The line from Brynmawr to Blaenavon was built in 1866 by the Brynmawr and Blaenavon Railway and leased to the London and North Western Railway to transport coal to the Midlands, opening for traffic in 1869. In 1878 the line was extended to meet the Great Western Railway at Abersychan and Talywain. Passenger services were operated by the GWR and freight services by the LNWR, later LMS. The line was closed to passenger traffic in 1941 and to goods in 1954, although part of the line remained open until 1980 for transporting coal down the valley to Newport.
In 1980 the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Society was formed with the aim of preserving some of the line as a steam railway and some 3km of trackbed was secured. Operations commenced at Furnace Sidings by Big Pit Mining Museum (nprn 433); the line was extended northwards to Whistle Inn Halt and in 2010, 2.4km southwards to Blaenavon High Level station, close to the town. In 2011 a new branch was opened to the Big Pit museum.
(Source: Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway web site)
B.A.Malaws, RCAHMW, 04 January 2012.