powers. Although the PC&NR was only a short line it was steeply graded against the loaded traffic, and the transit from Pontypridd involved working over six different railways' networks. In 1891 a separate alignment was opened near Machen to ease the worst of the adverse gradients. From 28 December 1887 the PC&NR operated a passenger service between Pontypridd and Newport; however it had no locomotives of its own and the Alexandra company provided the engine power. Internal dock lines The PC&NR route had the characteristics of an ordinary local railway, and was quite distinct from the internal track at Alexandra Dock. This commenced at East Mendalgief Junction. By 1914 the siding complex covered over 50 acres of ground. Free stacking space was given for up to 90 days for steel rails and iron ore that had arrived by rail and was awaiting shipping. Newport Town Dock The Alexandra (Newport) Dock Company underwent a capital reconstruction in 1882, changing its name to The Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway Company; more capital was needed for the continuing dock construction work. In 1883 the Company acquired the Town Dock, effective from 1 January 1884. The purchase price was £149,000; this was less than one-third of the money the Newport Dock Company had expended, at nearly £483,000; at the time the (Town) Dock Company was unable to meet interest payments. Acquiring the PC&NR The ADR was highly profitable due to the huge volumes of minerals passing through its docks. (The financial difficulty referred to above was in capital, the money for new construction.) Friendly relations between it and the PC&NR were maintained, and in 1890 running powers were mutually exchanged and co-operative working consolidated. It only remained to find an auspicious time for amalgamation, and acquisition of the PC&NR by the Alexandra Company was authorised by Parliament on 6 August 1897. The PC&NR had miles of route, whereas prior to the merger, the Alexandra company had miles of running line; however it had 108 miles of siding. Locomotives For all this time, the Alexandra company's network (largely sidings at the docks) and the PC&NR network had been worked by other companies. On 30 April 1906 the Alexandra took over the working of its own mineral traffic, of course on the former PC&NR as well. It had quickly to acquire and hire in the necessary locomotives. Notable among the new fleet were