The books give a history of the railway, coal mining and other industrial aspects of each Valley that combine to make up the Tondu Valleys with detailed comments on the operation of the railway, passenger and freight, and details of each colliery within the area and their place within the South Wales coalfield. Details are provided on individual aspects of railway operation. Each location is studied in detail with abundant photographs of railway and colliery activity. This is the first time such a study of this area has been undertaken in such detail. The study of Porthcawl traces its development from a dock to a seaside resort with supporting photographs of both aspects. This volume will give the reader an ample knowledge of this important part of South Wales as part of a series of books on the South Wales Valleys, to complement the two books on the Western Valley already produced.