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Category Archives: Transport
From Hescwm to London via Swansea
This photograph comes from a period of my grandfather’s life that I knew nothing about until recently. I had always assumed that Evan George went straight from Hescwm Farm, Dinas to an apprenticeship on the barque ‘Glance’ at Swansea and then, when … Continue reading
Posted in History, Transport
Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, Hescwm, London Fire Brigade, SS Highland Glen
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Train spotting in the Preselis
Fishguard Harbour, the nearest station to Dinas, is the end of the line. Your only options are to take the ferry to Ireland, at 2.30 am or 2.30 pm, or go south towards Carmarthen. As there are only seven trains a … Continue reading
Posted in Farming, History, Transport, Walking
Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, Disused railways
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Master of MV Laurelwood pining for home
Captain Joseph Francis of Eryl, Dinas Cross, decided to retire at the age of 53. He had just completed two stints as Master of the Laurelwood, one of the largest tankers in the fleet of John I. Jacobs and Co. of … Continue reading
Posted in History, Sea, Transport
Tagged Capt Joseph Francis, Dinas, Dinas Cross, Hescwm Mill, John I Jacobs and Co, MV Laurelwood
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Marie Elsie’s list of do’s and don’ts
When* the Scaramanga brothers entrusted a few thousand pounds worth of ship and cargo and a good percentage of their fortune to Captain Joseph Francis of Eryl, Dinas, you’d expect them to mention a few do’s and don’ts. The letter confirming his appointment is typed in purple … Continue reading
Posted in History, Sea, Transport
Tagged Captain Joe Francis, Dinas, Dinas Cross, Eryl, Marie Elsie, scaramanga brothers
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Ann Gent and Graham Coles invite you to rummage
From the outside you can’t tell that the Carningli Centre is an art gallery and a second-hand book shop as well as a destination for lovers of old railway signage, collectors and connoisseurs of oil lamps and indeed anyone who loves to … Continue reading
Posted in Art, books, History, Transport
Tagged antiques, Dinas, Dinas Cross, junk, Newport, railwayana, secondhand
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A Famous Visitor
Fishing boats, like the one in the foreground, were regulars in Pwllgwaelod bay at a time when the little port was known for its fine catches of herring, so the photographer’s lens was actually trained on the ship you can … Continue reading
Posted in History, Sea, Transport
Tagged Dinas, Dinas Cross, Fishguard, Mauretania, Pwllgwaelod, ships, Visit
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Marie Elsie and the Man with the Golden Gun
Capt. Joe Francis (of Eryl, Dinas) was captain of SS Marie Elsie in 1915 – a dangerous time to be a sailor. Fortunately, by the time the Marie Elsie was torpedoed and sunk on its way to Arkhangelsk in June 1917 … Continue reading
Posted in History, Sea, Transport
Tagged 1st world war, Dinas, Dinas Cross, Ian Fleming, James Bond, master mariner, Pembrokeshire, scaramanga brothers, sea captain, tramp steamer
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Car spotting and other nerdy pursuits
With a possibly unjustified generalisation I’ll categorise people interested in the finer points of buses (or trains – planes – cars) as either geeks or nerds – probably nerds. I don’t think it is overly unkind as I’m going to … Continue reading
Posted in History, Transport
Tagged A 487, buses, car spotting, copper beech, Richards Brothers, transport
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