Tan-y-Manod railway station
Encyclopedia
Tan-y-Manod railway station was a railway station in North Wales
. It opened as part of the narrow gauge Festiniog and Blaenau Railway
on 29 May 1868. On 1 September 1882 the standard gauge Bala Ffestiniog Line
reached Llan Ffestiniog
from the south. The following year the narrow gauge line was converted, with the station site redeveloped as a slate transfer wharf. Narrow gauge trains continued to operate during the conversion, using a third rail. The standard gauge was officially opened on 10 September 1883.
The restricted site (on a curved embankment) housed sidings (originally including a passing loop
) in connection with a series of inclines linking the line with the Manod and Craig Ddu slate quarries. The slate, travelling in Ffestiniog Railway
owned wagons, was hauled by the Festiniog and Blaenau Railway from Tan-y-Manod to Blaenau Ffestiniog for onward transport by the FR to Porthmadog.
During conversion to standard gauge, the GWR removed the passing loop, built an engine shed and installed a locomotive turntable together with transfer docks permitting gauge slate wagons to be propelled on to standard gauge transporters, four slate wagons (two side by side) to each transporter wagon. These were then hauled to Blaenau Ffestiniog for transfer back to the narrow gauge and the FR or else unloaded sorted and transshipped into GWR standard gauge wagons.
The GWR, like the LNWR and before them the FR, provided the quarry owners with free use of narrow gauge wagons in an attempt to promote the use of their own route. Slate traffic using the transporter wagons continued until Craig Ddu quarry closed in 1945.
There was no standard gauge passenger service to Tan-y-Manod. Freight services ceased on 27 January 1961.
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. It opened as part of the narrow gauge Festiniog and Blaenau Railway
Festiniog and Blaenau Railway
The Festiniog & Blaenau Railway was a narrow gauge railway built in 1868 to connect the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog with the slate quarries around Tanymanod and the smaller town of Llan Ffestiniog. At Blaenau Ffestiniog it made a direct connection with the Ffestiniog Railway with which it was...
on 29 May 1868. On 1 September 1882 the standard gauge Bala Ffestiniog Line
Bala Ffestiniog Line
The Bala and Ffestiniog Railway was a , standard gauge, railway backed by the Great Western Railway railway in North Wales which connected Bala with Blaenau Ffestiniog.- History :...
reached Llan Ffestiniog
Ffestiniog railway station
Llan Ffestiniog railway station was a railway station in Llan Ffestiniog, North Wales. It opened as the terminus of the narrow gauge Festiniog and Blaenau Railway on 29 May 1868. On 1 September 1882 the standard gauge Bala Ffestiniog Line reached Llan Ffestiniog from the south. The standard gauge...
from the south. The following year the narrow gauge line was converted, with the station site redeveloped as a slate transfer wharf. Narrow gauge trains continued to operate during the conversion, using a third rail. The standard gauge was officially opened on 10 September 1883.
The restricted site (on a curved embankment) housed sidings (originally including a passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
) in connection with a series of inclines linking the line with the Manod and Craig Ddu slate quarries. The slate, travelling in Ffestiniog Railway
Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park....
owned wagons, was hauled by the Festiniog and Blaenau Railway from Tan-y-Manod to Blaenau Ffestiniog for onward transport by the FR to Porthmadog.
During conversion to standard gauge, the GWR removed the passing loop, built an engine shed and installed a locomotive turntable together with transfer docks permitting gauge slate wagons to be propelled on to standard gauge transporters, four slate wagons (two side by side) to each transporter wagon. These were then hauled to Blaenau Ffestiniog for transfer back to the narrow gauge and the FR or else unloaded sorted and transshipped into GWR standard gauge wagons.
The GWR, like the LNWR and before them the FR, provided the quarry owners with free use of narrow gauge wagons in an attempt to promote the use of their own route. Slate traffic using the transporter wagons continued until Craig Ddu quarry closed in 1945.
There was no standard gauge passenger service to Tan-y-Manod. Freight services ceased on 27 January 1961.