Anglesey Central Railway

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Anglesey Central Railway Locale Wales Dates of operation 16 December 1864 – 1876 Successor line London and North Western Railway Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)
Legend Amlwch Associated Octel Amlwch Rhosgoch Tank Farm Rhosgoch Llanerchymedd Llangwyllog Llyn Cefni Llangefni Red Wharf Bay branch line Holland Arms Gaerwen (North Wales Coast Line)

The Anglesey Central Railway (Welsh: Lein Amlwch, Amlwch Line) was a railway in Anglesey, Wales, connecting the port of Amlwch and the county town of Llangefni with the North Wales Coast Line at Gaerwen.

The railway was opened in stages from 1864 to 1867, but was financially troubled. In 1876 the line was sold to the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), who invested significantly in it. The line was subsequently operated by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) from 1921, and by British Rail following privatisation in 1946. Passenger services ceased in 1964, during the Beeching Axe, but freight services continued to operate on the line until 1993.

The railway's tracks have been left in situ, and local groups have demonstrated an interest in restoring services. Alternative proposals have been made by Sustrans to use the route as a cycle path. The line's future is unclear.

Contents 1 Path 2 History 2.1 Early days 2.2 1863–1876: Independent operation 2.2.1 Financial troubles 2.3 1876–1923: London and North Western Railway 2.3.1 1877 accident 2.3.2 Red Wharf Bay branch 2.3.3 Passing loop at Llangwyllog 2.4 1923–1946: London, Midland and Scottish Railway 2.5 1946–1993: British Rail 2.5.1 Run down and closure 3 Rolling stock 4 2008 status 5 Notes 6 Bibliography 7 External links

[edit] Path

The railway branches off westbound from the North Wales Coast Line at Gaerwen, and turns north-east to descend into Malltraeth Marsh (Welsh: Cors Ddyga), passing below Telford's A5 and the A55 just prior to Holland Arms station at Pentre Berw. The Red Wharf Bay branch (now removed) left the line here, as the Amlwch line continues north-west, crossing the River Cefni and approaching Llangefni.

North of Llangefni, the railway follows the course of the River Cefni in The Dingle. Having followed the river through the narrow valley, over bridges and through cuttings, the railway crosses Llyn Cefni, the island's second largest reservoir.

The railway continues north-west over easier terrain towards Llangwyllog and Llanerchymedd, where it turns north, running to the west of Llyn Alaw toward Rhosgoch. It then turns north-east around Parys Mountain before reaching Amlwch.

As of 2008, the track is in a poor state of repair, with gorse bushes and small saplings growing between the tracks in some locations.

[edit] History

[edit] Early days

The railways arrived on Anglesey with the construction of the Chester and Holyhead Railway, of which the section from Llanfairpwll to Holyhead opened in 1848, two years before the Britannia Bridge was finished.^[1] The Chester and Holyhead railway surveyed a branch to Llangefni in 1852, but chose not to proceed.^[2] George Stephenson notably reported that the line was not worth building.^[3]

The idea of a local railway was still of interest to the people of Anglesey. A public meeting was held in Llangefni on 5 July 1858, to popularise the idea of building a railway leaving the main line at Gaerwen, running north to Amlwch, west to Cemaes Bay, then south through Llanrhyddlad to rejoin the main line at Valley. This ambitious scheme did not gain enough support to proceed, although some landowners offered to exchange land for shares.^[2][4]

Proposals changed into a railway from Gaerwen to Amlwch, with another meeting in Llangefni, on 1 August 1861.^[4] David Davies and his partner Ezra Roberts offered to build the line at a cost of £6,000 per mile, complete except for rolling stock, or for £5,000 per mile, with the company to purchase the land and meet "preliminary and parliamentary expenses". This proposal won favour with the fledgling company, but it was not taken up.^[5] The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) (who had taken over the Chester and Holyhead Railway) were approached in 1862. The LNWR were not interested, so the railway was financed independently.^[2][4]

[edit] 1863–1876: Independent operation

The Anglesey Central Railway Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c.cxxviii)^[6] founded the company, with capital of £120,000. The chairman was William Bulkeley Hughes, MP for Caernarfon and local railway prospector.^[7] The ceremonial first sod was cut on 11 September 1863, with construction starting the following year under the contractors Dickson and Russell. With the line approaching Llangefni later in October 1864, LNWR engineers were authorised to build the main line junction at Gaerwen, at the Anglesey Central Railway's expense.^[8]

The line opened for freight as far as Llangefni on 16 December 1864. A special train carried the directors and friends from Bangor to a temporary station in Llangefni in 37 minutes. A banquet was held at the Bull Hotel for 100 guests, with celebrations continuing that evening in Bangor. The line was surveyed by Captain Rich in February, and the Board of Trade approved the line for passenger traffic on the 8 March 1865. Passenger services started four days later, with an engine and carriages loaned by the LNWR. In the six months to December 1865, the railway carried 18,839 passengers and 3,866 tons of freight (3,928 t), excluding livestock.^[9][8]

Further construction of the line was limited by a lack of funds. Russell asked the LNWR to adopt the line in August 1865, to no avail. An act of 1866 gave permission to raise a further £20,000, with loans of £6,600.^[10] After raising this capital, the line was opened to Llanerchymedd in 1866, with the temporary station at Llangefni replaced by a permanent structure half a mile further on. Captain Rich, when surveying the line, noted that the curves and gradients were severe, and recommended that the line be worked at moderate speed. He also noted the lack of turntables, and the company's intention to use Fairlie engines on the line.^[9]

The 1866 act also gave the Anglesey Central Railway (ACR) the right to authorise Dickson to lease or work the line, or to lease or sell the line to the LNWR. Dickson did indeed undertake to operate services. He requested permission from the LNWR to run services through to Bangor, but they refused, and passengers had to continue to change at Gaerwen. The act authorised a branch from Rhosgoch to Cemaes, but this was not built. The Fairlie engine Mountaineer was in use on the line in April 1866, but by October 1867 it was used on the Neath and Brecon Railway, where Dickson was a director. The Neath and Brecon's 0-6-0 Miers also operated on the ACR, under the name Anglesea. Neither of those engines was considered successful.^[11][12][8]

The final section to Amlwch was surveyed by the now Major Rich in January 1867. After remedial work, it opened to passengers throughout on 3 June 1867, although the first freight train to Amlwch was on 10 September 1866, according to Amlwch's first stationmaster, Mr O. Dew.^[12]

The line was built single track throughout. A run-around loop was provided at Amlwch only, meaning that trains could not pass each other. To ensure safe working, the Staff and Ticket system was used in three sections: Gaerwen-Llangefni, Llangefni-Llanerchymedd, and Llanerchymedd-Amlwch, using A and B configurated staffs alternately. No turntable was built, as the intended Fairlie engines would not require one. When the LNWR provided engines, they used tank engines where possible, rather than an engine with a tender.^[13]

Mona Mine, operating the copper works at Parys Mountain, switched from exporting ore by sea to by railway in 1865, two years before it reached Amlwch.^[14] Delivery prices per ton of coal were 25 shillings to London, 20 shillings to Birmingham, and 14 shillings and 2 pence to Liverpool, when carried from Gaerwen (by the LNWR). Carriage from Llangefni (then the terminus of the ACR) cost 2 shillings and sixpence more.^[15]

Deep-mining at Parys had stopped by the 1880s.^[16] Livestock, artificial fertiliser, and farm produce made up the majority of the remaining freight traffic.^[12][17]

[edit] Financial troubles

Dickson, who was operating all services on the railway, failed financially in 1868. William Dew, secretary of the company, writing in April of that year stated that "the affairs of the railway are in such a critical and pressing state".^[15] The ACR turned once again to the LNWR, asking them to work the line. These negotiations failed, but the LNWR did agree to led an engine and carriages once again. T. L. Kettle suggested to the chairperson in 1870 that sale to the LNWR would be desirable, on account of the company's debts.^[12][15] The financial situation restricted the company's ambitions:

As regards the line to Port of Amlwch, nothing ought to be done till there is certainty by guarantee or otherwise of sufficient traffic to pay a proper interest on the capital to be expended in making it.^[18]

—Neville Story Maskelyne, writing to the chairman

In January 1876 the LNWR informed the ACR that they could no longer lend the engine, in lieu of a recent court case. Three choices were suggested by the LNWR: that the line be bought outright, that a proper working arrangement be made, or that the ACR "might buy the engine and carriages now on the line". The ACR were not in a position to buy the stock, and made arrangements for the sale of the railway.^[12]

[edit] 1876–1923: London and North Western Railway

After a decade of operating as an independent company, the line was transferred to the London and North Western Railway in 1876, for £80,000.^[1] This was enacted by the Anglesey Central Railway (Transfer) Act of 1876 (39 & 40 Vict. cap clxxii),^[19] and the LNWR assumed control of the line on 1 July 1876.^[13]

A survey conducted by the LNWR found that the bridges and culverts were in a fair condition, but the stations were dirty. Fences were decayed, rails needed replacing, some sleepers were rotten, and the ballast was soft and shaley.^[20] The LNWR addressed these problems over the coming years.

A short passing loop was built at Llangefni station in 1877, but at only 40 yards (37 m) long it was not of much use for allowing trains to pass each other. A refuge siding was built for freight trains at Llanerchymedd in 1878, along with an engine shed in Amlwch. In 1882, new station buildings replaced the basic wooden sheds at Holland Arms, Llangwyllog and Rhosgoch, as well as development of the junction at Gaerwen into a full double junction, and a second signal cabin built there. An extended Amlwch station received a canopy by 1884.^[13] The staff and ticket system was supplemented with block working in 1886, and was replaced with the electric staff system in 1894.^[21]

The timetable for January 1883 shows a variety of passenger, goods and mixed trains, giving five passenger services down to Amlwch, and six up. The first train of the morning, departing Bangor at 04:20, and the 19:35 from Amlwch also carried mail to and from the island. The majority of trains still terminated at Gaerwen.^[22]

[edit] 1877 accident

In the early morning of 29 November 1877, heavy rain caused the dam of the Rhodgeidio mill near Llanerchymedd to breach, and the surge of water washed away a wooden bridge over the Alaw river. The first train of the day was driven by William Taylor, with fireman John Saunders and railway inspector John Davies also on the footplate. The train also included two coal trucks, a passenger coach, and a guard's van, with Edward Hughes serving as the guard. The whole train went over the side of the bridge into the river. Edward Hughes dragged himself out, and was taken to the nearest farm. John Davies was scalded to death, and Taylor and Saunders were found injured, and could not be freed until mid-day. John Saunders later died from his injuries.^[23]

Robert Williams, one of the Anglesey Central Railway's first drivers, noted that he had been instructed to drive the morning train, but that he slept late, and William Taylor replaced him at short notice. The bridge was later rebuilt in stone, and is known to this day as Pont Damwain (Accident Bridge).^[23]

[edit] Red Wharf Bay branch

Main article: Red Wharf Bay branch line

The LNWR obtained powers to build a branch from Holland Arms to Red Wharf Bay in 1899 and 1900. The line was opened to Pentraeth in 1908, and reached Red Wharf Bay in 1909. The Gaerwen-Llangefni staff section was replaced with Gaerwen-Holland Arms and Holland Arms-Llangefni sections, but the single line to Red Wharf Bay was operated as one section.

The motor train introduced to serve this branch also operated on the Amlwch line: when not running to Red Wharf Bay the motor train would operate between Llangefni and Gaerwen while the main branch train was on the round trip from Llangefni to Amlwch and back.^[24]

[edit] Passing loop at Llangwyllog

The lack of a passing loop suitable for passenger trains on the Amlwch line meant that trains could only operate every two hours. Coordinating this limited timetable with the main line services through Gaerwen was difficult, and passengers could face a long wait on occasions. To make the branch line workings more flexible, a passing loop was proposed for Llangwyllog in March 1914. The work was completed for the summer timetables.^[25] This required introducing a new working section, and Llangwyllog became a staff station. As the new section was in the middle of a line, a third type of staff was required (a C configuration); one of only a few sections on the LNWR that did not use a type A or B staff.^[26]

In 1916, the passing loop was used by one pair of passenger trains in the evening, with an extra down train (toward Amlwch) making seven down and six up trains per day. The railmotor train's services had grown to 24 single trips between Gaerwen/Holland Arms and Llangefni/Red Wharf Bay. The continuing shortages of the Great War meant that in January 1917 many passenger services were to be cut to give more resources to the war effort. The railways were slow to recover from the wartime hardships, and in 1921 there were six passenger trains to and from Amlwch, and only 18 single trips by the motor train.^[25]

[edit] 1923–1946: London, Midland and Scottish Railway

In 1923 Britain's numerous railway companies were grouped into the "Big Four", and the LNWR's assets became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS).

Holland Arms' functionality as a staff station was only useful for the Red Wharf Bay branch, but a signalman was still required for all Amlwch services. In about 1925, LMS introduced a switching-out system that could turn the Gaerwen-Holland Arms and Holland Arms-Llangefni sections into one long section. This was of particular advantage in early mornings and evenings, when the only services were on the Amlwch line.^[27][25]

By the summer of 1929, services had risen again to a new high. There were eight trains from Gaerwen to Amlwch, and seven in the other direction (with one less each way on a Thursday). Motor train services were back up to 24 single trips a day, but with two extra trips to Llangefni on Thursdays, and some extra evening trips on Fridays and Saturdays.^[25] Amlwch's engine shed was closed on 14 September 1931, with all trains being worked from Bangor.^[28]

The withdrawal of passenger services on the Red Wharf Bay branch in the 1930s also affected the Amlwch line, as the motor train that operated the extra Gaerwen–Llangefni services was withdrawn. As the economy recovered from the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the number of Gaerwen–Amlwch services was increased. The summer of 1938 saw ten down and eight up trains for passengers, with eleven each way on Saturdays.^[29]

[edit] 1946–1993: British Rail

A dam was built across the Cefni river north of Llangefni in the late 1940s to increase the water supply available to the island.^[30] The new reservoir, Llyn Cefni, crossed the railway's trackbed, and a bridge was built to support it. A second reservoir, Llyn Alaw, was formed adjacent to the railway north of Llanerchymedd in the 1960s, but did not interfere with the line's alignment.

Passenger numbers at Holland Arms station had fallen since the end of passenger services on the Red Wharf Bay branch. The branch was closed to all traffic in 1950, and Holland Arms closed on 4 August 1952.^[31]

An early three-coach British United Traction (A.E.C.) diesel multiple unit train was trialled on the line in May 1953. The train was economical in fuel use, and did not require a fireman, but train passengers and crew complained at the very rough ride. Derby Lightweight DMUs were introduced three years later, with steam engines still used for freight trains. Steam returned for passenger trains in the summers of 1963 and 1964 due to a shortage of DMUs.^[32]

A bromine plant opened in Amlwch in 1953, known since 1961 as Associated Octel.^[33] The company built a light railway through the town to Amlwch station, and a marshalling yard for exchanging freight wagons.

[edit] Run down and closure

The line stopped carrying passengers on 5 December 1964, as part of the rationalisation know as the Beeching Axe. All stations were closed, and all goods yards, passing loops and sidings removed, except the marshalling yard for the Octel freight. Local freight services ceased, and the electric ticket system was withdrawn. Only one train was permitted to be on the branch at a time, but this was sufficient for the Octel traffic. The double junction at Gaerwen was remodelled.^[34] Once the freight trains were being worked by diesel engines, arrangements were made for the British Rail engines to operate all the way to the plant.^[35]

Amlwch station was demolished when the adjacent road was rebuilt.^[28] Llanerchymedd station became property of the local council, and is currently in a dilapidated condition.^[36] Other stations passed into private ownership.^[31][17][37]

A spur was built near Rhosgoch to facilitate the building of an oil tank farm in the 1970s. This was built to receive oil from tankers moored offshore in the deep waters off Amlwch, before it was pumped to the Stanlow Refinery in Cheshire. The site was decommissioned after a short life, but the short spur remains.^[37][38]

A few special passenger services were subsequently operated, notably in 1969, 1983^[39] and 1992/93.^[40][41] The latter were arranged by Isle of Anglesey Railways Ltd, a company established with the aim of restoring the Anglesey Central Railway to full use.

In 1993, Octel's daily freight traffic was transferred to road haulage, for safety reasons, and traffic thus ceased on the line. The Octel plant closed in 2003, and has since been demolished.^[42]

[edit] Rolling stock

The ACR hired rolling stock from the LNWR for their inaugural services. When Dickson was operating the line from 1866 to 1868, he used the following engines:

Name	Image	Type	Builder	Operational	Notes
Mountaineer		0-4-4-0T	James Cross & Co., St. Helens, Lancs	1866 – c. 1867	Fairlie engine. Transferred to Neath and Brecon Railway c.1867.[43]
Anglesea	No known image	0-6-0WT	Hawthorns & Co, Leith, Scotland	c. 1867	Originally named Miers, after the first chairman of the Neath and Brecon. Miers was also a director of the ACR. It was later returned.[43]

From 1868, the LNWR provided rolling stock again, until their acquisition of the line in 1876. The following types of engine have been noted as being used on the line since:

Image	Type	Builder	Operational	Notes
	Webb 2-4-2T (5ft 6in)	LNWR	Until 1948	Main engine type for passenger trains.[44] Webb 0-6-2T Coal Tanks, among others, noted as well.[28]
	Various Webb 0-6-0 tender engines	LNWR	Until 1948	Main engine type for freight trains. Would work tender-first from Bangor, as there was no turntable available.[44]
	Webb 2-4-0T 'Chopper'	LNWR	1908 – c. 1915	Operated Red Wharf Bay railmotor train.[45]
	Webb 2-4-2T 'Radial' (4ft 6in)	LNWR	c. 1915 – 1930	Operated Red Wharf Bay railmotor train.[45]
	Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T	LMS	1948 – late 1950s	Used for freight and passenger trains.[44] Reintroduced for the summer passenger trains of 1963 and 1964 due to DMU shortages.[32]
See [1] for images	Diesel railcar	British United Traction	May 1953	Trialled on the line. Economical in fuel consumption, but gave a rough, noisy ride.[44]
	Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0	LMS	late 1950s – 1960s	Used for freight trains[32]
	Derby Lightweight	British Rail (Derby Works)	1956–1964	First regular DMU.[32] Some other varieties were also used on the line[46]

Diesel engines were used for the Octel freight after British Rail's withdrawal of steam engines. Class 24, Class 40, and Class 47 are noted as having been used for the freight, as well as the 1983 special passenger services.^[38] The 1992 specials used Class 101 DMU units,^[47] and the 1993 special used Class 20 and Class 37 engines.^[41]

[edit] 2008 status

Unusually for disused railways, the tracks have not, as of 2008, been taken up. After a public meeting in Amlwch to gauge local support, Isle of Anglesey Railways Ltd (IoAR) was established in 1991 (two years before the end of Octel freight services) with the aim of restoring passenger services to the line. Special trains ran from Bangor to a temporary station at Amlwch on the Spring and August Bank Holidays of 1992, and the 125th anniversary of the line's opening (a total of eight return trips). The project's viability was discussed with the WDA and the local council, followed by negotiations in July 1993 with Railfreight Distribution to purchase the line. Octel offered a portion of its private railway for the building of a new station at Amlwch. IoAR hoped to start passenger services between Amlwch and Llangefni as early as 1994.^[40]

The privatisation of British Rail from 1994 to 1997 disrupted this process. With no traffic or maintenance, the line started to become overgrown. In the meantime, Sustrans proposed the railway should be converted into a cycle route, similar to the Lôn Eifion cycle route which follows the path of the former Carnarvonshire Railway from Caernarfon to Afon Wen. In 1998–99 surveys of the railway bridges showed their condition to be "better than expected". A petition of 7,000 signatures was presented to Anglesey County Council in January 1999, calling for better cycling facilities on the island, and particularly a cycle path from Amlwch to Gaerwen. Furthermore, a charter train named the Lein Amlwch Venturer, hauled by 6024 King Edward I, ran from Crewe to Gaerwen junction on Saturday 23 January.^[48]

Anglesey County Council was planning to buy the track in support of the railway in 2000,^[49] but was later reported as having withdrawn its support for IoAR in May 2001.^[50] Tourism Partnership North Wales's 2003 report was supportive of the possibility of implementing both schemes side by side.^[51] The council was considering both options again according to a 2005 report.^[52]

The line's current owner is Network Rail, whose business plans made no reference to the line until 2004, when it was shown as being mothballed.^[53] Subsequent plans make reference to proposals to sell or lease the line.^[54][55] Their 2007 Business Plan states that:

The Amlwch branch remains non-operational, with no prospect of any future freight traffic that might justify its restoration to use by mainline traffic. Discussions continue about using the line as a heritage railway, and we are hopeful that the line's future will be resolved in the coming year.^[56]

The 2008 business plan merely shows the route as non-operational.^[57]

An open letter from the general secretary of Anglesey Central Railway (2006) Ltd was published in a local newspaper in February 2008. He stated that in 2006, an agreement had been reached with Network Rail and the local council to lease the line, and draft terms were to be drawn up. He further stated that Network Rail informed him in 2007 that the lease was on hold due to the council's reversal of policy. A potential compromise was identified as using the Amlwch-Llanerchymedd portion as a cycle route, and the Llanerchymedd-Gaerwen portion as a railway. He also noted that until a lease is agreed, ACR(2006) Ltd cannot conduct any work on the line.^[58]

Local council elections were held in May 2008, resulting in a change of leadership.^[59] That may result in another change of the council's policy. As a result, the future of the line remains uncertain.

[edit] Notes

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] External links

• Anglesey Central Railway (restoration group)
• Network Rail's website
• Sustrans' website
• Railways of North Wales 1975-1983: Images of the railway