Latest news with #CambrianRailways
North Wales Live
13 hours ago
- North Wales Live
Ghostly remains of mysterious beach railway vanishing into sea off North Wales
Low tides have revealed the ghostly remnants of a railway line running across a beach as if heading out to sea. In recent days, long-covered wheels and axles have emerged from the water alongside stretches of iron tracks now gently rusting on the sand. The scene, on Barmouth beach in Gwynedd, has echoes of the Welsh legend of the submerged kingdom of Cantre'r Gwaelod in Cardigan Bay. Unlike the kingdom's bells, said to be still ringing beneath the surface, Barmouth's mysterious beach railway remains eerily silent save for the sounds of the seashore. It is thought the track has stayed hidden on the beach for more than a century. In recent years, it's been occasionally exposed by shifting sand patterns on a coastline that's constantly evolving. Several theories have been put forward to explain the railway's existence. An historic lifeboat launch site has been speculated, along with a ramp site for bringing fishing ships ashore for repairs. As far as anyone knows, the tracks end at the low tide line and so, disappointingly, they're unlikely to be part of a long-lost smuggling route from Ireland, as commonly supposed. It's often imagined the narrow-gauge tracks were installed to move Edwardian bathing machines up and down the beach – the idea being to preserve the modesty of ladies taking to the waters. Sketches from the mid 19th century confirm Barmouth did have these machines but they were never on tracks. Instead, horses were depicted hauling the huts to the water's edge. A great deal of construction was carried out on the beach after the resort's promenade was badly damaged by the Great Storm of 1928. Photos from the time show the entire seafront was turned into a giant building site on which steam-powered machinery did much of the heavy lifting. In 1930, iron tracks were laid along the promenade to carry away debris, and more on the beach for the construction of a new wave-return wall. A reasonable conclusion is the railway tracks seen today are remnants from that period of frenzied building activity. It's a theory that's been rejected by Barmouth historian Hugh Griffth Roberts, who believes there's a rather more prosaic explanation. Ironically, the existence of the beach railway may owe much to arrival of rail travel in the mid 19th century. For centuries, Barmouth was an important port serving the woollen, slate and herring sectors in Meirionnydd. It also had a ship-building industry that stretched up along the majestic Mawddach Estuary. Despite the poor roads of the times, by the 1750s the port town was already luring well-heeled tourists attracted by its location between the sea and the 'romantic' landscapes of Eryri. Visitors included the likes of William Wordsworth, Shelley, Byron and Charles Darwin. When Cambrian Railways opened its new coastal line to Barmouth, in 1867, the town's fortunes shifted dramatically. According to the Barmouth Heritage Trail, it triggered major tourism and building booms. 'When the first train arrived some 1,200 passengers got off and the town was barely ready!' remarked the website. As well as tourism money, the influx of visitors brought problems – a small lock-up was built around this time to deal with growing numbers of drunks. Another issue even more distasteful – what to do with the growing mountains of poo being produced by the town's rapidly expanding guesthouse sector? Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday The solution was a new sewage holding tank at the north end of the beach whose contents could be discharged into the sea at high tide. This was constructed in 1890, alongside a 150 metre-long, cast iron pipe leading across the beach. Discharging into the sea was the custom at the time and, sadly, to some extent, it still is. However Barmouth's old discharge pipe was replaced in 1987 and buried deep beneath the beach. A new sewerage plant and pumping station were built at the same time. It's now thought the rail tracks seen on the beach today were used to lay the Victorian discharge pipe. The tracks may have simply been left in place to disappear beneath the sands, emerging again more than a century later.
Powys County Times
16 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Celebrating the Powys railway which won the heart of royalty
IT IS not surprising the the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway holds a special place in the heart of so many. Indeed, it is even close to the heart of King Charles III who visited back in his princely days and was met by awe-struck locals and children alike. The railway was built in 1903 to link farming communities with the market town of Welshpool and provide them with an outlet for their produce. Operated at first by the Cambrian Railways, the line was taken over by the Great Western and then British Railways. After 1931 the railway only carried freight traffic and was finally closed in 1956 but in 1963 a group of enthusiasts rallied round and began to progressively re-open the line until it became the railway you see today. Today the 'Llanfair Train' sits in the platform at Welshpool Raven Square with the engine steaming gently at the head of charming balconied carriages which promise the traveller a wonderful ride along a country by-way. The train negotiates a viaduct and river bridge, climbs the notoriously steep Golfa Bank and steams serenely through beautiful countryside. The railway marked its centenary in 2003 and several pictures from the event are included in our nostalgic reel while others range from the start of the 2000s. Gareth Evans and Alan Doig in front of Sir Drefaldwyn. (Image: County Times.) Alun Evans, James Batson and Jennifer Adey hard at work on track maintenance. (Image: County Times.) New Members Day at the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway. Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway Centenary memories from 2003. Pictured are Graham Hall and Triston Lister. (Image: County Times.) Celebrating the centenary in 2003. (Image: County Times.) HRH Prince Charles on his visit to Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway. Centenary celebrations at Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway in 2003. (Image: County Times.)
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Old railway station restoration nearly complete
A listed railway station dating back to the 1860s is to be unveiled in Shropshire following restoration works. A £900,000 project to restore the Grade II-listed Cambrian Station Building in Oswestry began a year ago and scaffolding has covered the structure during the repairs. Shropshire Council said the scaffolding was now being taken down and would be removed in time for Easter. The council's senior project management officer, Peter Gilbertson, said: "This building holds significant cultural value for our community, and these essential repairs ensure it remains safe and usable for future generations." The building once served as the town's railway station and the headquarters of Cambrian Railways, which merged with Great Western Railway in 1922. The station closed to passengers in 1966, but is still used seasonally by the Cambrian Heritage Railway. The project to restore it has been funded by Shropshire Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which was set up by the previous government. Shropshire Council said the work included fixing and restoring the building's exterior, removing and replacing asbestos roof tiles, and painting windows and doors in Cambrian Railway colours. Nesting boxes for swifts and roosting tiles for bats have also been installed. The council added that further work on the interior of the building was being planned for 2025, subject to grant funding being available. "We're so pleased that the scaffolding is finally coming down, and in time for Easter," said Mr Gilbertson. "If you're in and around Oswestry over the Easter break, please go and take a look. It really is a beautiful building and we're proud to be involved in securing its future." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Plans to restore railway link thrown into doubt Grade II-listed railway station repair going ahead Listed railway station repair funding considered Shropshire Council Cambrian Heritage Railways
BBC News
14-04-2025
- BBC News
Oswestry's Cambrian Station restoration nearly complete
A listed railway station dating back to the 1860s is to be unveiled in Shropshire following restoration works.A £900,000 project to restore the Grade II-listed Cambrian Station Building in Oswestry began a year ago and scaffolding has covered the structure during the Council said the scaffolding was now being taken down and would be removed in time for council's senior project management officer, Peter Gilbertson, said: "This building holds significant cultural value for our community, and these essential repairs ensure it remains safe and usable for future generations." The building once served as the town's railway station and the headquarters of Cambrian Railways, which merged with Great Western Railway in station closed to passengers in 1966, but is still used seasonally by the Cambrian Heritage project to restore it has been funded by Shropshire Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which was set up by the previous Council said the work included fixing and restoring the building's exterior, removing and replacing asbestos roof tiles, and painting windows and doors in Cambrian Railway boxes for swifts and roosting tiles for bats have also been council added that further work on the interior of the building was being planned for 2025, subject to grant funding being available. "We're so pleased that the scaffolding is finally coming down, and in time for Easter," said Mr Gilbertson."If you're in and around Oswestry over the Easter break, please go and take a look. It really is a beautiful building and we're proud to be involved in securing its future." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
