First of all what is this place listed under ?? cant find it in the index

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http://www.aditnow.co.uk/mines/Upper-Silica-Silica-Mine/ 

Long walk in via tramway or shorter route up waterfall.

shorter route up waterfall.

Nice scrambly route up stream bed in a mini-gorge following burnt-off stanchions of steel girder incline ramp for tramway (scrapped about 25 years ago). A bit like caving above ground. Not hard and unless its immediately after heavy rain it's not wet and there's no need to go into waterfalls (unless you enjoy that sort of thing).

The long inclined tramway ramp used to be good fun. It got up to 10m above river level. The wooden decking was becoming rotten by my first visit in 1973 (the mine had closed in the 1960s) and you had to keep your feet above the longitudinal girders. A bit Indiana Jones-ish!

Would any of you local guys be interested in meeting there to aid with some kit carrying we are going down there 7th - 14th Sept :)

Heres a vid of some guys I know in there that you all might like

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Would any of you local guys be interested in meeting there to aid with some kit carrying

I can just about carry myself up there these days. 😉

drop me a message ive been a few times so should be able to assist

Would any of you local guys be interested in meeting there to aid with some kit carrying

I can just about carry myself up there these days. ;D

Same here. There is a short cut through the back entrance of the Lower Silica Mine.

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Pm,d you both guys thanks for the offer 🙂

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Nearly forgot, there is a book...

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On how to get heavy dive kit and cameras to a dive site ive not read that one if it exists i will buy it to see if there is an easy way :lol: :lol:

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I have reopened this thread as it may be of particular interest to divers.

I am pleased to be able to confirm that due to the kindness of Mr Dai Richards of Glynneath I now have copies of the original Richard Thomas and Baldwins plans. I think that they may well be the abandonment plans as they show the water level at 03-03-1966, so clearly pumping had ceased.

These have great detail and show two now submerged pump houses.

I will be getting them digitalised and eventually uploaded.

There is also a cloth backed surface OS plan which roughly corresponds to the mineral estate purchased by NAL.

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That will be most interesting as the copy we have appears to be much earlier.:)

[photo]102511[/photo]

Yes, and whats interesting is that the surface buildings which are pencilled into yours are properly drawn on mine, as well as the pumping houses and water level etc.

There is a local company which has a large table scanner I have used before, get done as soon as.

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I am thinking 2 stage pumping for the pumps, which would be electric, to handle the head.

Quickly, as I have work to do, I have scanned this and uploaded it.

🔗107402[linkphoto]107402[/linkphoto][/link]

Hatching is water level

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Thanks Roy. As a matter of interest (which has been a topic of much discussion), does the plan include any reference to the waterfall bridge/ramp?

Edit: Typed this as you were posting your image, excellent image clarity!

No, unfortunately not.

Here is a scan of the mine area.

🔗107403[linkphoto]107403[/linkphoto][/link]

Note that at that time Baldwins leased the land around Blamaen or Middle Dinas, but nothing shown for Blue Dinas.

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THE CAVES AND MINES OF THE SYCHRHYD GORGE by Keith Jones April 1992 Part 9 in the series Limestones and Caves of South Wales. 32 pp 15 surveys and maps, colour frontis, 2 colour 3 B&W photographs / illustrations. This account presents detailed information on all the known caves and mines of the Sychrhyd Gorge. This enchantingly beautiful area is found at the head of the Vale of Neath, 3 kilometres north east of Glyn Neath near the village of Pont Nedd Fechan. The limestone gorge is 500 metres long and is located on the downstream end of the River Sychryd just before its confluence with the River Mellte, and is guarded by one magnificent portal- the famous Dinas Rock. Reprinted and revised August 2009. SB out of print. Text can be sent as an attachment. poa. I can supply the whole book including surveys and extra photos on a DVD for a handling charge of £3.00 including postage in the UK.

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I'm fairly sure I have an image somewhere of the ramp with a barrier and warning notice, I'll have to rummage through a few boxes of slides.

That would be very much appreciated, especially if you allowed me to put it on the NAL website
:flowers:

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It may take a while due to my chaotic filing system as will probably be mixed up with family pics somewhere!