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From this month's featured article

Horse operation was a feature of the FR from its opening until the introduction of steam locomotives.

James Spooner's elegant survey for the Festiniog Railway described a line of railway falling at a fairly steady gradient from the upper terminus near Blaenau Ffestiniog (700ft) to Boston Lodge, at the eastern end of the Cob (Sea Level) and was designed to allow loaded waggons to run down the line under gravity with empties being hauled back up by horses.

For a period after the opening of the railway, in 1836, the smooth line of James Spooner’s survey was interrupted by a pair of inclines that took the line over a shoulder of the Moelwyn mountains. Spooner had planned for a tunnel but had been overruled by Henry Archer on the grounds of cost. After a couple of years, and as traffic developed, the inclines became such a hindrance that Spooner prevailed and, in 1839, work began to drive the tunnel. It was opened in 1842 and from then on the FR was able to operate as it had been designed; loaded waggons exploiting the free power of gravity and being taken back up to the quarries by horses.

Each horse could haul 7 or 8 slate waggons and, though they are usually referred to as ‘empties’ they were, in fact, frequently loaded with a lucrative back traffic of goods for the growing community at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Each train included one extra wagon, known as a Dandy. These were high-sided open wagons with a door at one end, designed to carry the horse on the downward journey, permitting them to rest between duties. The earliest examples were wooden, as were the contemporary slate waggons. Later, iron dandies were built at Boston Lodge. (more...)

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Festipedia is dedicated to recording the history of the Festiniog Railway from the 19th Century to the present day. There is a user friendly index to help you find your way around the main categories. You will also find much detail on the Welsh Highland Railway.

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This month's featured picture

The Orientation Table stands at the top of the hill in the centre of the spiral at Dduallt, a plinth was constructed of stone setts lifted from Weigh House Crossing on approach road to Minffordd Exchange Sidings. (The setts can be clearly seen in the photographs of Weighouse Crossing in 1946.) The job of constructing the column by doing the (brick) sett laying was done by Tom Davies the engine driver and Huw Williams - with mortar mixed by volunteers and wheelbarrowed up the hill from the station. On the top is an engraved slate slab indicating the height and direction of the principal peaks and other points of interest visible from the hill. On 10th April 1970 the General Manager, Allan Garraway with Company Directors and other officials in attendance introduced the donors, Mr and Mrs Walker of London, and Mrs Walker unveiled the Orientation Table.

Photo credit: Roger van Praet

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