Project Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway

double fairlie locomotive david lloyd george @ blaenau ffestiniog station.



steam locomotive taliesin @ porthmadog.

the completion of railway through tanygrisiau (height 640 ft or 195 m) left fr 1 , half miles (2.4 km) go goal of blaenau ffestiniog (height 710 ft or 216 m) complexities of reconstructing unique rather derelict urban section of narrow-gauge railway took further 4 years. 1 ⁄2 miles (2.4 km) of new track , formation, responsibility of fr permanent way department , volunteers, other work needed done. of work, deviation itself, undertaken volunteers who, in many cases, assumed full responsibility design execution of discrete projects, each under volunteer project leader. there 4 decrepit footbridges each needing demolished , rebuilt new fr loading gauge. decrepit steel bridge across afon barlwyd required total replacement, timber (karri) beams using original abutments , piers. new deck formed of old rails. walls , fences throughout had repaired or replaced. these , many other varied tasks formed project blaenau.

one major task near tanygrisiau responsibility of gwynedd county council, had @ time after 1955 taken advantage of absence of trains demolish britain s lowest road under railway bridge. in 1980, therefore, replaced dolrhedyn bridge , managed give few inches headroom road vehicles.

civil engineering contractors employed in conjunction british rail , gwynedd county council new route bridges , roadworks , new joint station on former great western railway station site. british rail commenced using new station on 22 march 1982. ffestiniog trains returned blaenau on tuesday, 25 may 1982, marking 150th anniversary of royal assent festiniog railway act of 1832. new joint station british rail @ blaenau ffestiniog officially opened on 30 april 1983 george thomas, speaker of house of commons, unveiled plaque records visit.

with major project of track restoration blaenau complete, attention turned other matters. more fairlie locomotives built or restored , new carriages built. @ minffordd, new hostel built volunteers support permanent staff working in every department of railway. stations given new buildings, canopies , platforms, replacing previous temporary structures , improving image of railway future.

after reopening in 1982 , carrying 200,000 passengers annually, railway became second largest welsh tourist attraction after caernarfon castle. many saw result of pegler s drive , ability inspire others unquenchable enthusiasm fulfil dream. pegler, remained involved railway until death in 2012 president, appointed obe in 2006 new year honours in recognition of contribution.