Blaenau Ffestiniog GWR Exchange Station looking towards the weighbridge.

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(52°59′40″N, 3°56′19″W)

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1836

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Blaenau Ffestiniog GWR Exchange Station looking towards the weighbridge.

Blaenau Ffestiniog GWR Exchange Station looking towards the weighbridge, probably taken circa 1949 from the footbridge. Signal post on the left cast in concrete. The GWR headshunt has not yet been shortened but it is clearly some years since the FR passenger service ceased. The small building beyond the headshunt is the weigh house, with the weighbridge in the mineral line. This is still in regular use under the lease that allowed slate from New Welsh (Cwt y Bugail) and Maenofferen via the Rhiwbach Tramway, and probably Votty & Bowydd via the main incline into Duffws to be transported into the standard-gauge yards. Note the barrel traffic in the slate waggons on the left parked on the Newborough Mills branch.

It is worth noting that although it is usually said that the FR passenger and mineral lines were worked as independent single lines, it was not possible to run from Duffws to Glan y Pwll mineral line all the way without reversing. Traffic from Duffws to the GWR yard would have to pass through the platform line seen here and straight on to the weighbridge, then reverse into the yard on the left. Passenger trains from here would take the right-hand line at the set of points still in situ beyond the platform as they wouldn't have run over the weighbridge. Clearly that hasn't happened for some time, and the loop line that allowed locomotives to run round passenger trains at this station has been removed altogether.

Beyond the platform end is the site of the old joint FR/GWR signal box (Blaenau Box No. 2). The sign at the end of the platform facing away from the photographer read DIM FFORDD - No Right of Way, and was routinely ignored. The ground beside it is clearly worn and a well used unofficial footpath can be seen making its way from the platform, over the FR tracks, and through a gap in the wall into the alley behind Bowydd Street. The station is situated right in the middle of town, and having to go around was clearly too much of a bother to the local inhabitants. The situation remains much the same today.

Source. RK Cope

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SH6998345907

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