Narrow Gauge Railway Resurrection
Hunslet Quarry 0-4-0ST on the Llanberis Lake Railway in May 1999 - Photo Dave Cooke
Over the years many narrow gauge railways have sadly closed down and now cease to exist. However, a number of these have been or are being revived even after being closed and dismantled many years ago. One of the first to start operating again (in 1971) is the Llanberis Lake Railway which has been rebuilt as a two foot gauge railway for visitors to the Padarn Country Park, utilising track materials and locomotives from the now closed Dinorwic Quarry which is adjacent to the railway. The current railway runs for just over 2 miles from Gilfach Ddu (next to the Welsh Slate Museum) to Penllyn alongside Lake Padarn and is built on part of the trackbed of the old Padarn Railway which was originally built as a four foot gauge railway in 1848 to link the Quarry to Port Dinorwic situated on the Menai Straits between Bangor and Caernarfon. In June the recently built extension from Gilfach Ddu to a new terminus nearer to the town (opposite the Snowdon Mountain Railway station) was officially opened.
Another two foot gauge railway which runs along side a lake and on the track bed of the former standard gauge railway from Llangollen to Dolgellau is the Bala Lake Railway which also uses former quarry locomotives. This railway runs for just over 4 miles from Llanuwchllyn to Penybont (just outside Bala). This railway opened to the pubic in 1974 and is run with mainly volunteer staff. A third two foot gauge railway which also co-incidently runs alongside a lake for part of its journey is the Brecon Mountain Railway in South Wales. This railway runs for just over 3 miles from Pant on the northern outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil to just beyond Pontsticill. It is hoped to eventually extend another five miles to Talybont. The motive power used on this railway has mostly been imported from abroad.
Two other narrow gauge railways in Wales are currently in the process of being reopened. The principal one being the legendry Welsh Highland Railway which originally ran from Dinas (3 miles south of Caernarvon) to Porthmadog passing through Bedgelert and the picturesque Aberglaslyn Pass on the way. This 2 foot gauge railway only operated from 1923 until 1936 when it closed down in spite of being leased by the Ffestiniog Railway in 1934. The railway remained derelict until 1941 when it was dismantled and all rolling stock disposed of (mainly for scrap).
However, in 1961 a Preservation Group was formed with the avowed intention of reopening the railway. After many years of negotiation, political battles and public enquiries the green light has finally been given for the entire 22 miles of railway (plus the never built section between Dinas & Caernarvon) to be rebuilt by the Ffestiniog Railway which is expected to take aound ten years to complete. The section from Caernarvon has been operating since late 1997 and the next section to Waunfawr was opened at the beginning of August 2000. The third section to Rhyd Ddu has just been completed and officially opened (30th July) by HRH Prince Charles and is due to open to the public in late summer in 2003. The original Preservation Group (Welsh Highland Railway Ltd.) who have been based at Bedgelert Siding in Porthmadog for a number of years and operate trains over 3/4 mile to Pen-y-mount (since 1980) have reached agreement with the Ffestiniog Railway to start rebuilding northwards, initially to Pont Croesor (just under 2 miles from Porthmadog) but then onwards to eventually meet up with the line being rebuilt southwards from from Dinas. Construction of the Pont Croesor extension started in 2001.
Remarkably, one of the original WHR locomotives has survived despite the railway being closed over 60 years ago. The locomotive is Hunslet 2-6-2T 'Russell' which was built in 1906 for use on the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways, a forerunner of the WHR. After closure of the line in 1937 the locomotive was eventually sold (in 1941) into industrial service before being rescued for preservation in 1953. After many years storage at various locations it passed to WHLR (64) who purchased a new boiler and restored it to working order at Porthmadog in 1987.
Hunslet 2-6-2T 'Russell about to depart from Portmadog in May 1999 - Photo Dave Cooke
The other Welsh narrow gauge railway in the early stages of being rebuilt is the Corris Railway which was originally built in 1859 with a gauge of 2 foot 3 inches to link quarry's at Corris with Machynlleth. Horses were used until 1878 when three steam locomotives were purchased. Passengers were carried from 1883 until 1931 (the railway having been acquired by the GWR in 1929) but slate was carried until 1948 when the railway was closed due to the bridge over the River Dovey being damaged by floods. The last two remaining locomotives were placed in store at Machynlleth until both were purchased by the Talyllyn Railway in 1951.
The Corris Railway Society was formed in 1966 and opened a Museum at the old Corris Station in 1970. It is intended to open a 2.1/2 mile section south from Corris with passengers being carried from June 2002. A new replica Kerr Stuart 'Tattoo' Class steam locomotive is currently under construction which should be delivered to the railway in the not too distant future. The Railway was officially opened on June 7th during a visit of locomotive No.3 (on loan from Talyllyn Railway).
Finally, perhaps the most ambitious scheme is to rebuild the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway which from 1898 to 1935 linked the two towns a distance of some 20 miles at a gauge of 2 foot. Unfortunately, upon closure all locomotives and rolling stock was sold, most of it for scrap but two complete coaches were saved (one was rescued and rebuilt by the Ffestiniog Railway, the other is in York Railway Museum in unrestored condition). No locomotives have survived (one - 'Lew' was exported to Brazil in 1936 but is very unlikely to still exist).
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Association was formed in the 1980's and after many abortive attempts to acquire parts of the trackbed has managed to purchase both Woody Bay and Chelfham Station sites and ajoining sections of trackbed. It is intended to initially reopen the section from Woody Bay to Parracombe, hopefully in 2003 (tracklaying at Woody Bay started in August 2002). Most of the trackbed has been sold off over the years so it will be a long and difficult process to reopen the whole of the line. However, the major feature on the railway, the impressive brick viaduct at Chelfham still survives and as a listed structure must be maintained (by BR Estates). Restoration work has recently been completed & it is hoped to acquire the structure for a modest sum. A Kerr Stuart 'Joffre' Class 0-6-0T steam locomotive has been purchased and is in the process of being restored. At the same time 'Project Yeo' has been set up to fund the building of a replica Manning Wardle 2-6-2T locomotive as originally used on the railway. Construction was started at Winson Engineering of Daventry but due to the demise of this company a new locomotive builder will be required. The locomtive frames are currently stored at Mangaps Farm in Essex. This is likely to be a long term project unless more funds are forthcoming. Two coaches and a van are in the process of being rebuilt from remaining sections of the original vehicles which had survived as sheds or summer houses. Late in 2001 a Baguley 0-6-0 diesel locomotive (re-named 'Pilton') was re-imported from Australia for future use on the railway. Woody Bay station was officially opened as a visitor centre on 11th May. Passenger trains should be in operation from Easter 2004.
Other Narrow Gauge Railways Such as the Ffestiniog or Welshpool & LLanfair were perhaps more fortunate in that while they were both closed down for a number of years, they were not dismantled and most of the locomotives and rolling stock survived intact. A couple of Narrow Gauge lines did not even close (except during the Winter months) and are still running today as the Talyllyn Railway and Vale of Rheidol Railway, both being located in Mid-Wales.
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