History of the LVR&Hco page 4
Developments & Formation of the Company
Gradually as a demand for the movement of freight increased assorted items of stock were acquired to meet the requirements of the local traffic. One of the less expected results of the extension, for Mr Stott at any rate, was the demand for passenger transport. The construction of the Snowdon Mountain Railway started in 1895 and after a false start in1896 commenced a service in 1897 amidst a blaze of publicity. A number of publications, lead by Pennant many years earlier and now being much copied by the current rash of guide books to the area, had also raised the awareness of the new breed of tourist. The would be entrepreneurs of Pont Llyfni had always had an eye on the new tourism industry and the railway offered the ideal opportunity to promote the town as a resort, hence the demand for a passenger service. With some reluctance Mr Stott conceded to the demands and obtained quotation from the Glouster Railway Carriage and Waggon Company Ltd. for the supply of a passenger coach. On receipt of the estimates Mr Stott determined that he would be unlikely to recoup the cost of the coaches from fares and advised the promoters of the scheme that unless they were prepared to invest in the new stock there would not be a passenger service. Dilemma, no coaches no tourists, money spent on coaches could not be spent on improving facilities at Pont Llyfni, current facilities would not attract tourists.
Help came from an unexpected quarter, Colonel Blogsby-Smith (pronounced, by the Colonel Blowgsbie-Smythe) had inherited the family fortune made in India whilst obstensively working for the East India Company in Lucknow. It is not altogether clear how the small fortune was amassed, it was considerably in excess of any salary or commissions paid by the East India Company, and the Colonel never offered any explanation. Equally those with time to spare might spend it more profitably than looking through the records of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry to confirm the heroic activities of the Colonel during the Indian Mutiny. Sir Henry Lawrence, Lucknow and the mutiny are well documented but for some reason there is no mention of Colonel Bloggsby-Smith, or even Blowgsbie-Smythe! The Colonel, having returned from India, had failed to receive the recognition that he felt he deserved in London or Manchester and had recently purchased and moved into a substantial residence, Plas y Bryn, just outside Clynnog Fawr. With the property came the local hostelry with the rather grand title of The Newborough Hotel, which was let to a tenant landlord for a paltry rent, as there was little trade except for that from the inhabitants of Clynnog Fawr and the hamlet of Bachwen. The Colonel proffered a suggestion to his colleagues in the hospitality business at Pont Llyfni that might just get them of the hook. The Colonel intimated that he had contacts that could facilitate the purchase of a coach that had been built for an embryonic railway that was in receivership due to escalating building costs. Enquires were made of Mr Stott to find out what he felt was a viable price for the coach and a deal was struck with Colonel Blogsby-Smith to facilitate the purchase. The coach was duly delivered and attached to the rear of the daily freight service, thus passenger services commenced in 1896.
Mr Stott, whilst casually wondering why Colonel Bolgsby-Smythe had been so helpful, at apparently some cost to himself, paid little more attention to the matter. The Colonel on the other hand had been quite busy, not only did he wish to develop the hotel at Clynnog Fawr he had also acquired interests in the Tan y Graig Stone Quarries. The quarries were desperate for investment and had offered a generous shareholding for a relatively small investment. Mr Stott was unaware of the Colonel’s other interest and it therefore came as somewhat of a surprise when, some twelve months later, the Colonel requested a meeting with Mr Stott to ‘discuss the future of railway’. Stott felt obliged to hear what the Colonel wished to say and a meeting was arranged. It transpired that the Colonel was keen to see the railway extended to Clynnog Fawr and the quarries at Tan y Graig and felt certain that Mr Stott was already aware of the advantages of such an extension.
Mr Stott was not aware of any advantage to him and had no desire to develop the railway further, it had already taken too much investment of time and money, and he declined to consider the idea. The Colonel was not easily deterred and sought the assistance of Lord Newbrough and the combined might of the worthies of Pont Llyfni and Clynnog Fawr all of whom, as he saw it, stood to benefit from the extension. Unfortunately not everyone saw things in quite the same way. There was a complete absence of support and even some hostility to the whole idea from the residents of Clynnog Fawr. However with a more enthusiastic response from Pont Llyfni and Lord Newborough a second meeting was requested by Lord Newborough, which Stott could hardly refuse. Great play was made of the possibilities of obtaining grants under the recently passed Light Railway Act, and also the favourable situation regarding the supply of materials from the Tan y Graig quarries and the sawmill at Cwmgwared. Mr Stott reluctantly agreed to a survey being carried out but made it clear that he would not invest any further capital in the project. An approach to Lord Newborough brought a similar response. It was at this time that the condition of the Hunslet was becoming a serious concern, it was in need of a major overhaul. When the eventual solution of forming a Company in order to apply for government assistance in financing the extension Mr Stott saw a way of reducing his expenditure on the railway and agreed. Mr Stott and Lord Newborough would retain a controlling share as the major investors to date, a grant and share issue to be used to finance the extension. The Llyfni Vale Railway & Harbour Company was duly formed in 1898.
Gradually as a demand for the movement of freight increased assorted items of stock were acquired to meet the requirements of the local traffic. One of the less expected results of the extension, for Mr Stott at any rate, was the demand for passenger transport. The construction of the Snowdon Mountain Railway started in 1895 and after a false start in1896 commenced a service in 1897 amidst a blaze of publicity. A number of publications, lead by Pennant many years earlier and now being much copied by the current rash of guide books to the area, had also raised the awareness of the new breed of tourist. The would be entrepreneurs of Pont Llyfni had always had an eye on the new tourism industry and the railway offered the ideal opportunity to promote the town as a resort, hence the demand for a passenger service. With some reluctance Mr Stott conceded to the demands and obtained quotation from the Glouster Railway Carriage and Waggon Company Ltd. for the supply of a passenger coach. On receipt of the estimates Mr Stott determined that he would be unlikely to recoup the cost of the coaches from fares and advised the promoters of the scheme that unless they were prepared to invest in the new stock there would not be a passenger service. Dilemma, no coaches no tourists, money spent on coaches could not be spent on improving facilities at Pont Llyfni, current facilities would not attract tourists.
Help came from an unexpected quarter, Colonel Blogsby-Smith (pronounced, by the Colonel Blowgsbie-Smythe) had inherited the family fortune made in India whilst obstensively working for the East India Company in Lucknow. It is not altogether clear how the small fortune was amassed, it was considerably in excess of any salary or commissions paid by the East India Company, and the Colonel never offered any explanation. Equally those with time to spare might spend it more profitably than looking through the records of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry to confirm the heroic activities of the Colonel during the Indian Mutiny. Sir Henry Lawrence, Lucknow and the mutiny are well documented but for some reason there is no mention of Colonel Bloggsby-Smith, or even Blowgsbie-Smythe! The Colonel, having returned from India, had failed to receive the recognition that he felt he deserved in London or Manchester and had recently purchased and moved into a substantial residence, Plas y Bryn, just outside Clynnog Fawr. With the property came the local hostelry with the rather grand title of The Newborough Hotel, which was let to a tenant landlord for a paltry rent, as there was little trade except for that from the inhabitants of Clynnog Fawr and the hamlet of Bachwen. The Colonel proffered a suggestion to his colleagues in the hospitality business at Pont Llyfni that might just get them of the hook. The Colonel intimated that he had contacts that could facilitate the purchase of a coach that had been built for an embryonic railway that was in receivership due to escalating building costs. Enquires were made of Mr Stott to find out what he felt was a viable price for the coach and a deal was struck with Colonel Blogsby-Smith to facilitate the purchase. The coach was duly delivered and attached to the rear of the daily freight service, thus passenger services commenced in 1896.
Mr Stott, whilst casually wondering why Colonel Bolgsby-Smythe had been so helpful, at apparently some cost to himself, paid little more attention to the matter. The Colonel on the other hand had been quite busy, not only did he wish to develop the hotel at Clynnog Fawr he had also acquired interests in the Tan y Graig Stone Quarries. The quarries were desperate for investment and had offered a generous shareholding for a relatively small investment. Mr Stott was unaware of the Colonel’s other interest and it therefore came as somewhat of a surprise when, some twelve months later, the Colonel requested a meeting with Mr Stott to ‘discuss the future of railway’. Stott felt obliged to hear what the Colonel wished to say and a meeting was arranged. It transpired that the Colonel was keen to see the railway extended to Clynnog Fawr and the quarries at Tan y Graig and felt certain that Mr Stott was already aware of the advantages of such an extension.
Mr Stott was not aware of any advantage to him and had no desire to develop the railway further, it had already taken too much investment of time and money, and he declined to consider the idea. The Colonel was not easily deterred and sought the assistance of Lord Newbrough and the combined might of the worthies of Pont Llyfni and Clynnog Fawr all of whom, as he saw it, stood to benefit from the extension. Unfortunately not everyone saw things in quite the same way. There was a complete absence of support and even some hostility to the whole idea from the residents of Clynnog Fawr. However with a more enthusiastic response from Pont Llyfni and Lord Newborough a second meeting was requested by Lord Newborough, which Stott could hardly refuse. Great play was made of the possibilities of obtaining grants under the recently passed Light Railway Act, and also the favourable situation regarding the supply of materials from the Tan y Graig quarries and the sawmill at Cwmgwared. Mr Stott reluctantly agreed to a survey being carried out but made it clear that he would not invest any further capital in the project. An approach to Lord Newborough brought a similar response. It was at this time that the condition of the Hunslet was becoming a serious concern, it was in need of a major overhaul. When the eventual solution of forming a Company in order to apply for government assistance in financing the extension Mr Stott saw a way of reducing his expenditure on the railway and agreed. Mr Stott and Lord Newborough would retain a controlling share as the major investors to date, a grant and share issue to be used to finance the extension. The Llyfni Vale Railway & Harbour Company was duly formed in 1898.