23. North Wales-31.12.79

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1979 > 23. North Wales-31.12.79

As a scout of many years, I was part of Wiltshire Scouts' midwinter expeditions, the locations of which were a closely kept secret until departure. The '79 expedition was to North Wales. I managed to take a few railway related photographs all on the last day of the year.

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Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.

Llanrwst station & signal box (LNWR, 1880)
Taken on a cold and wintery morning at Llanrwst on the Conwy Valley the station and signal box are seen in this view looking north. The box is a London and North Western Railway structure dating from 1880 and is still in use today, albeit as a token exchange point. The derelict station building seen here is grade II listed, as is the box, with the station now open as a request stop that is infrequently patronised. This is because in 1989, BR opened a far more conveniently located single platform station slightly further south, nearer to the town centre. Thus, a small town of some 3,300 people, has the luxury of two stations!
Keywords: Llanrwst station signal box

Preserved stock, Betws-y-Coed station
In the gloom at Betws-y-Coed station is some preserved stock owned by the Conwy Valley Railway Museum. They also operate a narrow gauge railway on their site that can be seen in the foreground. The stock seen is a Southern parcels van either 1070 or 407, and a Pullman coach 'Emerald' both of which are still there today some forty years on from this gloomy picture being taken.
Keywords: Preserved stock Betws-y-Coed station

Betws-y-Coed station
With the mist and low cloud mixing with the smoke from chimneys Betws-y-Coed station nestles in the bottom of the Conwy Valley. It was opened in 1868 by the LNWR, but by the time I took this photograph, the building had been rationalised and was somewhat run-down. I am standing on the footbridge that joined the up and down platforms that, by this stage, merely provided access to the adjacent Conwy Valley Railway Museum as the line had been singled. Now the station has been much improved with a large canopy reinstalled. The building functions as a café, visitors centre, bed and breakfast accommodation and is the home for a number of small retail outlets. Passenger numbers have been on the rise but will take a dive during 2019 caused by the four-month closure of the Conwy Valley line due to extensive damage caused by flooding as a result of Storm Gareth in March.
Keywords: Betws-y-Coed station

Class 108 DMU, unidentified Blaenau Ffestiniog working, Betws-y-Coed station
In the gathering gloom deep in the Conwy Valley, a Class 108 DMU arrives with a service for Blaenau Ffestiniog. It is likely that this train will have originated from one of Llandudno or Llandudno Junction. The train is seen entering Betws-y-Coed station.
Keywords: Class 108 DMU Blaenau Ffestiniog working Betws-y-Coed station

Images 1-4 of 4 displayed.