New video explores a Rhiwbina transport mystery from 100 years ago

A new video looks at the construction of Wenallt Reservoir and the mystery around the light railway and ropeway which played a vital role in the project.

Wenallt Reservoir - The Mystery on the Hill is the latest video by local transport historian Bob Price on his YouTube channel Bob's Rail Relics.

In the video, shot on location, Bob explains that work on the reservoir started in about 1921 and finished in 1928. It was built to hold 15 million gallons of drinking water to serve Cardiff.

The scale of the build meant that many tons of rocks and building materials had to be brought up to the site high on the hill.

In those days, Bob tells us, rail was the preferred way of doing this, so the Waterworks railway siding was created between Rhiwbina and Whitchurch stations.

But the approach to the reservoir itself was too steep for a railway, so an aerial ropeway was built by Excelsior Wire Rope Company from the siding to the reservoir. An article in a local newspaper reports how it was inaugurated by the chairman of the waterworks committee.

The ropeway was 2,000 yards long, electrically driven, and could carry 70 tons per day. But which route did it take? That remains a mystery, as no maps of it survive, and no confirmed relics of its structure have been found. In the video, Bob also looks at the history of the locomotives that were used on the line. Incredibly, you can still ride one of them - it's now based in Aberystwyth - 100 years after it helped build the reservoir!

You can see Bob's video here. And you can find out more about his local history research here.

If you have any more information about the railway, the ropeway, or the construction of the reservoir, please let us know on the contact form here or email info@rhiwbina.info