Blaenau Ffestiniog - Tunnel Approaches

After the picturesque ride up the Conwy and Lledr valleys through the scenery of the Snowdonia National Park, there was a long ride through the 2 mile 333 yard Ffestiniog tunnel and then a stunning contrast to all that had gone before with the post-industrial landscape of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

24133 and 24087 at Blaenau Ffestiniog 14/02/77 (s0959.jpg)

On a gloomy 14th February 1977, 24133 and 24087 are working hard as they climb out of Blaenau and curve into the tunnel at the site of Greave's Siding, at the head of the Lledr Valley Express fomr Crewe to Blaenau and Holyhead.

40029 25323 at Blaenau Ffestiniog 30/04/77 (s1423.jpg)

40029 and 25323 wait in the station with the stock of an excursion on 30th April 1977. The water tank still survives - but only just as it was removed shortly afterwards. The siding in the foreground show another approach to providing a level transhipment surface - the standard gauge line is sunk into the ground. This siding and a number of others had just been disconnected as part of some minor rationalisation of the yard following the replacement of the road underbridge at yard throat.

24057 24073 at Blaenau Ffestiniog 25/06/77 (s1436.jpg)

24057 and 24073 start to shunt the empty stock of a 13-coach M&GNJRS excursion from London Euston on 25th June 1977. 24073 will reverse the stock out of the station to allow 24057 to follow it out and enter the sidings. 24073 will draw the stock back into the platform, 24057 will attach to the back and then pull the train out again to let 24073 into the sidings. 24057 will then reverse the train into the station again, 24073 will come out of the siding and attach to the front. Finally, the pair will pull the train out of the platform and reverse it into the sidings. Only then can the single-line token be given up for the service train to come up from Llanrwst. Visible in the background are a couple of freight wagons in the yard and the very large, disused goods shed. In the foreground, No 3 ground frame has been operated to allow 24057 to shunt onto the Trawsfynydd branch, to give more room for the shunt.

24082 at Blaenau Ffestiniog 15/10/77 (s84014.jpg)

24082 is seen at Blaenau, having worked in from Crewe on a Festiniog Railway Society special with 25043. In the foreground is the sand drag, protecting the station from runaway vehicles on the Trawsfynydd branch.

24082 at Blaenau Ffestiniog 15/10/77 (s84015.jpg)

24082 is seen at Blaenau, having worked in from Crewe on a Festiniog Railway Society special with 25043. In the foreground is the sand drag, protecting the station from runaway vehicles on the Trawsfynydd branch.