so that the proposed B&MR would provide an outlet, via the canal, for its products. It also connected Dowlais and Merthyr in difficult terrain—it included a rope worked incline—that might save expense for the B&MR in reaching Merthyr. During the progress of the Bill the Brecon to Talybont section was dropped, conceding the part of the route to another planned railway company; this failed to get authorised, but this was too late for the B&MR to reinstate the omitted section. The railway as authorised on 1 August 1859 was from Dowlais to Talybont. A railway further north got authorised: the Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway. It had made arrangements with the larger Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway to work it. The Hay Railway was intent as this stage on selling its line, and the Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway proposed to purchase it, simplifying the issue of land acquisition. After considerable negotiation, the HH&BR agreed to partition the Hay Railway, conceding part to the Mid Wales Railway and the southern section from Talyllyn to Brecon was granted to the B&M. These arrangements were ratified by the Hay Railway Act of 6 August 1860. Accordingly, relying on the confirmation of the agreement, the B&MR was able to get powers to extend from Talybont through Talyllyn to Brecon, by Act of 15 May 1860. A triangular junction would be formed at Talyllyn with the Mid Wales Railway. Mutual running powers arrangements were agreed. Construction The first sod was turned on 18 January 1860; the contractors were David Davies and Thomas Savin, and a lease arrangement was concluded with them for ten years in which they guaranteed the proprietors 5% interest on capital. The Beacon Tunnel (official railway name 'Torpantau Tunnel') was completed by 11 January 1862 and on 28 August 1862 a trial run for the directors was undertaken between Pant and Talyllyn. The section between Talyllyn and Brecon was much slower to construct, partly because it was still in use by the Hay Railway; Talyllyn tunnel needed to be opened out with that traffic in operation. It was possible to run a locomotive through to Brecon on 1 January 1863, and on 12 February Captain Rich of the Board of Trade carried out an inspection for approval of passenger operation. There was still a delay, but some revenue goods train operation took place in April 1863. Opening The entire line between