Bron Madoc
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 No 19B at the FR50 gala | |||||||||
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Bron Madoc or Bron Madog[1] is the name given to the part of the Ffestiniog Railway where, after passing the cottages above Boston Lodge Halt, the line emerges on a dry stone ledge above the A487 Porthmadog to Minffordd road, which is climbing in order to pass over the railway at Rhiw Plas bridge.[route 1]
This location is named Bron Madoc after the house of the same name on the hill above, high above Boston Lodge. It was the family home of FR driver Tom Davies, who with his wife boarded whole generations of young FR volunteers in the 1950s and 1960s. [2] Before that it had been the home of Evan Griffith who was a storekeeper at Boston Lodge until he died in 1916 at the age of 72. [3] Strictly speaking the railway location is Bron Madoc crossing for this is the point at which a footpath from the house crossed the FR. When Permanent Way Department volunteers stayed at Bron Madoc, they (and quite often Tom), were sometimes picked up here in the mornings by the Wickham trolley or a works train on its way from Porthmadog to Minffordd. The footpath was not an official public right of way and it was later closed.[4] For Boston Lodge volunteers the works was conveniently close.
A subsequent owner extended the cottage and in 2024 it was available as a holiday let with three double bedrooms. For more information see the advert on page 147 of FRM No 266.
The lineside would seem to be a popular spot for photographers!!!
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Palmerston is seen here, heading towards Rhiw Plas -
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Merddin Emrys seen from a different angle. -
Bron Madoc is the smaller house immediately above the train half way up to the big white house at the top of the hillside. Lord Bertand Russell once lived in the latter.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ General Rule Book
- ^ "Bron Madoc", Ffestiniog Railway Magazine, Issue 089, page(s): 35-41
- ^ Johnson, Peter (2017). Festiniog Railway: The Spooner Era and After 1830 - 1920. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 978-1-47382-728-8. OCLC 1003267038. p169
- ^ Howes F (2022) Personal communication.