The old counties of Brecknockshire, Carmarthenshire and Radnorshire are now part of the modern regions of Dyfed and Powys, and although it is easy to think of South Wales as a chiefly industrial area, only the southernmost parts of Brecknockshire and Carmarthenshire were impacted by the coal-mining industry. Consequently, most of the areas shown in this book are delightfully rural but as a result their rail routes were only marginal in terms of profit. However, there were exceptions: towns such as Brecon and Carmarthen were so vital in railway terms that at one time they each had four different railway companies running trains to them. Of course, local communities suffered greatly when the Beeching cuts were made and that part of the story of the area's railways is told here, enhanced by over 50 period photographs of now missing stations and their rolling stock. Included are: Abercrave, Brecon Free Street, Brecon Watton, Builth Road, Bronwydd Arms, Brynamman, Brynmawr, Burry Port, Clydach, Colbren Junction, Conwil, Craig-Y-Nos, Cwnmawr, Devynock, Garnant, Gilwern, Glanamman, Glasbury-on-Wye, Golden Grove, Henllan, Hirwaun, Llanarthney, Llanbyther, Llandyssul, Llanglydwen, Nantgaredig, New Radnor, Newbridge-on-Wye, Newcastle Emlyn, Pantydwr, Pencader, Pont Yates, Pontyberem, Presteign, Rhayader, Rhydowen, St Clears, Stanner, Talybont-on-Usk, Talyllyn, Three Cocks Junction, and Trefeinon.