Age of rail track remains

I was looking round the remains of the mine at Bryntail farm at the weekend 
(not the 'preserved' one down by the river) and came across two lengths of 
flat bottom rail sticking out of the grass just below what looked like it 
might be a collapsed adit, the track gauge was about 18" but part of a 
pressed metal sleeper attached to one of the rails by a clip and bolt could 
be seen.  I'm guessing that this might be something like Hudson or 
Decauville type track and so about 1900 on - but would anyone have an idea 
what the earliest date for such a type of track might be please?  I have 
photos if this might help.

It would seem that at various times this mine used both bridge rail and flat 
bottom as samples of both were noted holding up a lean-too roof.

We traced a conjectural route for the rods from the wheelpit to the upper 
workings but could find no traces of any pedestals or similar - does any one 
have any knowledege of whether these were were wood or metal and whether 
they were truly 'flat' rods implying the use of rollers on a flat surface or 
the more common to the area 'round' rods which could be carried higher above 
ground? on a form of pulley.

Final plea! would anyone know whether the wheel was of the breast shot or 
undershot type? as these seem the most likely from the possible route of the 
water leat across the hillside

Regards

Sandy Sanbrook
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mining-history automatic digest system" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 12:00 AM
Subject: mining-history Digest - 28 Apr 2007 to 30 Apr 2007 (#2007-76)


> There is 1 message totalling 28 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
>  1. Brogden - South Wales
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date:    Mon, 30 Apr 2007 09:15:14 +0100
> From:    Alasdair Neill <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Brogden - South Wales
>
> Sorry don't know his name but if I come across it or anything further will 
> let you know
>  Alasdair Neill
>
> david hardwick <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>  Thanks for the reply
>
> You mention a mining agent - do you know the name (I can check if it 
> occurs
> in any other correspondence)
>
> Regards
> David
>
> -----Original Message-----
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> End of mining-history Digest - 28 Apr 2007 to 30 Apr 2007 (#2007-76)
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>