At an altitude of 1,392 feet (424 m) above sea level, Waenavon was the highest railway station on a standard gauge line in Wales.

[9][4] Some 300 metres (980 ft) south of Waenavon station a gated siding, laid in 1870,[10] veered to the west to serve Milfraen Colliery.

[citation needed] By 1931, Milfraen Colliery had ceased production having exhausted its coal reserves and the branch line that served it was lifted in 1937.

[10][11] After the Depression and unemployment of the 1930s,[12] passenger services were withdrawn from the station and the line on 5 May 1941[1][7] due to the exigencies of the Second World War.

[10] In 1972, a section of the line from Abersychan and Talywain to Waenavon was relaid by the National Coal Board for opencast mine workings.

[15] Coal traffic from Blaenavon continued until 8 October 1979[16] and the pit was closed in 1980 but the track remained down due to the prospect of its sale.