Brecon arrangements Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway

brecon free street station, looking west towards neath in 1962

the first brecon , merthyr railway station @ brecon @ watton; intended temporary station, arrival of hh&br trains , mid wales railway s own trains overloaded accommodation significantly.

the neath , brecon railway opened line @ brecon west in 1867, during construction became clear attitude b&mr unfriendly. desperately short of money, , opened line separate temporary station @ free street. connection made between 2 stations, not suitable passenger operation. nevertheless barrie observes:

as late july 1869… neath , brecon engineer, admitted house of lords select committee if passengers east of brecon arrived train @ mount street tickets collected, put on engine, , run forward on high level line point opposite , above watton station. (there loop line direct free street extension watton yard, neath & brecon witnesses claimed b&m not let them use it, kept points locked.

by 1870 contract let build new station @ free street, intended joint station railway companies (although wholly owned b&mr), , opened on 1 march 1871. nonetheless neath , brecon railway continued use own station until 1874, when passenger trains moved free street, former station being relegated goods traffic. watton had adopted role.