Swansea Vale Railway Swansea Vale Railway The Swansea Vale Railway (SVR) was a railway line connecting the port of Swansea in South Wales to industries and coalfields along the River Tawe on the northern margin of Swansea, by taking over a tramroad in 1846. It was extended to Brynamman in 1868. Passengers were carried from 1860, and a loop line through Morriston was built. The company was profitable but it was always short of capital, and it looked for a larger company to buy it out. The Midland Railway did so in 1874 when it leased the network, and it absorbed it in
Richard Martin (Mayor of Swansea) to the zinc works, which still operate today, until his death. He started up the Birch Grove iron works in 1881 and bought the Ynys-pen-llwch tin works in 1884. Martin served the town council 1884-1910 as member and alderman, becoming mayor 1898-9. He was also chairman of the education committee for six years. In this time, he strived to have the University College of South Wales situated in Swansea, however Cardiff was ultimately chosen as its site. He nevertheless succeeded in ensuring the establishment of a technical school, which later became the technical college, in Swansea. Martin then strove to