The Route
Tal y Sarn and Pont Llyfni and other places on route exist and can be found on the
1;50000 series OS maps 123 or 115, alternatively there is a map here. Just do not expect to find any traces of the railway!
In the interests of simplicity the following describes a journey along the full length of the line, a journey that in practice would be unlikely to occur. The line is unusual in that the majority of traffic is to and from Pont Llyfni, which is in the middle of the route, so the majority of journeys only take in a part of the line. Even on market days in
Tal y Sarn and Caernarfon passenger services only run to and from Bachwen, the line beyond only being suitable for freight and workman’s trains.
We will be joining the train at Tal y Sarn and travelling to the Tan-y-Graig & Tyddyn-Hywel Quarries some six miles distant. You will notice that station names are spelt the English way as the promoters were English and had problems with Welsh.
1;50000 series OS maps 123 or 115, alternatively there is a map here. Just do not expect to find any traces of the railway!
In the interests of simplicity the following describes a journey along the full length of the line, a journey that in practice would be unlikely to occur. The line is unusual in that the majority of traffic is to and from Pont Llyfni, which is in the middle of the route, so the majority of journeys only take in a part of the line. Even on market days in
Tal y Sarn and Caernarfon passenger services only run to and from Bachwen, the line beyond only being suitable for freight and workman’s trains.
We will be joining the train at Tal y Sarn and travelling to the Tan-y-Graig & Tyddyn-Hywel Quarries some six miles distant. You will notice that station names are spelt the English way as the promoters were English and had problems with Welsh.
The Tal y Sarn extension was built in 1894 as a freight link to the LNWR, the local businessmen however had an eye on the tourist industry, which was developing in the area as a result of the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Both the LVR and LNWR services terminate at Tal y Sarn, though on different banks of the Afon Llyfni! Passengers have to alight and cross the river by the road bridge to gain access to the town or join the LNWR passenger service to Caernarfon and Chester or Afon Wen, whilst farmers have to make use of local haulage to get produce to and from the market. Livestock is driven along the road and is to be found mingling with the passengers as they both make their way to the town; tourists are advised to avoid the early and late service on these days! A workman’s train of open coaches owned by the stone quarry Workmen’s Association provides transport to the quarries and sawmill. The LVR maintenance and loco departments are based at Tal y Sarn.
The line from Tal y Sarn follows the south side of the Afon Llyfni soon passing the sidings at the bottom of the incline, which serves the quarries. The main output from Fron-Heulog, Tan-yr-alt & Tyn-y-weirglodd slate quarries are roofing slates, though some larger slabs are produced for the chemical and electrical industries when suitable quality material is available. The quarries ship most of their output through Pont Llyfni but some goes inland via Tal y Sarn and transhipment onto the LNWR. The quarry owns its own wagons, slate being hauled at a rate per ton. To date it has proved impossible to reach agreement with the quarries on the northern side of the Llfni Vale and, more particularly, their contractors for a direct link that allows the passage of locomotives to the transhipment point with the LNWR at Talysarn. A rudimentary bridge allows the northern quarries contractors to provide a horse drawn transfer of wagons from a siding on the LVR to the transhipment point.