point 23.073m above mean sea level.