Swansea Bay in 1866

The slow coming of steam to shipping in Swansea. The vessel leading the Mumbles road is the Kappa sailing for Valpariso, Chile. Kappa held the record time of 71 days for this route for many years. In the centre os the picture is an early steam train towing carriages to Llanelly. The vessel in the background carries a black and yellow squared flag meaning 'plague on board'. the ship on the right is about to enter Swansea Harbour with a load of copper for Copperopolis, which is belching fumes into the Swansea valley.