welsh.ng.2

WELSH NARROW GAUGE RAILWAYS

1955 – 2017

PART 2 – The North

over one hundred photographs of the

Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways

also the

Snowdon mountain and Great orme lines

All photographs taken by and © Robert and Barbara Darlaston

Part One of this story (covering mainly the Talyllyn, Welshpool & Llanfair and Vale of Rheidol lines) can be found at www.robertdarlaston.co.uk/welsh.ng.htm

1: The Ffestiniog Railway

Brief history:

First era:

Incorporated by Act of Parliament as the Festiniog Railway Company, 25^th May 1832, in the reign of King William IV

Opened for goods traffic Porthmadog – Blaenau Ffestiniog, 13 miles, 20^th April 1836 (horse-power and gravity operation)

Steam locomotives introduced 1863

Passenger services commenced 4^th January 1865

Passenger services withdrawn 15^th September 1939

Goods services ceased and railway out of use 2^nd August 1946

Second era:

Re-opened as preserved line: first section, Portmadoc – Boston Lodge 23^rd July 1955

Operations extended gradually as sections of line re-opened, 1956 - 1982

Re-opening completed throughout to Blaenau Ffestiniog 25^th May 1982

The Festiniog Railway Company is the oldest railway company in the world

Boston Lodge Works is the oldest railway works in the world still used for its original purpose

1: Preservation; the Early Years

Scenes from 1955 – 1961

On 23^rd July 1955 a passenger service was restored from Portmadoc* for a mile across the Cob to Boston Lodge, initially using a

Simplex petrol engine first built for service in France in the First World War. Restoration of 0-4-0 no 2 Prince, built in 1863,

was completed in time for service on 3^rd August. The photograph above shows Prince at Portmadoc with the 11.30 to

Boston Lodge on 16^th August 1955. Prince was then a mere 92 years old and continues in service in 2018.

* Porthmadog was then spelled thus.

Left: The unrestored line towards Minffordd at Boston Lodge on 16^th August 1955.

Right: Prince and train at Boston Lodge on 18^th August 1955. Party of Lancashire ladies at the right!

Two scenes at Boston Lodge works.

Left: the remains of loco no 4 Palmerston in 1958.

Right: Double Fairlie loco no 10 Merddin Emrys stored in the shed at Boston Lodge in 1957 (former hearse van to the right).

Both locos have subsequently been returned to service.

By summer 1957 the line had been reopened as far as Penrhyn, four miles from Portmadoc.

Left: A view from the carriage window at Portmadoc as Prince backs onto the 2.30 pm to Penrhyn on 21^st August 1957.

Right: Prince is running round the train at Penrhyn prior to returning to Portmadoc on 21^st August 1957.

In both pictures it can be seen the track has had only the minimum necessary maintenance!

Minffordd on13th September 1958 with 0-4-0 no 2 Prince about to leave with the 10.40 to Tanybwlch

The line to Tanybwlch had been reopened on 5^th April 1958.

Two scenes showing wagons in use in September 1958.

Left: the Cleminson six-wheeled wagon at Portmadoc, then in use for conveying loco coal from the B.R. transfer siding at Minffordd.

Right: In 1958 slate was being taken by road from the quarries at Blaenauu Ffestiniog for onward carriage by British Railways Western Region.

In course of transfer from road to rail at Minffordd, the slate was moved about the yard in F.R. wagons as seen here.

(3-ton slate wagons 826, 956 and 853 are being so employed in the photograph).

No 2 Prince approaches Tanybwlch with the 4.30 pm from Portmadoc on 13^th September 1958.

Tanybwlch station on 13^th September 1958 showing Prince with the 5.30 pm to Portmadoc.

Note Station Mistress Bessie Jones in the cottage doorway, wearing her Welsh costume.

Views on the disused portion of the line in September 1958:

Left: the north end of Garnedd tunnel

Right: Dduallt station looking towards Portmadoc.

Left: Tanygrisiau station, looking south.

Right: Glan-y-Pwll junction with the disused line to Blaenau Ffestiniog Central and Duffws to the right in 1958. The line to Dinas once went

straight ahead and a quarry siding led off to the left.

Left: The site of the exchange passenger station with the LNWR in 1961

Right: the inclines to the quarries beyond Duffws station in 1958. These tracks were still in use for transferring slate from the quarries to

the exchange sidings with British Railways (both LMR and WR stations). Note the derailed wagon dumped at the left.

Blaenau Ffestiniog Central on 22^nd January 1961 showing the last train over the Great Western branch from Bala Junction

(locos 4645 and 8791). At the left is the F.R. line from Portmadoc to Duffws and the quarries. To the right is the F.R. line to

the former G.W.R. exchange sidings.

2: Scenes from 1970 – 1982

Blaenau Ffestiniog Central in 1978, viewed from much the same point as the 1961 photo above.

All former F.R. narrow gauge tracks have been removed. The only railway track remaining is the B.R. freight line to

Trawsfynydd nuclear power station.

Left: Prince leaves Portmadoc in 1980

Right: ex-Penrhyn Quarry locomotive Linda sets off from Minffordd to Portmadoc.

A general view of Boston Lodge Works in 1965 with the main line in the foreground.

The works chimney is still in situ.

Linda arrives at Tanybwlch with a train to Tanygrisiau in 1980

The view from the train above Tanybwlch in 1980, looking over Llyn Mair

On 6^th April 1968 a further stretch of line from Tanybwlch to Dduallt was reopened while work continued to build a new diversionary route to

by-pass the reservoir which flooded part of the old route.

Left: Ex-Penrhyn Quarry loco Blanche waits at Dduallt before returning to Portmadoc in 1968.

Right: Work is in progress in 1968 building the spiral at Dduallt to gain height for the line to by-pass the reservoir

Dduallt after completion of the deviation:

Left: trains pass at Dduallt with double Fairlie locomotives Earl of Merioneth (left) and Merddin Emrys (right).

Right: the view from a train climbing the spiral in 2015, near the location in the 1968 photograph above.

A train hauled by diesel locomotive Vale of Ffestiniog in the mountains on the diversionary route above Dduallt in 2000

Left: Tanygrisiau station with a train for Porthmadog in 1978. At that time, Tanygrisiau was the temporary terminus of the line.

Right: A view down to Tanygrisiau in 1980, showing the reservoir which blocks the original course of the line, and (left of the reservoir)

a train waits in Tanygrisiau station

3: Back to Blaenau in 1982

The Vale of Ffestiniog, seen from the train south of Tanybwlch station

Work in progress at Blaenau Ffestiniog, early 1982.

The new British Rail station is at the right.

The headboard fitted to the inaugural train to

Blaenau Ffestiniog on 25^th May 1982.

The loco is Earl of Merioneth, built at Boston Lodge in 1979

and withdrawn from service in 2018.

Blaenau Ffestiniog, 25^th May 1982:

Scenes with the inaugural train with loco Earl of Merioneth.

Left: An off-peak-season train arrives at Blaenau Ffestiniog in April 1984, hauled by small diesel locomotive

Upnor Castle, built for the Royal Navy in 1954. The train is near the site of the original exchange station for the LNWR line.

Right: the same train, heading back from Blaenau Ffestiniog towards Tanygrisiau.

4: A journey up the line in the 21^st Century

Left: Celebrating the 150^th anniversary of the introduction of passenger services in 1865, Prince is flagged away from Porthmadog

by Alan Pegler (in wheelchair). Mr Pegler was a principal contributor to the acquisition of the railway by preservationists in 1954.

Right: A glimpse of the interior of Prince’s cab.

Porthmadog station, seen in 2007 (left) and 2016, showing the additional island platform and signal box installed to allow

Welsh Highland Railway trains to use the station.

Boston Lodge Works, seen from the end of the Cob in 2005 with a diesel shunter manoeuvring slate wagons

Inside Boston Lodge Works in 2005.

Double Fairlie locomotive David Lloyd George receives attention

Double Fairlie locomotive no. 10 Merddin Emrys receives attention outside the Works in 2005.

The loco is in temporary black livery following a major overhaul. Merddin Emrys was built at Boston Lodge in 1879.

Double Fairlie Earl of Merioneth (built in 1879) leaves Minffordd with a train from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog in 2016.

Minffordd station is an interchange station with the Cambrian Coast line, served by trains from Pwllheli to Shrewsbury and Birmingham.

Double Fairlie number 10 Merddin Emrys heads away from Tanybwlch en route to Porthmadog in September 2018.

The loco was built at the company’s Boston Lodge Works in 1879. The cast iron bridge it is crossing was constructed at

Boston Lodge in 1854. The works is still busy and the Observation Car behind the loco was built there in 2015.

Boston Lodge works is the oldest railway works in the world still used for its original purpose, part dating back to 1811

with much of the rest dating from the 1840s.

Change at Tanybwlch:

The station from the same viewpoint in 1965 and 2015

Left: Tanybwlch in 2013: Earl of Merioneth arrives with a train for Blaenau while replica Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Lyd waits

to depart for Porthmadog.

Right: A train passes the Cwmorthin Falls at Tanygrisiau in 2007.

The view from the Observation Car at the rear of a train heading for Blaenau Ffestiniog in 2015.

The train is near Dduallt, offering a view of the Vale of Ffestiniog at the left.

The view from the train near Dduallt station

A train from Porthmadog approaches Tanygrisiau behind a double Fairlie locomotive in 2016

Two views showing a train from Blaenau Ffestiniog leaving Tanygrisiau in September 2018

Blaenau Ffestiniog station on a sunny day in 2015.

The photograph is taken from much the same position and is looking in the same direction as those taken in 1961 and 1978 (further above).

A Conwy Valley line train to Llandudno is standing in the main line station.

More customary weather conditions at Blaenau!

Double Fairlie loco Merddin Emrys is running round his train before returning to Porthmadog. National Rail tracks at the right.

2: The Welsh Highland Railway

Brief history:

1877 - 1922

Original main line opened (as North Wales Narrow Gauge Railway), Dinas Jc – Quellyn (6 miles), plus branch to Bryngwyn, 1877

Extended from Quellyn to Rhyd Ddu (3 miles further) 1881

Various abortive proposals to extend line via Beddgelert to Portmadoc and from Beddgelert to Betws-y-Coed, 1870s - 1914

Passenger services temporarily withdrawn, 1^st November 1916 (goods services continued to operate).

1922 -1941

Welsh Highland Railway (Light Railway) Company incorporated to take over and extend line, 1922

Line extended 12 miles from Rhyd Ddu to Portmadoc via Beddgelert, with passenger services through from Dinas Jc, 1^st June 1923

Passenger services withdrawn Dinas Jc – Portmadoc, 28^th Sept 1936

Goods services withdrawn and line closed throughout, 31^st May 1937

Line dismantled, 1941. N.B. The Welsh Highland Railway company remained in existence and could not be wound up nor the

trackbed sold without a costly Abandonment Order which the company could not afford.

Abortive schemes to reopen part of line as a tourist attraction, 1964 - 1990

1990 onwards

Festiniog Railway Company obtains effective control of W.H.R. Co. with intention to reopen the line and to include the former

British Railways line between Dinas Jc and Caernarfon, May 1990.

W.H.R. passenger services commenced from Caernarfon to Dinas (i.e., on 3 miles of former B.R. route only), 13^th October 1997.

Former W.H.R. route, Dinas to Waunfawr, 4 miles, reopened 7^th August 2000 and extended 6 miles to Rhyd Ddu on 13^th August 2003.

Line extended 6 miles via Beddgelert and Aberglaslyn Pass to Hafod y Llyn, April/May 2009.

“Golden Spike” ceremony at Porthmadog to celebrate joining of the W.H.R. and Ff.R., 28^th February 2009. (Photos below).

Commencement of through services over 25 miles from Caernarfon to joint station with Ffestiniog Railway at Porthmadog, 19^th Feb 2011.

The Golden Spike ceremony at Porthmadog on 28^th February 2009

A TRIP ALONG THE LINE, STARTING AT PORTHMADOG

Porthmadog Harbour station, Ffestiniog Railway, on 28^th February 2009, the day of ‘formal completion’ of the link between

Caernarfon and Porthmadog. WHR Garratt loco 87 at left, FR Palmerston at right.

The new platform at Porthmadog Harbour station with Earl of Merioneth on a train to Blaenau Ffestiniog (left)

and WHR Garratt 87 on a train to Caernarfon (right), July 2014.

Street scenes in Porthmadog:

Left: a train from Caernarfon joins the main road to cross Britannia Bridge as it approaches Harbour station in July 2012.

Right: a train for Caernarfon sets out from Porthmadog

The WHR in Porthmadog, on 28^th February 2009 before restoration of services:

Left: the site of the former WHR Portmadoc New station with remains of the water tower at the left.

Right: The crossing of the WHR line (straight ahead) and National Rail’s Cambrian Coast line (left to right)

Left: inside the WHR Pullman saloon Bodysgallen

Right: our train is halted by signals at the site of the former WHR Portmadoc New station while it waits

for a Pwllheli – Birmingham International train to cross in front on the Cambrian Coast line

Left: View from the train about to cross the River Glaslyn at Pont Croesor, with Snowdon in the distance (March 2012)

Right: a train from Caernarfon seen near Pont Croesor with Cynicht in the background (Sept 2015)

IN THE ABERGLASLYN PASS

No. 143, originally built by Beyer Peacock in Manchester in 1958 for South African Railways.

Coupled next to 143 is the Pullman Observation Car Glaslyn which gives fine views of the line, especially when at the rear of the train. The railway employs two further Beyer-Garratt locomotives, 87 and 138, also repatriated from South Africa and retaining their SAR numbers. They are the most powerful 2’ gauge locomotives in the world, weighing 62 tons and capable of hauling 12 carriages up the four miles of 1 in 40 gradient out of Beddgelert.

A train seen in the Aberglaslyn Pass as it heads towards Beddgelert en route to Caernarfon

Another view of the train alongside the River Glaslyn

The view from a train in the Aberglaslyn pass, heading towards Porthmadog

Inset: the same location, photographed in 1955, showing a war-time machine gun emplacement by the tunnel mouth

Left: No 87 (in blue livery) heads towards the pass with a train for Porthmadog in 2012

Right: No 87 in earlier grey livery about to cross the Glaslyn Bridge when heading for Caernarfon in 2009

Left: A train for Porthmadog alongside the River Glaslyn behind 2-4-0ST Linda and Double Fairlie Earl of Merioneth in 2016

Right: A Beyer-Garratt loco takes water at Beddgelert before starting the climb to Rhyd Ddu, en route to Caernarfon

BEDDGELERT STATION - then and now

The Goat Cutting in 1965 (left) and in 2012 with a train leaving for Porthmadog

Beddgelert station looking south in 1965 and 2017.

Note that the WHR water tower support still survived and has been restored to use

Left: In October 2007 work was well in hand to restore the station.

Right: ten years on and everything is spick and span with even the old water tower (right of centre) back in use

Beddgelert station in 2017, looking south.

A Porthmadog – Caernarfon train is arriving (left) while a train to Porthmadog waits at the right

Immediately after leaving Beddgelert, trains to Caernarfon enter a series of reverse curves to gain height to climb towards Rhyd Ddu.

By road the journey is 3.2 miles and takes six minutes – by train it is 33% further and takes 25 minutes: a disadvantage which

contributed significantly to the failure of the passenger service in the 1930s, but today’s tourists welcome the scenic delights!

In the photograph above, taken in 2012, Moel Hebog (2566’) looms over the railway as No. 87 sets off towards Caernarfon.

A train from Caernarfon to Porthmadog approaches Beddgelert in September 2018

SCENES AT RHYD DDU AND NORTH TO CAERNARFON

Left: 143 waits in Rhyd Ddu station with a train for Caernarfon. Taken in 2003 when Rhyd Ddu was the terminus.

Right: A train arrives from Porthmadog (left) while another takes water (right)

143 leaves Rhyd Ddu with a train for Caernarfon in 2006. Mynydd Mawr is in the background.

Ex-Penrhyn Quarry Railway Blanche and Double Fairlie Merddin Emrys leave Rhyd Ddu in February 2011 with a train for Caernarfon

The view from a train heading for Porthmadog as it approaches Rhyd Ddu behind no 143 in September 2012

Left: Climbing towards Moel Hebog

Right: Llyn Cwellyn, seen from the rear of a train bound for Porthmadog

With Snowdon sulking in the clouds, a Welsh Highland train heads for Caernarfon behind No. 138 in 2005

Left: A train for Caernarfon, about to cross the Gwyrfai River near Plas-y-Nant

Right: A train near Salem

Waunfawr station with 138 on a train for Caernarfon in 2003

Two scenes at Dinas station in 2006;

Left: A general view looking towards Caernarfon. These two platforms were originally served by trains of the LNWR line from

Caernarfon to Afon Wen (closed in 1964) and WHR trains ran to the right of the building (an original NWNGR building dating from 1877).

Right: FR 0-4-0ST no. 4 Palmerston (built 1863) simmers quietly at Dinas in 2006.

Steamy departure from Caernarfon in 2009

Caernarfon station on 18^th May 2016 with the castle in the background.

Loco 143 has just been overhauled and made its initial trial run from Dinas to Caernarfon. There it was attached to 87 for the return run.

3: The Snowdon Mountain Railway

Opened 6^th April 1896. Closed next day following a serious derailment and reopened on 19^th April 1897.

Climbs for almost five miles and over 3000 feet from Llanberis to Snowdon Summit station (3510’),

using the Abt Rack system with gradients up to 1 in 5.5.

A train seen shortly after leaving Llanberis in 1982

Left: Loco 8 Eryri (built in Switzerland in 1923) at Llanberis in 1970

Right: Locos outside the shed at Llanberis in 1970

A train approaches the summit station in October 1972

Llyn Padarn is just visible through the haze

Left: Loco No 3 Wyddfa (built in Switzerland in 1895) at the summit station in October 1972

Right: A view from the train descending Snowdon and about to pass a train climbing to the summit in October 1972

4: The Great Orme Tramway

Opened 1902. A cable operated line in two sections totalling 1½ miles.

The line’s Victoria terminus at Llandudno in 1965

Two scenes showing cars on the upper section of the line in 1982

* * * * *

The first part of my review of Welsh Narrow Gauge Railways, covering mainly the Talyllyn, Welshpool & Llanfair and Vale of Rheidol lines, can be seen at www.robertdarlaston.co.uk/welsh.ng.htm .

My other railway pages can be accessed by clicking on the links below:

Railways.htm (Photographs taken in the 1950s, train spotting at Birmingham Snow Hill in 1953, and scenes in the West Midlands and South Wales 1953 – 1962)

Railways50yr.htm (A selection of photos from the 1950s: West Midlands, Wales, and a few Southern scenes; the last Slip Coach)

Railways2.htm (Brecon and -Mid-Wales; the Somerset & Dorset line, GWR and LSWR lines in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall: all 1957-1962)

Railways3.htm (the Scottish Highlands, 1959 and 1961; also the Isle of Man in 1965)

Railways4.htm (Birmingham area LMR; glimpses of Boston, Peterborough, and Lincoln; GWR lines in North Wales; a few shots on the Southern: all 1961-1963)

Trams.htm (the last days of Birmingham’s narrow gauge tram system: scenes on the Erdington and Short Heath routes in June 1953; plus some historic postcards)

My Chronology of events, including opening and closure dates, relating to the Railways of the West Midlands from 1954-2017 can be accessed from these links:

RAILWAYS of WEST MIDLANDS pt 1. (1954-1974)

RAILWAYS of WEST MIDLANDS pt 2. (1975-1993)

RAILWAYS of WEST MIDLANDS pt 3. (1993-2017)