Cwm Prysor Viaduct

Cwm Prysor Viaduct

Cwm Prysor Viaduct in 2014
Coordinates 52°55′56″N 3°49′25″W / 52.9323°N 3.8235°W / 52.9323; -3.8235Coordinates: 52°55′56″N 3°49′25″W / 52.9323°N 3.8235°W / 52.9323; -3.8235
Carries Ex-Bala and Festiniog Railway
Crosses Afon Prysor
Locale Cwm Prysor, east of Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, Wales
Official name Cwm Prysor Viaduct
Characteristics
Design 9 36 feet (11 m) brick arches on stone piers[1][2]
Total length 490 feet (150 m)
Width Single Standard Gauge Rail
Height 105 feet (32 m)[3]
History
Opened 1 November 1882[4]
Closed 28 January 1961[5]
Statistics
Daily traffic Footpath

Cwm Prysor Viaduct, which is occasionally referred to as Blaen-y-Cwm Viaduct, is a former railway structure which crosses the Afon Prysor in thinly populated uplands east of Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, Wales.[6][7]

History

The viaduct was the most substantial single structure on the line. It is sharply curved, necessitating the provision of a check rail in its active railway days.[8][9] In 1953 extensive repair work was undertaken in which the opportunity was taken to raise the parapet and add metal railings on top.[10][11]

The structure consisted of nine stone arches carrying a single bi-directional track over which passenger trains ran between Bala Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog from 1882 to 1960, with freight trains lasting a year longer. A "Last Train" special crossed the viaduct a week before final closure.[12] The track was lifted in the 1960s. The prospect of rail traffic returning over the viaduct is very remote, not least because part of the route has been flooded by the construction of a dam at Llyn Celyn.

Modern access

The structure is Grade II Listed. In 2015 the public had a Permissive Right of Access to the viaduct, but no right of way.[13] It is included in widely publicised walks.[14][15][16]

References

Sources

  • Baughan, Peter E. (1991) [1980]. A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: North and Mid Wales v. 11. Nairn: David St John Thomas Publisher. ISBN 978-0-946537-59-4. 
  • Boyd, James I.C. (October 1959). Mansell, K.G., ed. "Bala & Festiniog Section - W.R.". Railway World. London: Railway World Limited. 20 (233). 
  • Boyd, James I. C. (1988) [1972]. Narrow Gauge Railways in South Caernarvonshire – Volume 1. Headington: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 978-0-85361-365-7. OCLC 20417464. 
  • Green, C.C. (1996) [1983]. North Wales Branch Line Album. Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7110-1252-3. 
  • Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (2010). Bala to Llandudno: Featuring Blaenau Ffestiniog. Midhurst: Middleton Press (MD). ISBN 978-1-906008-87-1. 
  • Southern, D. W. (1995). Bala Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Scenes from the Past, Railways of North Wales. Stockport: Foxline Publishing. ISBN 978-1-870119-34-4. No. 25. 
  • Southern, D. W.; Leadbetter, H.J.; Weatherley, S.A. (1987). Rails to Bala. Rhuddlan: Charter Publications. ISBN 978-0-907157-03-8. 

Further material

  • Ferris, Tom (2004) [1961]. British Railways Volume 4 - Bewdley To Blaenau (DVD). demanddvd. DEMDVD084. 
  • Turner, Alun (2003). Gwynedd's Lost Railways. Catrine: Stenlake Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84033-259-9. 
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.