This book is a companion volume to Railways Around Llanelli published in 2000. That told the story of the main lines that later formed the nationalised network in east Carmarthenshire. However, there is another story of the less celebrated contribution made by the town’s private industrial system that connected local works and docks.
This system was essential to the industrial well-being of the town. The various foundries, tinplate works and other enterprises depended on an efficient means of transferring materials from works to works and servicing the imports and exports though the docks for onward delivery to the customer. This was realised as far back as the tum of the 19th century and the lines laid at that time formed the embryo of a network that served the town for 160 years. By then the works in Llanelli had mostly relocated or closed so there were fewer sites needing railway access.
Road transport was also more in evidence and seen to be the more effective means of dealing with local needs. The network declined but some works continued to use their own railways within their premises. 
This book covers the growth of the industrial lines and industries they served taking the story from around 1800 to the 1960s. In particular the railway that has to stand out is the Nevill's Dock and Railway Company’s system originally built by the Llanelly Copperworks. A brief history of the companies served by the line has been included to provide the overall picture of how the Nevill’s Railway either grew with the expansion or possibly influenced the choices for new locations. Some of the companies that were linked to this railway had their own locomotives and are included as part of the story.
The industrial lines were street railways and therefore very visible in central and south Llanelli, in some places passing very close to houses and running along the side of local roads. The small steam locomotives kept going for many years thanks to the skill and attention of the maintenance men and footplate crews.

ISBN 0 9535848 5 2. 68 pages. Card covers. 

£12.75