Bassaleg junction signal box was famous for steam trains that went all over the UK, steam locos from Ebbw junction worked from Bassaleg from two marshall yards – up side empty coal wagons, and down side coal.
There were railway carriages at Newport and that is how Ebbw junction could work steam passenger trains to Brecon, 50 miles from Newport.
The station was opened by the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company on 21st / 23rd December 1850. It appeared in timetables as “Rhymney Junction” before changing to “Bassaleg Junction” in 1858. The line was worked by the Great Western Railway from 1st August 1875 and it later took over the Monmouthshire Railway with effect from 1st August 1880.The station closed to goods traffic on 1st September 1898.
The station closed as a wartime measure between 1st January 1917 and 1st March 1919. It closed on 30th April 1962, leaving the line to remain open for goods traffic.
If you are lucky enough you may still get the chance to see a cargo train pass by…