Decline of slate and development of tourism Ffestiniog Railway

the earl of merioneth coming onto train @ porthmadog

by 1920s, demand slate roofing material dropped owing advent of newer materials , loss of overseas trade during world war i. result, railway suffered gradual decline in traffic.

in 1921, aluminium corporation @ dolgarrog in conwy valley bought £40,000 (£1,630,000 in 2016), controlling interest in fr , henry jack became chairman, fr company s financial administration moving dolgarrog. jack chairman of new welsh highland railway. instrumental in getting government backing completion on understanding fr , whr jointly managed porthmadog, maintenance undertaken @ boston lodge , other economies of scale. in 1923, fr line joined whr line @ station called portmadoc new . welsh highland line totally dependent on tourism, proved slow develop several reasons: 2 slumps in 1920s , 1930s; rise of road traffic including charabancs; , unreliability of railway (even then) ancient carriages , increasingly decrepit locomotives.

light railway operation being introduced on fr , whr cut operating overheads. in 1923, gain additional expertise in this, colonel h. f. stephens appointed part-time engineer both companies. stephens became chairman , managing director of both companies in 1924. when whr taken receivership in 1927, colonel stephens appointed receiver whr , financial administration of both companies moved tonbridge in kent. fortunes of whr, despite great efforts, failed improve , became bankrupt in 1933. protect investments, joint owners of both companies arranged whr leased fr. whr losses continued loss of moel tryfan slate traffic in 1935, , closed passengers @ end of 1936 season , goods in 1937.

the fr continued operate slate traffic, workmen s train on weekdays throughout year , summer tourist passenger service. ordinary passenger services ceased on fr on 15 september 1939, shortly after outbreak of world war ii. workmen s passenger service ran last time on saturday, 16 september 1939. slate trains onwards operated 3 days each week gravity operation discontinued. slate traffic ceased on 1 august 1946, apart section duffws north western yard through blaenau ffestiniog town centre, leased on 7 october 1946 quarry owners. provided railway company, retained services of resident manager @ porthmadog, small income throughout moribund years.

the original act of parliament permitted building of line made no specific provision closure or abandonment. although main line had ceased functioning, company not dismantle railway, track , infrastructure left in place. amending act of parliament have been sought repeal old one, company did not have money. however, without maintenance, line became overgrown , unusable.