on the Blorenge, branching east roughly at the point where the Milfraen Colliery branch had previously branched west. The declining situation continued through the 1950s, then Varteg Hill subsequently closed in 1964 leaving Big Pit as the primary exporter of coal left. The once double track to Pontypool was then singled in June 1965. Although passenger and goods traffic had long ceased to Brynmawr the track was re-laid by the NCB to just south of Waunavon station again during the 1970s for the Black Lion Disposal Point washery. Locomotives The passenger services were operated by the GWR & the freight services by the LMS. An impressive variety of locomotives operated over the years on this line, including: LNWR 0-6-2 Webb Coal Tanks LNWR 0-8-4 Beames Tanks GWR 0-6-0 Pannier Tanks GWR 2-8-0 Class 42xx heavy freight locomotives GWR 2-8-2 Class 72xx heavy freight locomotives In its BR days the line was solely operated as a mineral line although several "specials" operated passenger trips over the line in the late 1970s, leading to several unusual visitors : Class 37 (the mainstay of the line in terms of motive power) Class 25 (often double headed) Class 31 (special trains) Class 20 (special trains) Class 45 (special trains) Class 101 DMU (special trains) Class 116 DMU (special trains) Closure and preservation Although the track along the whole route to was finally lifted in July 1961. The 13-mile long section from Llantarnam Junction on the Newport-Hereford line to Furnace Sidings remained in use for coal trains from other local mines until 3 May 1980 following the closure of Big Pit. It was the last remaining railway in the Eastern Valleys. The line from Cwmbran was dismantled right up to outside Blaenavon High Level station whilst the washery and other colliery buildings were all but demolished during 1987. Much of the railway today has now become part of the National Cycle Network Route 46. In 1980 a heritage railway movement was started, and is now operated exclusively by volunteers who form the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Company (1983) Ltd. and its support group the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway Society. The society started running trains in the same year and have continued for over twenty five years. The railway did not increase in track size for a quarter century after its opening, but increased as a going concern, with a larger number of volunteers, a larger