The Associated Octel Company and the Amlwch branch
Associated Octel was an important customer of the railway from the opening of its Amlwch plant in the early 1950's until 1993. There was a daily Ellesmere Port - Amlwch and return freight which conveyed Ethylene Dibromide (grey tanks) and Liquid Chlorine (white tanks). A brake van each end was necessary as the train reversed at Hooton and barrier wagons were used because of the hazardous nature of the cargo. The other traffic to Amlwch was Raw Sulphur imported via Mostyn Dock. All of the above mentioned traffic was transferred to road haulage. In the case of the Chlorine because the H&SE objected to large amounts being stored at Amlwch. The line from Gaerwen to Amlwch closed when the Octel traffic ceased but efforts are being made by Isle of Anglesey Railways to reopen the route to passengers. The Octel plant in Amlwch closed in 2003 and has since been demolished.
Railfreight grey No. 47370 heads the Amlwch - Ellesmere port working through Amlwch on 15 February 1992. The section of line from the former passenger station to the chemical works was worked by A.O.C.'s own shunting locos as a private siding until the early seventies after which main line locos worked through to the works. This train left Amlwch in mid morning and recessed in Llandudno Junction until late afternoon. The return working arriving in Amlwch in the early morning.
An engineers inspection saloon is seen at Amlwch on 6th June 1992. The private siding to Associated Octel begins just past the loop in the background.
