Slate Operations on the WHR
Encyclopedia
The original Welsh Highland Railway
(WHR) owed its existence to the narrow gauge railways and tramways built to serve commercial slate traffic from slate quarries
and other mineral extraction operations along its route.
During the first world war as well as slate other materials such as timber were carried by the NWNGR from the Beddgelert Forest extension, one of the more recent proposals for the re-opened WHR is to again carry timber from the Forestry Commission operation in Beddgelert Forest where the line runs through.
was built to take slate traffic from the Croesor
and New Rhosydd quarries/mines. The Croesor tramway had run from Portmadoc since 1863 up into the Croesor Valley and the slate quarries in this area. This was a horse worked line laid to a nominal 2 foot gauge. The section of WHR track due for re-opening in 2009 between Pont Croesor and Porthmadog
follows the original trackbed of the tramway.
was built to serve the following quarries:
The railway was then extended by a branch from Tryfan Junction
to connect with the Hafod-y-Wern quarry branch and Glanrafon where there sidings.
Welsh Highland Railway
The Welsh Highland Railway is a long restored narrow gauge heritage railway in North Wales, operating from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, and passing through a number of popular tourist destinations including Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn Pass. At Porthmadog it connects with the Ffestiniog Railway...
(WHR) owed its existence to the narrow gauge railways and tramways built to serve commercial slate traffic from slate quarries
Slate industry
The slate industry is the industry related to the extraction and processing of slate. Slate is either quarried from a slate quarry or reached by tunneling in a slate mine. Common uses for slate include as a roofing material, a flooring material, gravestones and memorial tablets, and for electrical...
and other mineral extraction operations along its route.
During the first world war as well as slate other materials such as timber were carried by the NWNGR from the Beddgelert Forest extension, one of the more recent proposals for the re-opened WHR is to again carry timber from the Forestry Commission operation in Beddgelert Forest where the line runs through.
Croesor Tramway
The Croesor TramwayCroesor Tramway
The Croesor Tramway was a Welsh narrow gauge railway line built to carry slate from the Croesor slate mines to Porthmadog. It was built in 1864 without an Act of Parliament and was operated using horse power....
was built to take slate traffic from the Croesor
Croesor Quarry
Croesor Quarry is a large underground slate mine in north Wales which was served by Croesor Tramway. It has a single adit in the hillside and ceased operation after a hundred years in 1930 having produced 11,000 tonnes of finished slate annually at its peak....
and New Rhosydd quarries/mines. The Croesor tramway had run from Portmadoc since 1863 up into the Croesor Valley and the slate quarries in this area. This was a horse worked line laid to a nominal 2 foot gauge. The section of WHR track due for re-opening in 2009 between Pont Croesor and Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
follows the original trackbed of the tramway.
North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways
The main line of the North Wales Narrow Gauge RailwaysNorth Wales Narrow Gauge Railways
The North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways was a gauge railway running from Dinas to Bryngwyn, Wales, which was authorised by Act of Parliament 1872. The same act authorised a branch from Tryfan Junction to South Snowdon...
was built to serve the following quarries:
- Alexandra Quarry
- Moel Tryfan Quarry
- Braich
- Y Fron
- Cilgwyn
The railway was then extended by a branch from Tryfan Junction
Tryfan Junction railway station
A former junction station on the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways / Welsh Highland Railway for the main line and the Bryngwyn Branch. Following closure in 1936 the station building fell into disuse. Work began in 2009 on restoration of the station by the Welsh Highland Heritage Group...
to connect with the Hafod-y-Wern quarry branch and Glanrafon where there sidings.