Blaenau Ffestiniog GWR Exchange Station.

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Geolocation data

(52°59′40″N, 3°56′14″W)

Item details

iBase ID

1804

Title

Blaenau Ffestiniog GWR Exchange Station.

Date

08/07/1936

Blaenau Ffestiniog GWR Exchange Station, 8 July 1936. By 1936 this was the limit of FR passenger workings as Duffws station had been closed. The FR train at the platform has terminated and the doors stand open awaiting those wanting a trip Down the line. The locomotive will run round by uncoupling, pulling Up onto the Mineral Line, using a crossover just Down from the Queen's Bridge, passing Down behind the carriages and regaining the Main (Passenger) Line using another crossover close to the footbridge. The passenger train (clearly exhibiting the dark green FR livery) contains Brown Marshalls Van No. 4 and two Bowsiders. To the right out of site are Ashbury No. 21, and Small Birminghams Nos 2 & 4.

The FR quarrymen's train visible beyond the footbridge is stabled on the Mineral Line, and would be shunted across to the platform when required. The formation in use here, and regularly seen during this period, is at least one mk3 quarrymen's carriage, probably bogie carriage No. 15, and Curly Roofed Van No. 3. Goods or slate trains from Duffws to the GWR & LNWR yards would have to cross to the Main Line to avoid it, although in practice this would often be done anyway to access the weighbridge which was situated on the left hand track. Passenger and goods trains would often swap routes at this location depending on where they were headed.

The loop line adjacent to the GWR Goods shed was provided, from the outset, for stabling carriages that formed the GWR 'Workmen's train', a service that continued one provided by the narrow gauge Festiniog & Blaenau. The GWR almost without exception used antiquated carriages relieved from mainline service by newer designs. The elderly carriages seen here are five non-corridor bogie Clerestories. These carriages, one of which is a third class brake composite, would have been approximately 45 years old when this photograph was taken, although they are still comparatively new when compared to the FR stock on the right.

The prominent footbridge on the platform was provided by the GWR and FR in an attempt to encourage quarrymen from both ends of the town to walk along the High Street and enter the station by an authorised route. However this proved a failure as men persisted in walking through Duffws and under the Queen's Bridge or through the LNWR yard and under the Dorfil bridge visible in the distance. The standard-gauge waggon stabled in the headshunt in the distance is a DD4 Cordon gas tank wagon, used by the GWR to refill the gas reservoirs on carriages fitted with gas lighting, such as probably on the rake of Clerestories on the left.

Source. SW Baker. FR Archives 40

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SH7006045890

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