Pont Croesor railway station

Pont Croesor
Garratt NGG16 No. 138 at Pont Croesor on a Caernarfon bound train
Location
Place Porthmadog
Area Gwynedd
Operations
Original company Croesor Tramway
Managed by Welsh Highland Railway
Owned by Festiniog Railway Company
Platforms 2
History
22 May 2010 First passenger trains
26 May 2010 Official opening
30 October 2010 First crossing of passengers trains
8 January 2011 Start of timetabled services south of Pont Croesor[1]
Stations on heritage railways in the United Kingdom
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Pont Croesor is a railway station in Wales, on the Welsh Highland Railway, which runs through the Snowdonia National Park from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. It is located on the section between the stations of Hafod y Llyn and Pen-y-Mount Junction.

The station was officially opened on 26 May 2010 and was the WHR's temporary terminus, having previously opened to passengers on 22 May 2010. The previous terminus at Hafod y Llyn is now closed.[2] Originally, as part of the Croesor Tramway, there was a siding at this location but no station. When the WHR was initially built in 1923, the siding was lengthened at the northern end. All trace of this was removed when the line was lifted.

The line from Pont Croesor to Porthmadog Harbour has been connected since early 2009, being available for stock transfer purposes. It opened to timetabled passenger services on 8 January 2011.[1]

The station has a full length platform on the west side of the loop. The station site is adjacent to Pont Croesor bridge, which crosses the River Glaslyn, and is a hybrid road/rail bridge, as each uses the same piers.[3] The bridge was extensively modified in appearance recently to feature standard safety barriers. The new loop was finally completed, for operational purposes, on 13 March 2010.

The station is adjacent to the RSPB Glaslyn Osprey Project viewing site,[4] from where the public can see the nesting place of a pair of ospreys[5] which have successfully raised chicks every year since 2005. The majority of the WHR's construction in this area has been carried out whilst the birds are abroad in the winter months, in order to keep disturbance to a minimum.[3]

With commencement of the 2011 season there is a second platform serving the other part of the loop.

Preceding station   Heritage railways Following station
Nantmor[6]   Welsh Highland Railway   Porthmadog Harbour
Historical railways
Ynysfor Halt   Welsh Highland Railway   Portmadoc New (1923) station
Portmadoc New (1933) station

See also

References