Blaenau Ffestiniog to Trawsfynydd - Page 1
(this section of track is currently disused)

The line from Blaenau to Llan Ffestiniog was originally built to two foot gauge which accounts for the extremely sharp curves and gradients.  It was then taken over by the the Great Western Railway as part of their line from Bala and regauged to standard.  The GWR line terminated at Blaenau Ffestiniog Central and closed in January 1961.  In 1964 in order to provide access to the then new nuclear power station at Trawsfynydd, a new connection was opened from the ex LNWR line at Blaenau Ffestiniog North.  Following closure of the power station, the line from Blaenau to Trawsfynydd closed in 1998.

In 2011 following years of disuse, plans were announced for a Velorail from Blaenau to Trawsfynydd.  This would comprise light pedal powered vehicles travelling in convoy alternately from one end to the other.  Clearance of some vegetation has been undertaken for the project.  More details here.

31224 and 31134  squeeze through the final bridge before entering Blaenau station on a flask train on 25th July 1994.  

31203 and 37691 returning to Blaenau after a reballasting foray to Trawsfynydd, 5th December 1993.

20902 on the back of the weedkilling train, 17th of August 1993.

Birmingham Tyseley allocated set No. T316 is a long way from home as it crosses Tan y Manod viaduct on the outskirts of Blaenau with a Sunday Shuttle service to Trawsfynydd.  This viaduct replaced a wooden trestle when the line was rebuilt to standard gauge.   The speed limit from Blaenau to Trawsfynydd was a stately 15 mph. 2nd September 1990.

20902 leads the weedkilling train across Tan y Manod viaduct, 17th August 1993.

31242 passes the site of Manod station on a ballast train returning to Blaenau.  31270 follows behind, light engine, at a respectable distance.  14th November 1993.  After a couple of years of disuse, following the ending of power generation at Trawsfynydd, the line was reopened to empty the power station of nuclear fuel rods.  A lot of effort went into re-ballasting the line ready for its final use.

31270 is engaged on reballasting duties near Manod,  14th November 1993.

20187 and 075 on the second Trawsfynydd Trekker railtour on 10th September 1994, with 31238 and 31207 at the other end of the six coach train.  The train is seen near the site of Cwm Teigl Halt.  The track on this section was in extremely good condition following an extensive re-ballasting programme.