Cedryn Quarry Tramway
Encyclopedia
The Cedryn Quarry Tramway (later largely used as the route of the Eigiau Tramway
) was an industrial
narrow gauge railway that connected the slate quarries at Cedryn and Cwm Eigiau to the quays at Dolgarrog
in the Conwy valley.
at Dolgarrog
. A 5 mile long tramway was constructed in the period 1861-1863. The gauge was approximately and was built using wrought iron T section rails.
Some time before 1866 this tramway was extended a further mile to Cwm Eigiau Quarry, and the name "Cwm Eigiau Tramway" largely became synonymous with that of the Cedryn Tramway. The Caedryn [sic] Slate Quarry Co. Ltd of 1863 became in 1874 the Caedryn [sic] & Cwm Eigiau Slate Co. Ltd, but was dissolved just 11 years later, the slate being of a poor quality.
By 1907, when the route was used for a new tramway to assist in the building of the dam at Llyn Eigiau
, all rails had been removed. This new tramway, the Eigiau Tramway
, was initially built to the wider standard gauge, and used steam engines. It followed the route of the Cedryn Tramway except that the small incline above Coedty was by-passed to the north.
and passed over the Afon Eigiau
on a wooden trestle. It crossed the Eigiau again at Bont-y-Cedryn and then skirted the site of what is now the Eigiau Reservoir
. Passing the col
at Hafod-y-Rhiw the line ran along a series of low stone embankments to the top of a short incline above Coedty
.
Below Coedty, and just before the top of the Dolgarrog inclines, the line passed the point where the Cowlyd Tramway
was later to branch off. The line continued to the top of the Dolgarrog escarpment
which it descended via three steep inclines. These were later used as locomotive access by the Eigiau and Cowlyd Tramways, and are today utilized by the two large pipes which carry water to the aluminum works. The lowest incline passed through a short tunnel under the main road at Tyddyn Isaf, and this former incline and tunnel can be seen today adjacent to the former (wooden) community centre. From here the tramway continued across the marshland to the edge of the River Conwy at Porth Llwyd wharf.
The lowest incline was later abandoned in favour of a new incline built slightly to the north, and today the pipelines take this newer route.
Eigiau Tramway
The Eigiau Tramway might refer to the Eigiau Quarry Tramway or to the Eigiau Reservoir Tramway.- Eigiau Quarry Tramway :The Eigiau Quarry Tramway was a narrow gauge mile-long horse-powered tramway which operated from c1863 to c1888 and served the Eigiau slate quarry [ref SH702635], near Llyn Eigiau...
) was an industrial
Industrial railway
An industrial railway is a type of railway that is not available for public transportation and is used exclusively to serve a particular industrial, logistics or military site...
narrow gauge railway that connected the slate quarries at Cedryn and Cwm Eigiau to the quays at Dolgarrog
Dolgarrog
Dolgarrog is a small village in the Conwy County Borough in North Wales situated between Llanrwst and Conwy, very close to the Conwy River. The village is well known for its industrial history since the 18th century and the Eigiau dam disaster, which occurred in 1925...
in the Conwy valley.
History
The slate quarry at Cedryn is first recorded in 1827. The output of this remote site was initially taken by horse pack to the quays on the River ConwyRiver Conwy
The River Conwy is a river in north Wales. From its source to its discharge in Conwy Bay it is a little over long. "Conwy" is sometimes Anglicized as "Conway."...
at Dolgarrog
Dolgarrog
Dolgarrog is a small village in the Conwy County Borough in North Wales situated between Llanrwst and Conwy, very close to the Conwy River. The village is well known for its industrial history since the 18th century and the Eigiau dam disaster, which occurred in 1925...
. A 5 mile long tramway was constructed in the period 1861-1863. The gauge was approximately and was built using wrought iron T section rails.
Some time before 1866 this tramway was extended a further mile to Cwm Eigiau Quarry, and the name "Cwm Eigiau Tramway" largely became synonymous with that of the Cedryn Tramway. The Caedryn [sic] Slate Quarry Co. Ltd of 1863 became in 1874 the Caedryn [sic] & Cwm Eigiau Slate Co. Ltd, but was dissolved just 11 years later, the slate being of a poor quality.
By 1907, when the route was used for a new tramway to assist in the building of the dam at Llyn Eigiau
Llyn Eigiau
Llyn Eigiau is a lake on the edge of the Carneddau range of mountains in Snowdonia, North Wales.The name Eigiau is thought to refer to the shoals of fish which once lived here. Early maps refer to it as Llynyga...
, all rails had been removed. This new tramway, the Eigiau Tramway
Eigiau Tramway
The Eigiau Tramway might refer to the Eigiau Quarry Tramway or to the Eigiau Reservoir Tramway.- Eigiau Quarry Tramway :The Eigiau Quarry Tramway was a narrow gauge mile-long horse-powered tramway which operated from c1863 to c1888 and served the Eigiau slate quarry [ref SH702635], near Llyn Eigiau...
, was initially built to the wider standard gauge, and used steam engines. It followed the route of the Cedryn Tramway except that the small incline above Coedty was by-passed to the north.
Route
The tramway started at the foot of the quarry exit inclineCable railway
A cable railway is a steeply graded railway that uses a cable or rope to haul trains.-Introduction:...
and passed over the Afon Eigiau
Afon Eigiau
Afon Eigiau is a small river in the Carneddau mountains in Snowdonia, North Wales, which flows down Cwm Eigiau and into Llyn Eigiau.It is fed by smaller streams which flow down the slopes of neighbouring Foel Grach, Carnedd Llywelyn and Pen yr Helgi Du....
on a wooden trestle. It crossed the Eigiau again at Bont-y-Cedryn and then skirted the site of what is now the Eigiau Reservoir
Llyn Eigiau
Llyn Eigiau is a lake on the edge of the Carneddau range of mountains in Snowdonia, North Wales.The name Eigiau is thought to refer to the shoals of fish which once lived here. Early maps refer to it as Llynyga...
. Passing the col
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
at Hafod-y-Rhiw the line ran along a series of low stone embankments to the top of a short incline above Coedty
Coedty Reservoir
Coedty Reservoir is a reservoir in Snowdonia, North Wales. It is fed by the waters of Afon Porth-llwyd which flows from Llyn Eigiau. The reservoir lies at a height of , and measures some in size. It contains brown trout....
.
Below Coedty, and just before the top of the Dolgarrog inclines, the line passed the point where the Cowlyd Tramway
Cowlyd Tramway
The Cowlyd Tramway was a narrow gauge gauge railway line used to convey men and materials to Llyn Cowlyd Reservoir, near Trefriw in North Wales during the enlargement of the dam, and thereafter for maintenance purposes.-History:...
was later to branch off. The line continued to the top of the Dolgarrog escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
which it descended via three steep inclines. These were later used as locomotive access by the Eigiau and Cowlyd Tramways, and are today utilized by the two large pipes which carry water to the aluminum works. The lowest incline passed through a short tunnel under the main road at Tyddyn Isaf, and this former incline and tunnel can be seen today adjacent to the former (wooden) community centre. From here the tramway continued across the marshland to the edge of the River Conwy at Porth Llwyd wharf.
The lowest incline was later abandoned in favour of a new incline built slightly to the north, and today the pipelines take this newer route.