There was a coal boom between 1890 and 1914, and the dockyard business was immediately successful.
By the end of 1889 Barry had exported 1.073 million long tons (1,090,000 t).
In 1890 the docks shipped 3.192 million long tons (3,243,000 t).
In 1891 the Barry Dock & Railway Company was renamed the Barry Railway Company.
The chairman was Lord Windsor, who owned much of the land.
David Davies was deputy chairman and responsible for running the company.
3,000 ships used the dock in 1899, taking 7 million long tons (7,100,000 t) of coal.
In 1903 the docks shipped 9 million long tons (9,100,000 t).
Only 10% of the coal went to other ports in Britain and Ireland.
Most went overseas for use in steam engines.
The main export markets were France, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, West Africa and South America.
Smokeless Welsh coal exported from Barry Docks was in great demand by the Royal Navy at their stations all over the world.

In 1896 a spur line was built to a new railway station on the Barry Island, which quickly developed as a day trip resort with eating places, shops, and in 1912 a funfair with rides.
P & A Campbell started to operate paddle boat cruises from a pier at the Barry Docks entrance tidal harbour, and were followed by cruises run by the Barry Railway Company.
Peter and Alex Campbell of Penarth bought the Barry Railway's Red Funnel Paddle Steamers in 1911.

Aside from coal, Barry exported timber and small quantities of pig iron, wood, pulp, silver sand, zinc and iron ore.
A timber business was started in the town in 1888 by J.C. Meggitt of Wolverhampton, and in the 1890s gypsum, railway sleepers, flints and rice began to be exported.
 The Barry Company made a considerable effort to attract firms to the dock area, but with limited success.
Although J. Arthur Rank, a milling company which produced flour and animal stuffs, was established in 1906 on the dockside, an attempt by the Barry Company in 1910 and 1911 to make an agreement with Lord Ashby St. Ledger to open up land on the eastern dock area towards Sully to host steel manufacturers from the Midlands proved fruitless.

In 1909 between 8,000 and 10,000 men were employed in the docks.

The town had a population of about 33,000, almost all of them dock workers, their families, or tradesmen and other supplying their needs.

In 1913, Cardiff lost its title as the largest port in the world for coal exports when Barry shipped 11.05 million long tons (11,230,000 t) compared to Cardiff's 10.6 million long tons (10,800,000 t).

The trade in 1913 was dominated by exports of coal, carried by increasingly large and efficient vessels.

Imports were just 11% of total volume in 1913, the largest category being iron ore.

The company fought off competition and was able to pay dividends of 9.5% and 10%.

At the docks, the company ran a total of 41 tips of various kinds, 47 mooring buoys, and kept tugs, launches, a dredger, a firefloat, and even had its own diver and police force.

When World War I (1914–18) began, the government took control of all the railways and docks.
There was a boom in employment as the docks continued to export coal but also exported timber and hay, imported grain and loaded naval vessels with equipment, munitions and supplies.

20 ton wagons were introduced during World War I, and later 30 ton.

By 1920, the Barry Railway Company had a workforce of 3169, of which 890 were unskilled labourers, and operated 148 steam locomotives, 194 carriages and brake vans, and 2,316 wagons and trucks.
There was a coal boom between 1890 and 1914, and the dockyard business was immediately successful. By the end of 1889 Barry had exported 1.073 million long tons (1,090,000 t). In 1890 the docks shipped 3.192 million long tons (3,243,000 t). In 1891 the Barry Dock & Railway Company was renamed the Barry Railway Company. The chairman was Lord Windsor, who owned much of the land. David Davies was deputy chairman and responsible for running the company. 3,000 ships used the dock in 1899, taking 7 million long tons (7,100,000 t) of coal. In 1903 the docks shipped 9 million long tons (9,100,000 t). Only 10% of the coal went to other ports in Britain and Ireland. Most went overseas for use in steam engines. The main export markets were France, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, West Africa and South America. Smokeless Welsh coal exported from Barry Docks was in great demand by the Royal Navy at their stations all over the world.
In 1896 a spur line was built to a new railway station on the Barry Island, which quickly developed as a day trip resort with eating places, shops, and in 1912 a funfair with rides. P & A Campbell started to operate paddle boat cruises from a pier at the Barry Docks entrance tidal harbour, and were followed by cruises run by the Barry Railway Company. Peter and Alex Campbell of Penarth bought the Barry Railway's Red Funnel Paddle Steamers in 1911.
Aside from coal, Barry exported timber and small quantities of pig iron, wood, pulp, silver sand, zinc and iron ore. A timber business was started in the town in 1888 by J.C. Meggitt of Wolverhampton, and in the 1890s gypsum, railway sleepers, flints and rice began to be exported.  The Barry Company made a considerable effort to attract firms to the dock area, but with limited success. Although J. Arthur Rank, a milling company which produced flour and animal stuffs, was established in 1906 on the dockside, an attempt by the Barry Company in 1910 and 1911 to make an agreement with Lord Ashby St. Ledger to open up land on the eastern dock area towards Sully to host steel manufacturers from the Midlands proved fruitless. 
In 1909 between 8,000 and 10,000 men were employed in the docks. 
The town had a population of about 33,000, almost all of them dock workers, their families, or tradesmen and other supplying their needs.
In 1913, Cardiff lost its title as the largest port in the world for coal exports when Barry shipped 11.05 million long tons (11,230,000 t) compared to Cardiff's 10.6 million long tons (10,800,000 t).
The trade in 1913 was dominated by exports of coal, carried by increasingly large and efficient vessels.
Imports were just 11% of total volume in 1913, the largest category being iron ore.
The company fought off competition and was able to pay dividends of 9.5% and 10%.
At the docks, the company ran a total of 41 tips of various kinds, 47 mooring buoys, and kept tugs, launches, a dredger, a firefloat, and even had its own diver and police force.
When World War I (1914–18) began, the government took control of all the railways and docks. There was a boom in employment as the docks continued to export coal but also exported timber and hay, imported grain and loaded naval vessels with equipment, munitions and supplies.
20 ton wagons were introduced during World War I, and later 30 ton. 
By 1920, the Barry Railway Company had a workforce of 3169, of which 890 were unskilled labourers, and operated 148 steam locomotives, 194 carriages and brake vans, and 2,316 wagons and trucks.
Barry Docks