Mr Fay has collected all manner of memorabilia

The Griffithstown Railway Museum was created in a disused railway building in Pontypool.

The community is steeped in rail history - the community was named was after the first Great Western Railway stationmaster at Pontypool Road, Mr Henry Griffiths.

Griffithstown is also the birthplace of the rail union ASLEF.

Mr Fay has worked tirelessly to create an authentic and memorable experience for visitors - at great personal cost.

There was an engine there making a noise that terrified me, yet I was mesmerised

Martin Fay, rail museum owner

"I have sold almost everything; I have my bed and that is the main thing."

The former coal merchant's building was ideally suited to setting up a home to Mr Fay's burgeoning collection of memorabilia.

One of the most prized exhibits is the Panteg signal box.

"The only way I could finance my part of it - because this place has broken me - was to sell the three-piece suite," Mr Fay explained.

The museum includes a wonderful model railway

"My enthusiasm goes back many years to when I was eight-nine years old and a journey to Newport station with my older brother.

"There was an engine there making a noise that terrified me, yet I was mesmerised."

Having banked everything on making a go of the museum, Mr Fay hopes it will bring in the visitors.

"I am looking forward to it now, naturally with trepidation, but I am confident it will work.

"We have a wonderful railway history and I hope our small museum will be testament to that."