An imposing piece of artwork has been unveiled in a Swansea community, celebrating its links to the city’s rich industrial railway history.
The towering piece of ironwork, in the form of the front end of a steam locomotive of the past, sits at the junction of Sterry Road and Gorwydd Road in Gowerton.
It sits on the exact spot of the former Gowerton South railway station and was the site of an important industrial railway link – the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), operational between 1867 and 1964.
The latest artwork to be unveiled by Swansea Council is part of the Welsh Government Active Travel Placemaking programme, which aims to add interesting, historic references to the past, along sections of previously completed active travel walking and cycling routes.
The council received the placemaking funding as part of its wider plans to increase and improve walking and cycling routes across the city.
The sculpture is the second installation in the city and follows the unveiling of a life-size sculpture of a horse along the banks of the Clydach canal. It was made using more than 800 horseshoes and celebrates the use of horses to pull barges along canals throughout the country.
The Council previously completed a 1.5km-long section of walking and cycling route along the canal towpath in Clydach and families have been enjoying the upgraded path since its completion in 2022.
Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure in Swansea, said: “As part of our ongoing active travel plans, we have the opportunity to celebrate our past history and help remind people how many of the city’s communities were shaped by transport services.
“The latest sculpture is really impressive and now serves as a fantastic and iconic landmark for the residents of Gowerton and also for visitors.
“I hope it will receive the same warm praise that the horse sculpture in Clydach has also received.”
The latest piece of artwork in Gowerton also signals the completion of a vital active travel link at the current Gowerton train station, providing a safe, off-road route between the community and surrounding communities including Kingsbridge and Gorseinon.
A link between Kingsbridge and Gowerton was previously completed but needed a direct link to the train station to enable pedestrians and cyclists to use the station as a crossing point when using the off-road path.
The newly opened link also enables cyclists to use train travel as part of their journey into and out of Swansea city centre.
Cllr Stevens added: “Gowerton’s current link to our rail transport services plays a huge part in offering locals alternative ways to travel. The aim of the newly opened link was done to provide even more opportunities for commuters to mix cycling and rail with their travel plans.
“It has also given walkers and cyclists using the routes either side of the station a safe option for crossing over the railway station.
“New walking and cycling routes are continuing to be developed throughout Swansea, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to travel in a sustainable and healthy way.
