DMU Operations: Western Region
Coryton - Cardiff Bute Road
DMUs were introduced to these services in 1958. Class 116s were the main type used for many years.
Sample Timetables
2 May 1977 to 6 May 1978
2 7/8" x 4 1/8" when folded
Images
July 1963
A Derby suburban triple set at Heath Halt in July 1963. This was on the original Cardiff Railway now Coryton branch line in north Cardiff before it was remodelled into single track. Photograph by John Wiltshire. Peter Brabham Collection.
31st July 1963
A green Derby-built DMU at Rhiwbina Halt on the original Cardiff Railway, now Coryton branch line, north Cardiff on July 31st 1963. Photograph by John Wiltshire. Peter Brabham Collection.
19th June 1967
A Derby surburban triple set in Coryton station forming the 17:05 to Cardiff Bute Road on 19 June 1967. DMBS W50091 is closest. Robert Thomas.
2nd December 1967
Heath Junction, with Heath Junction signal box and a Derby suburban triple DMU heading towards Coryton, photographed on 2 December 1967. Lewis Bevan.
March 1969
A blue Class 116 DMU at Coryton station in March 1969. Photograph by John Wiltshire. Peter Brabham Collection.
February 1975
BR (Derby) Suburban 3-car dmu (Class 116) No.C312 (consisting of Class 116/1, 175 & 116/2 cars) in BR Rail Blue with all yellow front end, at Coryton on a service from Cardiff (Bute Rd), 02/75. Hugh Llewelyn.
February 1975
BR (Derby) Suburban 3-car dmu (Class 116) No.C327 (consisting of Class 116/1, 175 & 116/2 cars) in BR Rail Blue with all yellow front end, at Cardiff (Bute Road) - now called Cardiff Bay - on a Coryton service, 02/75. Hugh Llewelyn.
February 1975
Cardiff (Queen Street) station, 02/75. On the right is BR (Derby) Suburban 3-car dmu (Class 116) set No.C327 on a Cardiff (Bute Road) - Coryton service. A station on this site was built by the Taff Vale Railway in 1840 and replaced in 1887, with rebuildings taking place in 1907, 1973 and 2014. The office block with the BR symbol on the top was the proposed BR's Western Territory HQ, but it remained empty because of the abandonment of the particular BR re-organisation scheme of the time. Hugh Llewelyn.
February 1975
Cardiff (Queen Street) station, 02/75. On the right is BR (Derby) Suburban 3-car dmu (Class 116) set No.C327 on a Cardiff (Bute Road) - Coryton service. A station on this site was built by the Taff Vale Railway in 1840 and replaced in 1887, with rebuildings taking place in 1907, 1973 and 2014. The office block with the BR symbol on the top was the proposed BR's Western Territory HQ, but it remained empty because of the abandonment of the particular BR re-organisation scheme of the time. Hugh Llewelyn.
February 1975
BR (Derby) Suburban 3-car dmu (Class 116) No.C327 (consisting of Class 116/1, 175 & 116/2 cars) in BR Rail Blue with all yellow front end, at Cardiff (Queen Street) on a Coryton service, 02/75. Hugh Llewelyn.
February 1975
BR (Derby) Suburban 3-car dmu (Class 116) No.C327 (consisting of Class 116/1, 175 & 116/2 cars) in BR Rail Blue with all yellow front end, at Cardiff (Bute Road) - now called Cardiff Bay - on a Coryton service, 02/75. Built by the Taff Vale Railway in 1840 as Cardiff Docks, this modest station building also served as the HQ of the Taff Vale Railway - one of the smallest yet richest railways in Britain in the pre-grouping (pre-1923) era - until 1862. Incredibly, it then became the consulates of the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal and Brazil! It is now disused. Hugh Llewelyn.
5th June 1976
Class 116 DMU set C306 on Coryton station on 5 June 1976. The car in view is thought to be DMBS W50091. Stuart Mackay Collection.
25th March 1978
Unit C314 at Cardiff Bute Road on 25 March 1978 on the 13.02 to Coryton. The vehicles are presumably 50848 + 59356 + 50901. Tom Burnham.
2nd May 1979
Class 116 DMU C300 (50122 + 59030 + 50080) at Cardiff Bute Road on 2 May 1979. Alistair Ness.
2nd May 1979
Class 116 DMU C300 (50080 + 59030 + 50122) at Cardiff Bute Road on 2 May 1979. Alistair Ness.
2nd May 1979
Class 116 Coryton 2 May 1979. I was doing the valley lines on a one week Western Region Rover ticket but starting in the Cardiff suburbs. Note the nice warm day - less than an hour later I was at Rhymney wading through snow! C300 - W50080 59030 50122. Alistair Ness.
2nd June 1979
On 2 June 1979 a class 116 DMU (51140/59032/51153) arrives at Birchgrove station with the 07.00 Coryton-Cardiff service. Lewis Bevan.
1982
Class 116 set C304 (presumably 50130 + 59362 + 50088) at Rhiwbina in 1982. Michael Mensing.
1983
51128 heads C330 (presumably with 59357 + 51141) at Coryton Halt (Cardiff) in 1983. Nicky Reason.
29th December 1983
Class 116 DMU set C319 (W53868 + W59371 + W53918) in Cardiff Bute Road station with a service for Coryton on 29 December 1983. Brian Daniels.
29th December 1983
Class 116 DMU set C319 (W53868 + W59371 + W53918) in Coryton station with a service to/from Cardiff Bute Road on 29 December 1983. Brian Daniels.
1984
Class 116 DMU set C302 (presumably 53086 + 59036 + 53128) in Cardiff Bute Road in early 1984. Michael Mensing.
1984
Class 116 set C302 (presumably 53086 + 59036 + 53128) arrives into Heath Low Level in early 1984. Michael Mensing.
1984
Class 116 set C330 (presumably 51141 + 59357 + 51128) departs from Heath Low Level station in early 1984. Michael Mensing.
24th April 1984
On an warm late spring lunchtime (24/04/84) Class 116 DMU set no.C300 (presumably 53122 + 59030 + 53080) stands at the desolate Cardiff Bute Road terminus. Back in 1984 the branch from Queen Street South Junction into Cardiff Docks had an irregular timetable with large gaps in the service particularly off peak. This DMU set is waiting to work train 2C79 the 12.37 to Coryton, back then most trains ran through to Coryton with just a couple of shuttle workings to Queen Street. The large building on the right is the one time Taff Vale Railway Headquarters building built in 1841. It is a listed building but to this day stands derelict, the station is no longer called Bute Road and has been revamped with trains now using the north end of the other platform face seen to the right here. The station is also now called Cardiff Bay. Apologies for grainy picture quality, reason = telephoto lens while using Perutz CT100 film. Adrian Nicholls.
24th April 1984
Class 116 DMU set C300 (presumably 53122 + 59030 + 53080) stands at Coryton while the driver changes ends having arrived with train 2C79 the 12.37 from Cardiff Bute Road on 24/04/84. The DMU will form the return working also as train no. 2C79 at 13.02 back to Cardiff Bute Road calling at all stations. This short branch into the northern outer suburbs of Cardiff was once a through route into the Taff Valley and on looking at a map it seems odd that the section to Taffs Well just over two miles away was removed. Adrian Nicholls.
5th April 1985
Class 121 single-unit W55033 at Rhiwbina on the 16.24 ex-Coryton on 5 April 1985. Lewis Bevan.