Glan Conwy and Tal-y-Cafn

 

DMU at Glan Conwy 31/12/81 (s2562.jpg)

The 14:54 from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog leaves its request stop at Glan Conwy on New Year's Eve 1981. The small station is seen in the background. The first station on the branch to Blaenau, it was closed in 1964. Glan Conway was reopened in 1970, and renamed Glan Conwy in 1981. Another branch station, Dolgarrog, also closed in 1964. It too reopened - in 1965.

24073 24057 at Tal-y-Cafn 25/06/77 (s1116.jpg)

The line between Llandudno Junction and Betws-y-Coed closely follows the River Conwy - and is frequently subject to flooding. Just below Tal-y-Cafn, the line is right on the river bank, as seen here as 24073 and 24057 return with an excursion from Blaenau. 25th June 1977.

24057 24073 at Tal-y-Cafn 25/06/77 (s1118.jpg)

Although returning downhill from Blaenau, there is a short stretch of 1 in 200 'up' here, and the loco exhausts show this. 24073, the leading loco, had been in store at Carlisle for 18 months, but was reinstated from February to November 1977. 24057, behind, would itself be withdrawn on 15th January 1978.

DMU at Tal-y-Cafn 16/04/82 (s2600-03.jpg)

In spring sunshine, the 14:54 from Llandudno is seen again on the 16th April 1982 as it approaches Tal-y-Cafn on its way to Blaenau. The 4-car formation includes first class accomodation.

50007 40192 at Tal-y-Cafn 21/04/84 (s84009.jpg)

Slightly nearer Tal-y-Cafn, 50007 and 40192 double head the Conwy Crusader II railtour from Coventry. 50007 (Sir Edward Elgar) had worked from Coventry to Llandudno Junction where 40192 was added for the climb up the branch. On returning to the Junction, 40086 took over for the run to Holyhead. 50007 presumably returned "light engine" to the Midlands. The train is passing Tal-y-Cafn down distant signal. There were no home signals here - the red 'targets' on the level crossing gates being used instead. The fact that the distant is cleared indicates that the gates are closed to road traffic.