The Barry Railway was the brainchild of David Davies, owner of the Ocean Coal Company collieries, mainly located in the Rhondda Valley. During the 1870s, like many coal owners, he was frustrated by the sloth of the Taff Vale Railway (TVR) and Cardiff Docks to accommodate their burgeoning coal traffic. Consequently, these colliery owners and shippers of coal suggested that without improvements, they would build an integrated railway and docks to enhance their coal trade. However, despite there being some improvements these were not to their satisfaction.
A Barry Dock and Railways (BD.&R) committee was formed in 1882 and presented a Bill to Parliament in 1883 but was rejected by the House of Lords Committee. A second Bill presented in 1884 was successful and authorised construction of a railway from Barry to Hafod in the Rhondda Valley, plus docks at Barry and links with TVR and Great Western Railway (GWR). The railway was completed by 1st January 1889, while the docks opened on 18th July that years.
The Directors and many shareholders were luminaries in the South Wales coal trade, holding influential positions in Parliament, South Wales & Monmouthshire Coal Freighters, Monmouthshire & South Wales Coal Owners Associations, Cardiff Chamber of Commerce and Local Councils, all being focussed on coal. Bushby states in his article in the WRRC (Journal) Archive, “the primary motive of those promoting the Barry Bill was to build an outlet for their product … under their own control”. J. H. Thomas (Cambrian Trust and RR Director) participated in this “attempt to create a massive regional cartel”. This railway and dock scheme proved enormously successful within a short space of time.
Eastwards expansion
Being well-informed about the expanding coal industry, the directors desired to extend their line to the Rhymney and Monmouthshire Valleys coalfields to reap even greater profits – the Barry Railway's main motive! Before completion of the main line, the directors considered links (1887) with the Rhymney Railway (RR), consequently in 1888 they presented a Bill for a branch from near St. lagans to just south of Caerphilly Tunnel on the RR main line. Rejected by the House of Lords Committee, in 1890 an amended Bill sought a direct connection with the RR near Walnut Tree Junction and a line into the Aber Valley. It was reported in 1890 Mr. Hood (director) stated “with regard to Monmouthshire traffic … the Directors had not shut their eyes to Monmouthshire traffic”. At a directors’ meeting in 1892, Mr. Szlumper (Engineer) spoke of
