Carnarvon and Llanberis Railway

The Carnarvon and Llanberis Railway, built under the Caernarvon and Llanberis Railway Act 1864, was an eight-mile branch line from the Carnarvonshire Railway running from Caernarfon to Llanberis, Gwynedd via Pont Rhythallt (for Llanrug), Cwm y Glo, and Padarn Halt, and terminating at Llanberis. The railway was initially built as a local link between villages, serving the local population. However tourist traffic increased hugely after the Snowdon Mountain Railway opened in 1897.[1]

Closure and traces of the railway

The Railway was a victim of the Beeching Axe and was closed in December 1964. Some evidence of the railbed still exists. The site of the track in Llanberis now carries the A4086 road where it by-passes the village along the lakeshore, and the former station is occupied by a craft centre. An area known locally as the Sidings on the shores of Llyn Padarn also shows some evidence of its past. The next section of railbed runs alongside the lake and is now the Lon Las Peris ("Peris Green Lane") cycle path., There is also evidence of the former railway on bridges and a tunnel near Cwm y Glo, near Llwyncoed Farm - mentioned in the song Tylluanod ("Owls") by the local band Hogia'r Wyddfa ("Snowdon Lads") in 1969. The railbed then follows the line of the A4086 through Cwm y Glo past Y Fricsan Inn, the site of Cwm-y-Glo railway station. It then follows the River Seiont downstream for the rest of its route to Caernarfon.

References

  1. The North Wales Coast Railway Peter E.Baughan 1988 ISBN 0-9510302-9-9
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