North Wales

30-07-2012

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Railway miscellany

So far I've only visited a few of the many narrow gauge lines in North Wales, for now there are photos of the Ffestiniog_Railway, Snowdon_Mountain_Railway, Llanberis_Lake_Railway and Great_Orme_Tramway

Ffestiniog Railway

Double Fairlie "David Lloyd George"

The Ffestiniog is still building Fairlie engines, the first was built in 1879, this one, David Lloyd George was built in 1992.  She is seen here taking on oil at Porthmadog station, all the FR's steam locos are oil fired to reduce fire risks.

Double Fairlie "David Lloyd George"

A closer look at David Lloyd George.  The Fairlie concept enabled much heavier trains to be hauled by locos that fitted the confined loading gauge of the originally horse and gravity worked line.

 

Ffestiniog Railway diesel shunting oil tanks

A diesel loco shunting the oil tanks at Porthmadog, the empties will go back to Boston Lodge works to be refilled.

 

Porthmadog harbour

Not a railway in sight, this view is of a very wet Porthmadog harbour, the origins of the FR were is transporting slate down to the quays here for shipping round the coast.

 

"Prince" and "Mountaineer" cross the Cob at Porthmadog

Mountaineer leads Prince across the Cob approaching Porthmadog.  Prince was built for the railway in 1863 and is the oldest regularly working loco in the world!

"Mountaineer" and "Prince" enter Porthmadog station

A closer view of the pair nearly into the station.  Mountaineer was built by ALCO in 1917 for British Army use in France during WWI.

 

"Mountaineer" and "Prince" arrive in Porthmadog

The venerable pair have now arrived in the station with their lengthy train which, after a smart turn round, I caught to go up the line to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

 

"Mountainerr" and "Prince" leaving Porthmadog

The pair setting off for the run up hill to Blaenau, with their small wheels their rods seemed to be going at an incredible rate when I caught sight of them on curves.

 

"Linda" at Tan Y Bwlch

At Tan Y Bwlch we crossed Linda, an ex Penrhyn Quarries Hunslet 1883 built 2-4-0ST with tender to carry fuel.  Originally an 0-4-0ST Linda and her sister Blanche were bought by the FR in 1963 and modified to suit the needs of the Ffestiniog.

"David Lloyd George" at Tanygrisiau

At the next loop at Tanygrisiau we crossed David Lloyd George which had worked back up to Blaenau and was returning to Porthmadog.  Time and weather limited my photos this time but I'll be back as soon as I can to this lovely little line.  There are views around the area on my other site at Snowdonia.

Ffestiniog_Railway, Snowdon_Mountain_Railway, Llanberis_Lake_Railway Great_Orme_Tramway

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Snowdon Mountain Railway depot, Llanberis

The Snowdon Mountain Railway is Britain's only rack railway, using cogs rather than friction for grip.  This is a view of their shed yard at Llanberis with one of their Swiss built steam locos taking coal and water ready for the next trip up the mountain.

SMR steam loco leaving the shed

Another view of the shed as the loco moves off ready for her run up to the summit of the highest mountain in England and Wales.  The mountain is 1,085m, the station is at 1.062m if I recall correctly.

 

SMR diesel and service train

One of the lines Hunslet diesel locos then appeared with a service train which is, I think, used to take staff and supplies - including drinking water - up to the summit station.

 

Clogwyn station sign

The station sign at Clogwyn, which is at 779m.  There's some steep sections to get this far but from here the mountain part of the journey really seems to start.

 

Train ascending Snowdon

This photo from the train at Clogwyn shows another one climbing up the "final assault" on the summit.  There are views from the summit and from the train on the trip up on my other site at Snowdonia.

 

SMR train approaching Clogwyn

A view through the single carriage train as the oncoming steam working approaches Clogwyn.

 

Snowdon Mountain Railway Hunslet diesel

Some trains are steam worked but many are worked by Hunslet diesel locos such as this one seen close up at Llanberis.

 

SMR Hunslet diesel

Another view of the diesel which had taken us to the top and back.  An interesting detail is that the line is all downhill and therefore the carriages (all trains are single carriage) are not couple to the locos, gravity keeping them in contact on the descent and during shunting.  They do have continuous brakes of course!

Two SMR Hunslet diesels at Llanberis

A last view of the Snowdon Mountain Railway, two of the Hunslet diesels side by side at Llanberis.  One platform is used for arrivals, the other for departures as capacity is limited and tickets are issued for particular trains only.

Ffestiniog_Railway, Snowdon_Mountain_Railway, Llanberis_Lake_Railway Great_Orme_Tramway

Llanberis Lake Railway

Thomas Bach on the Llanberis Lake Railway

Llanberis' other railway, the Llanberis Lake Railway, which is a conventional 2ft. gauge line.  In this photo the a train is approaching the terminus at Llanberis.

 

The little blue engine arriving at Llanberis

The train with its little blue engine is running into the terminus at Llanberis.

 

Thomas Bach the little blue tank engine

This little blue tank engine is named Thomas Bach, it originally worked in the nearby Dinorwic slate quarries.

 

Ffestiniog_Railway, Snowdon_Mountain_Railway, Llanberis_Lake_Railway Great_Orme_Tramway

Great Orme Tramway

Great Orme trams passing

The Great Orme Tramway runs from Llandudno up to the summit of Great Orme.  In this photo two cars are crossing on the upper section near the Great Orme Mine.

Great Orme Tramway track

A view of the "open" track at the summit showing the cables to which the cars are attached to haul them up the hill (or is it a small mountain?)

 

Great Orme tram nears the summit

A tram car nears the summit.  Views on and around Great Orme can be seen on Llandudno on my other site.

 

Ffestiniog_Railway, Snowdon_Mountain_Railway, Llanberis_Lake_Railway Great_Orme_Tramway

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This site was last updated 15-07-2012

Photos not otherwise credited are ©2001-2004 S G J Huddy.  Other photos are included with permission of the copyright holders.