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MORFA BANK SIDINGS
by Hywel Thomas
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Morfa Bank Sidings are situated in the Port Talbot docks area of South Wales,
and the era portrayed is circa 1972.
The layout features an exchange yard between BR and BSC, with a private line on a
lower level serving an export quay for finished steel products.
A scrapyard, ingot mould foundry and a resin plant complete the scene.
The layout plays host to a wide variety of wagon traffic, mainly associated with
the steel making industry, as well as a large selection of departmental stock.
A view of the Glamolic Resins factory which featured on the original layout. This
area has now been redeveloped into a heavy plant yard and workshops.
In the scrap yard, the shears are on the right beneath the overhead crane, with a
pile of cut scrap between them and the rail loading siding. Wagons await loading on the
quay. The yard staff will move them within range of the crane using the capstan.
Hopefully the bike won't be needed to get someone home tonight.
Staff discuss the next move with the old trawler 'Nikka', already partially demolished. The
generator that supplies power to the shears sits above the former dry dock caisson,
redundant since the dock was filled in.
This shows the original configuration at Morfa Bank Sidings. Several developments over the
years have resulted in a few changes to the area with the construction of new structures.
