Volume Nine - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - Mr. B's 1836 Ely Docks . . .

Mr. B's 1836 Ely Docks is, therefore, based upon an Act of Parliament and despite the opposition of the Glamorganshire Canal Company, the Taff Vale Railway Company’s Act received the Royal Assent during June 1836. This Act incorporated the very first public railway of any commercial importance in the Principality of Wales . The preamble to the Act stated : -

The making of a Railway from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff, with a Branch therefrom, to communicate with the Tramroad leading to the several Iron Works of Pen-y-darran, Dowlais, and Plymouth, and another branch to the Collieries called Lancaiach, and also The First Directorate a Branch to communicate with the Tramroad leading to the Collieries called Dinas, and another Branch leading to or near Cogan Pill on the West Bank of the River Ely, all in the County of Glamorgan, would be of great public convenience by opening an additional, certain and expeditious Means of Conveyance to the Sea for the extensive Mineral and other Produce of the Places and Works above mentioned, also for the Carriage to the said Works from the Port of Cardiff of Iron Ore and other Mineral Produce used in the Fabrication of Iron, and for the Conveyance of Passengers and Goods to and from the said Towns of Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff, and the several intermediate and adjacent Towns and Districts . . .